Thriving among married rural Nsukka women of Igbo extraction: contributions of domestic violence and psychological distress

Abstract

Married women represent a special population who do not only ensure the continuity of humans but also play important roles in child upbringing. However, the increasing rate of violence globally has enlisted them among the most vulnerable groups in the society. In times of violence, they are the most prone to become victims along with children. At home, there is also an increasing rate of abuse and violence against women by their spouses and there is a possibility that these may be contributors to low levels of thriving among women. This study investigated the roles of domestic violence and psychological distress in thriving among married women in an Igbo rural community. Respondents were 353 women selected from Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. Their age ranged from 24-65 (M = 33, SD = 2.3). They responded to the Brief Inventory of Thriving, the Brief Resilience Scale, and the Revised Conflicts Tactics Scale. It was hypothesized that domestic violence and psychological distress would significantly influence thriving among married women. These hypotheses were tested using hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results showed that domestic violence and psychological distress significantly predicted thriving among married women. Implications of the study were presented in line with a view to curtailing domestic violence and alleviating psychological distress among women.