Prevalence and sources of gender-based violence among female youth in Jordan: An egocentric social network study

Background Previous literature emphasized that females with different age-groups are subjected to psychological, physical, and sexual abuse. There are many possible sources of violence against females including intimate partners, parents, family members, cousins, neighbors, and any man with authority or power. Objective To explore the prevalence and sources of different violence acts among the Jordanian female youth (18–24 years). Design A cross-sectional, egocentric social network design was used to collect data from 960 youth in Jordan (480 men and 480 women) aged between 18 years and 24 years. While 437 female youth participated in the broader survey, the analytic sample for intimate partner violence acts was restricted to 171 ever-married or in-relationship youth. A convenience sample was recruited via four community centres located in East Amman. Findings The prevalence of lifetime control violence was 75% (128), psychological violence was 39.8% (68), and physical and sexual violence was 15.2%. Control and psychological violence are the most prevalent forms of abuse faced by Jordanian female youth. 19.9% of women reported exposure to family violence. Additionally, 35% of these women reported being abused as children. Participants who experienced abusive acts were more likely to be exposed to bullying χ2 (1, N = 171) = 10.33, p < .001, and verbal harassment from strangers χ2 (1, N = 171) = 13.01, p < .001. Participants who experienced abusive acts were more likely to be suffering from financial difficulties and insufficient income χ2 (3, N = 171) = 8.66, p = .04. Conclusion Addressing GBV among young women in Jordan necessitates a multifaceted approach that involves legislative reforms, awareness campaigns, and the provision of support services tailored to the specific needs of this demographic. By understanding the complexities of GBV and its impact on young women in Jordan, stakeholders can work towards creating a safer and more equitable society for all.