Consanguineous marriages and the risk of spousal violence: Findings from National Family Health Survey (2019-2021)

• In Event: 20254 - Change and Continuity in Family and Kinship

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between consanguineous marriages and spousal violence in India using data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019-2021. Using multivariate logistic regression, I have explored determinants of spousal violence, including women's exposure to domestic violence in their natal homes, their justification of violence, education, employment, caste, religion, and husbands' alcohol consumption. The analysis reveals that women who witnessed violence as children are 4.19 times more likely to experience it as adults. Husbands’ alcohol consumption significantly increases the likelihood of violence, and when controlled, the impact of consanguineous marriage on violence is reduced indicating a confounding factor. Thus, indicating overall, consanguineous marriages have a positive association with spousal violence, highlighting that consanguinity offers little protection for women against such abuse.

Author

• Bipasa Banerjee, University of Texas at Austin