Anger Management and Social Integration as Determinants of Resilience among University Students Victims of Intimate Partner Violence in Tanzania

Abstract

Experience and exposure to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) are reported worldwide across various age groups. However, little is known about resilience and its associated factors, such as anger management and social integration, among the victims of IPV at universities in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Tanzania. We employed a cross-sectional design to examine 276 students (41.7% female; M Age range = 22–24 years, SD Age range = .695) randomly chosen from a university in Tanzania. Descriptive results showed a high prevalence of IPV among university students, with over 91% ( M = 44.40, SD = 59.546, Range: 1–396) reporting having experienced at least one instance of IPV in the past year. Likewise, students reported a high mean score for resilience and social integration, yet a lower mean score for anger management. Findings of a hierarchical linear regression model revealed a good model fit at step 1 (adj. R 2 = .047, F (2, 248) = 7.189, p < .001; Cohen’s f 2 = .050) and step 2 (adj. R 2 = .055, F (3, 247) = 5.884, p = .002; Cohen’s f 2 = .060) with greater social integration and improved anger management both significantly associated with resilience at step 1 and step 2 ( p < .05). IPV victimization was not a significant moderator on the association of social integration and anger management with resilience ( p > .05). The model-independent variables accounted for 26% of the variability in the association with resilience. Our findings reveal the prevalence of IPV victimization in the understudied population of university students and settings in Tanzania. We recommend a review of existing policies to eradicate IPV within the university community and to familiarize individuals with the available psychosocial support services for IPV victims, thereby protecting them from potential psychological and academic risks of victimization.