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Closson K, Zharima C, Kuchena M, Dietrich JJ, Gadermann A, Zulu B, Ogilvie G, Beksinska M, Kaida A. " It's a 50/50 Thing You Know": Exploring the Multileveled Intersections of Gender and Power Within the Relationships of Young South African Men and Women. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2024; 61:144-159. [PMID: 36260421 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2022.2129561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Efforts to advance sexual health globally require greater understandings of youth intimate relationship dynamics. Among 38 South African youth (21 women/17 men aged 21-30 from Durban and Soweto) we conducted qualitative cognitive interviews to explore how gender and power intersect to shape intimate relationship dynamics (October 2019-March 2021). Participants discussed perceptions and relevance of each of 13 items comprising the Sexual Relationship Power (SRP) scale, a widely used measure of gender equity, and the influence of SRP on youth sexual health. Data analysis was guided by constructivist grounded theory. The findings were organized using the socio-ecological model, revealing how gender and power intersected at multiple levels to influence youth intimate relationships. Key influencing factors included individual-level gender attitudes, male partner expectations, and women's resistance to dominance; intimate relationship-level power dynamics, consent, and intimacy; family-level household configurations and parental monitoring of daughters; and societal-level traditional gender norms. At all levels, women discussed resisting power inequities through communication and rejection of inequitable relationships. While men also displayed resistance to inequitable power structures, most upheld traditional gender norms through institutional affiliation (e.g. church) and deep-rooted socialized beliefs and attitudes. Efforts to improve youth sexual health require multileveled approaches that address inequitable power dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalysha Closson
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia
| | - Campion Zharima
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of the Witwatersrand
- Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand
| | - Michelle Kuchena
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of the Witwatersrand
| | - Janan J Dietrich
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of the Witwatersrand
| | - Anne Gadermann
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia
| | - Bongiwe Zulu
- MatCH Research Unit (MRU), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
| | - Gina Ogilvie
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia
| | - Mags Beksinska
- MatCH Research Unit (MRU), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand
| | - Angela Kaida
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University
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Closson K, Zulu B, Jesson J, Dietrich JJ, Pakhomova T, Basham CA, Beksinska M, Kaida A. Examining gender and sexual orientation differences in physical intimate partner violence experienced and perpetrated by youth living in eThekwini district South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2300. [PMID: 37990170 PMCID: PMC10664660 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17199-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Young women and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Non-binary/no gender, or Questioning (LGBTQ+) youth in South Africa face some of the highest global levels of intimate partner violence (IPV). Given limited evidence in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has fuelled IPV globally, we aimed to describe and compare experiences and perpetration of IPV of youth aged 16-24 by sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). METHODS During the study period (December 2021-May 2022), youth aged 16-24 from eThekwini district, South Africa completed an online survey to understand multilevel impacts of the pandemic on youth. Participants were asked about experiences and perpetration of physical IPV since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020). Descriptive statistics and adjusted logistic regressions compared the likelihood of experiencing and/or perpetrating physical IPV between cisgender and transgender inclusive heterosexual men; heterosexual women; gay, bisexual, or questioning men [GBQM]; lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning women [LGBQW]; or gender/sexual non-conforming youth [non-conforming]. RESULTS Of 1,588 youth (mean age = 21.7 [SD = 2.3]; 71.7% Black) with non-missing SOGI and physical IPV data, 238 (15.0%) were LGBTQ+ (40.3% LGBQW and 36.1% non-conforming). Overall, 14.6% of respondents experienced physical IPV and 9.8% perpetrated physical IPV since the start of the pandemic, which differed by SOGI (12.3% of heterosexual men, 13.9% of heterosexual women, 22.0% of GBQM, 18.2% of LGBQW, and 25.0% of non-conforming youth experienced and 10.3% of heterosexual men; 7.7% of heterosexual women; 10.0% of GBQM; 18.2% of LGBQW; and 16.7% of non-conforming youth perpetrated). In adjusted models, compared to heterosexual women, non-conforming youth had increased odds of experiencing (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.36; 95%CI, 1.26-4.39) physical IPV and compared to heterosexual men, non-conforming youth had greater odds of perpetrating physical IPV (aOR = 2.19; 95%CI, 1.07-4.48) during the pandemic. CONCLUSION Over one in six youth in our study experienced and one in ten perpetrated physical IPV since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, with gender and sexual non-conforming youth experiencing and perpetrating IPV at significantly greater rates than cisgender/heterosexual peers. Our findings highlight the need for gender transformative efforts that move beyond the gender binary to support healthy relationships and IPV prevention for LGBTQ + youth in South Africa and globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalysha Closson
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
- Center on Gender Equity and Health, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Bongiwe Zulu
- Maternal Adolescent and Child Health Research Unit (MRU), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Durban, South Africa
| | - Julie Jesson
- Center for Epidemiology and Research in POpulation Health (CERPOP), Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Janan J Dietrich
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Tatiana Pakhomova
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
| | - C Andrew Basham
- Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mags Beksinska
- Maternal Adolescent and Child Health Research Unit (MRU), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Durban, South Africa
| | - Angela Kaida
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada.
