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Suicidal Thoughts, Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress, and Harmful Alcohol Use Associated with Intimate Partner Violence and Rape Exposures among Female Students in South Africa

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  • Mercilene Tanyaradzwa Machisa

    (South African Medical Research Council Gender and Health Research Unit, 1 Soutpansberg Road, Pretoria Private Bag x385, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
    School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, 60 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa)

  • Esnat Chirwa

    (South African Medical Research Council Gender and Health Research Unit, 1 Soutpansberg Road, Pretoria Private Bag x385, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
    School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, 60 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa)

  • Pinky Mahlangu

    (South African Medical Research Council Gender and Health Research Unit, 1 Soutpansberg Road, Pretoria Private Bag x385, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
    School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, 60 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa)

  • Ncediswa Nunze

    (South African Medical Research Council Gender and Health Research Unit, 1 Soutpansberg Road, Pretoria Private Bag x385, Pretoria 0001, South Africa)

  • Yandisa Sikweyiya

    (South African Medical Research Council Gender and Health Research Unit, 1 Soutpansberg Road, Pretoria Private Bag x385, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
    School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, 60 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa)

  • Elizabeth Dartnall

    (Sexual Violence Research Initiative, 28 High Street, Waterkloof, Pretoria 0145, South Africa)

  • Managa Pillay

    (Department of Basic Education, 222 Struben Street, Pretoria Central, Pretoria 0001, South Africa)

  • Rachel Jewkes

    (South African Medical Research Council Gender and Health Research Unit, 1 Soutpansberg Road, Pretoria Private Bag x385, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
    School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, 60 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa)

Abstract

While ample evidence from high-income country settings indicates the prevalence and risk factors for multiple mental ill-health symptoms in student populations, evidence from low- and middle-income higher education settings remains limited. We determined the frequency, associations, and structural pathways between mental health outcomes and possible risk factors among a sample of 1292 predominantly Black African and female students ages 18–30 years, enrolled at nine purposefully selected public universities and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) campuses. We measured and created a mental ill-health latent outcome consisting of depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal thoughts. We also measured traumatic exposures including childhood trauma, recent intimate partner violence (IPV), non-partner rape, and other life traumatic events. We used structural equation modelling to analyse data. We found that 50% of the surveyed students binge drank, 43% reported depressive symptoms, 9% reported PTSD symptoms, and 21% had suicidal thoughts. Students’ experiences of childhood trauma, food insecurity, other traumatic events, non-partner rape, and IPV impacted the mental ill-health latent. IPV experiences mediated the relationships between experiences of childhood trauma or other trauma and the mental ill-health latent, and the relationship between binge drinking and other life traumatic events. Non-partner rape mediated the relationship between food insecurity and the mental ill-health latent. Binge drinking directly impacted non-partner rape experience. The findings substantiate the need for campus-based mental health promotion, psychosocial services and treatments, and implementation of combined interventions that address the intersections of violence against women and mental health among students in South Africa.

Suggested Citation

  • Mercilene Tanyaradzwa Machisa & Esnat Chirwa & Pinky Mahlangu & Ncediswa Nunze & Yandisa Sikweyiya & Elizabeth Dartnall & Managa Pillay & Rachel Jewkes, 2022. "Suicidal Thoughts, Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress, and Harmful Alcohol Use Associated with Intimate Partner Violence and Rape Exposures among Female Students in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-17, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:13:p:7913-:d:850291
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Arinao Mangoma & Anthony Wilson-Prangley, 2019. "Black Tax: Understanding the financial transfers of the emerging black middle class," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(4), pages 443-460, July.
    2. Matthew W. Ridley & Gautam Rao & Frank Schilbach & Vikram H. Patel, 2020. "Poverty, Depression, and Anxiety: Causal Evidence and Mechanisms," NBER Working Papers 27157, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lindsay Stark & Ilana Seff & Massy Mutumba & Emma Fulu, 2023. "Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health: Deepening Our Understanding of Associations, Pathways, and Prevention in Low- and Middle-Income Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-4, January.

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