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Long-Term Effects of Childhood Exposure to War on Domestic Violence

Author

Listed:
  • Joseph B. Ajefu

    (University of Bradford
    University of Johannesburg)

  • Daniela Casale

    (University of the Witwatersrand)

Abstract

This paper highlights the scarring effects of early life exposure to civil war, by examining the impact of exposure to conflict in childhood on the incidence of domestic violence in adulthood among married women. To estimate these effects, we use a difference-in-differences model which exploits variation in exposure to Nigeria’s 30-month-long civil war by year of birth and ethnicity. Our results, based on the 2008 Nigerian Demographic Health Survey, show that women exposed to the war during childhood are more likely to be victims of domestic violence in adulthood compared to those not exposed to the war, with larger effects observed for those exposed at younger ages. Additionally, we explore the mechanisms through which exposure to civil war might affect domestic violence and find some support for both the normalisation of violence and weakened bargaining power hypotheses. Understanding the root causes of domestic violence is important given the high prevalence in developing countries and the deleterious consequences for women and their children.

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph B. Ajefu & Daniela Casale, 2025. "Long-Term Effects of Childhood Exposure to War on Domestic Violence," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 37(1), pages 124-151, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:eurjdr:v:37:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1057_s41287-024-00659-4
    DOI: 10.1057/s41287-024-00659-4
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