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Frydenlund G, Guldager JD, Frederiksen KO, Egebæk HK. Do young people perceive their smartphone addiction as problematic? A study in Danish university college students. Heliyon 2023; 9:e20368. [PMID: 37790974 PMCID: PMC10543362 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
As smartphone addiction has been linked to poor mental health and lower levels of physical activity, it is of public health interest to explore the behavior behind problematic smartphone use and develop interventions to reduce smartphone use. This study aimed to investigate the risk of smartphone addiction and examine perceived problematic smartphone behavior among university college students. This online survey conducted amongst 1251 Danish University College students studied smartphone addiction in conjunction with physical- and mental health dimensions. The risk of smartphone addiction was estimated using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV). The main results are presented as odds ratios from multivariate logistic regressions. One in four (23%) were at high risk of smartphone addiction. Of this high-risk group, 74% identified their smartphone behavior as problematic, with 91% having considered reducing their smartphone use. Students with a high risk of smartphone addiction perceiving their behavior as problematic were more likely to report low mental health and well-being. In conclusion, students at high risk of smartphone addiction acknowledge their problematic behavior and have actively considered behavior modifications. This knowledge can enable teachers, parents, and social and health workers to understand that a majority of heavy smartphone users are open to reducing their smartphone usage, albeit with the appropriate support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gitte Frydenlund
- Department of Physiotherapy Education, University College South Denmark, Degnevej 16, 6705 Esbjerg, Denmark
| | - Julie Dalgaard Guldager
- Department of Physiotherapy Education, University College South Denmark, Degnevej 16, 6705 Esbjerg, Denmark
- Unit for Health Promotion Research, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark
| | - Katrine Oertel Frederiksen
- Department of Physiotherapy Education, University College South Denmark, Degnevej 16, 6705 Esbjerg, Denmark
| | - Heidi Klakk Egebæk
- Research Department, University College South Denmark, Haderslev, Denmark
- Centre for Research in Childhood Health, Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Centre for Clinical Research and Prevention, Section for Health Promotion and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Nordre Fasanvej 57, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
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Mengistu N, Habtamu E, Kassaw C, Madoro D, Molla W, Wudneh A, Abebe L, Duko B. Problematic smartphone and social media use among undergraduate students during the COVID-19 pandemic: In the case of southern Ethiopia universities. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280724. [PMID: 36696412 PMCID: PMC9876348 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Smartphone and social media use are supposed to be integral parts of university students' daily lives. More specifically, smartphones and social media are frequently used for communication in daily life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, uninterrupted and persistent use of these technologies may lead to several psychological problems. Even though smartphones and social media were used more frequently during the pandemic, there is no evidence suggesting that the studies were not undertaken in low-income countries, including Ethiopia. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess problematic smartphone use and social media use among undergraduate university students in southern Ethiopia. METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried out among 1,232 university students using a simple random sampling technique. The Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale and Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale were used to collect data on social media and smartphone use, respectively. The Beck Depression Inventory, Generalized Anxiety Assessment Tool, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index were standardized tools used to measure other independent variables. To identify factors, simple and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. A p-value of 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance. RESULTS The overall response rate was 95%. The mean scores for problematic smartphone and problematic social media use were 17 ± 3.3/36 and 12.7 ± 2.2/30, respectively. A linear regression model revealed that being female, first-year students and poor sleep quality were significantly associated with problematic smartphone use. Factors associated with problematic social media use (PSMU) were depression, substance use, and urban residence. CONCLUSIONS This study identified significant problems with smartphone and social media use among university students. Therefore, it is preferable to provide psychological counselling, educate students about safe, beneficial, and healthy internet use, and focus on recognized high-risk groups in order to give them special attention. It is also preferable to seek counselling about substance use. It is preferable to regularly screen and treat individuals with psychological problems in collaboration with stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nebiyu Mengistu
