Prevalence and predictors of spousal emotional abuse among married women in Jordan: A descriptive correlational study

Background: Emotional abuse is one form of intimate partner violence (IPV). While IPV has been extensively examined, there is limited information in the literature on emotional abuse in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), particularly in Jordan. Objectives: Grounded by the social-ecological model (SEM), this study examined how individual, relational, and community factors, including sociodemographic variables, marital satisfaction and conflict, and social support, influence married women’s experiences of spousal emotional abuse in Jordan. Design: This study used a descriptive correlational design. Methods: A cluster sampling technique was used to select comprehensive healthcare centers in Amman and Irbid, and then women were recruited using convenience sampling within those selected healthcare centers. We recruited 200 married women. We analyzed the data using descriptive, bivariate, and logistic regression. Results: About half of the participants (53.5%) reported experiencing spousal emotional abuse, with isolation being the most common form of emotional abuse. Findings showed that exposure to emotional abuse and its forms was significantly associated with sociodemographic variables, including couples who had high school or less, unemployed women, women aged between 19 and 25 years, and low household monthly income; marital dynamics, including marital satisfaction and conflict, and limited social support. Conclusion: This study adds to the global knowledge of IPV by showing how emotional abuse is influenced by social-ecological contexts. The findings underscore the importance of addressing IPV at multiple levels. Future interventions and policies that acknowledge emotional abuse as no less serious than other forms of IPV and recognize its impact on women’s health and well-being are needed.