Determinants of witnessed parental physical violence among university students in transitional Albania

• Published in: Journal of public health (Oxford, England) Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 22 - 30
• Main Authors: Burazeri, Genc, Qirjako, Gentiana, Roshi, Enver, Brand, Helmut
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01.03.2011
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Albania; Capitalism; Cross-Sectional Studies; Domestic Violence - psychology; Domestic Violence - statistics & numerical data; Family Conflict - psychology; Female; Health Protection; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Parents; Politics; Socialism; Socioeconomic data; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - complications; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Stress, Psychological - complications; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Students - psychology; Students - statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Undergraduate students; Universities; Violence; Young Adult; Young adults; Albania
• ISSN: 1741-3842; 1741-3850
• DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdq034

Background We aimed to assess the extent and the socioeconomic correlates of witnessed parental physical violence among university students in Albania, a country in transition from rigidly structured socialism to a market-oriented system. Methods 2797 students (93% of all students) at the Medical Faculty, Tirana, filled out an anonymous structured questionnaire in April-June 2009. Information on witnessed father-to-mother physical violence during childhood and/or adolescence and sociodemographic and socioeconomic data were collected. The association of witnessed parental violence with socioeconomic factors was assessed with multivariable-adjusted logistic regression. Results 736 (26.7%) of students witnessed father-to-mother physical violence, and 36 (1.3%) reported 'very often' witnessing episodes. In multivariable-adjusted models, independent predictors of witnessed violence were: low family income [odds ratio (OR) = 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.7-3.2], rural origin (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.5-2.5), father's lower education and unemployment (OR = 5.4, 95% CI = 4.1 7.1 and OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.9-3.2, respectively) and mother's educational and employment advantage compared with the spouse (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.9-3.8 and OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.6-2.8, respectively). Conclusion Father's socioeconomic disadvantage and mother's socioeconomic empowerment were each independently related to increased risk for witnessed father-to-mother physical violence among university students in this transitional patriarchal society. Health professionals in post-communist Albania should be aware of the ways in which witnessed domestic violence influences physical and psychological health of young adults.