- Department of Psychiatry, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia
- * E-mail:
| | | | | | - Derebe Madoro
- Department of Psychiatry, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia
| | | | | | - Lulu Abebe
- Department of Psychiatry, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia
| | - Bereket Duko
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
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Closson K, Zharima C, Kuchena M, Dietrich JJ, Gadermann A, Ogilvie G, Beksinska M, Kaida A. "I feel like it is asking if he is a stalker … but I also feel like it is asking if he cares": exploring young South African women and men's perceptions of the Sexual Relationship Power Scale. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1368. [PMID: 35842627 PMCID: PMC9288208 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13686-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gender inequity and the subsequent health impacts disproportionately affect communities in the Global South. However, most gender equity measures, such as Pulerwitz’ (2000) Sexual Relationship Power Scale (SRPS), are developed and validated in the Global North and then applied in Global South settings without investigation of context applicability or validity. This study examines the SRPS’ validity evidence, comprehensiveness, and contemporary relevance for young South African women and men. Methods Between 2019 and 2021, 38 cognitive interviews (CIs) were conducted among previous participants of a South African youth cohort study ‘AYAZAZI’ (2015–2017) to explore youth’s perceptions of the SRPS. The SRPS measures women’s perceptions of their partner’s controlling behaviours, and men’s perceptions of their own controlling behaviours. Using CIs, participants responded to a 13-item adaptation of the SRPS for use among South African youth (strongly agree-strongly disagree), and then were asked to think-aloud their reasoning for responses, their understanding and perceived relevance of each item, and made overall suggestions for scale adaptations. An item appraisal coding process was applied, whereby Cognitive Coding assessed the types of cognitive problems youth had with understanding the items, and Question Feature Coding assessed which item features caused problems for participant understandings. Finally, youth recommendations for scale adaptations were summarized. Results Overall, 21 women and 17 men aged 21–30 participated in CIs in Durban and Soweto, South Africa. Cognitive Coding revealed 1. Comprehension issues, and 2. Judgements related to items’ applicability to lived experiences and identities (e.g., being unmarried). Question Feature Coding revealed items’ 1. Lack of clarity or vagueness in wording and 2. Logical problems in assumptions leading to multiple interpretations (e.g., item ‘my partner always need to know where I am’ interpreted as both controlling and caring behaviour). Multiple, overlapping issues revealed how many items failed to “fit” within the present-day living realities of South African youth. Youth recommended several item adaptations and additions, including strength-based items, to existing measures of gender equity and relationship power. Conclusion Given identified issues, several adaptations including revising items to be more inclusive, contemporary, context specific, relational, and strength-based are needed to validly measure gender equity and power dynamics within the relationships of South African youth. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13686-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalysha Closson
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
| | - Campion Zharima
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Michelle Kuchena
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Janan J Dietrich
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,African Social Sciences Unit of Research and Evaluation (ASSURE), a division of the Wits Health Consortium, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Anne Gadermann
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Gina Ogilvie
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Mags Beksinska
- MatCH Research Unit (MRU), Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Angela Kaida
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
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