Cross-cultural marriage and intimate partner violence: evidence from Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract While a number of studies have been conducted on intimate partner violence (IPV) in interracial marriages in multiracial societies, studies on IPV in cross-cultural but monoracial marriages remain scarce. Also, an integrated framework that explores how religious, language, and cultural differences influence the experience of IPV in cross-cultural marriages is still lacking. This study examines the association between language, religious, and cultural differences and the experience of IPV in a multi-ethnic but monoracial setting: Lagos State, Nigeria. A mixed-methods approach, involving a cross-sectional survey and in-depth interviews, was adopted for the study. A total of 1,357 male and female ever-married adults were selected for the survey, while 15 male and female ever-married adults (9 females and 6 males) from different ethnic backgrounds were recruited for the in-depth interviews. Logistic regression and thematic analysis were used to analyse the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. The study found a statistically significant association between language, religious, and cultural differences between partners and the probability of experiencing IPV. From the cultural ecological perspective, the conclusion indicates and reinforces the multi-dimensional nature of IPV. Based on the theory, the experience of IPV is influenced by micro-level relational dynamics, meso-level social interactions, and macro-level cultural and institutional barriers. This suggests that the experience of IPV goes beyond a personal or relational matter; it also reflects broader socio-cultural and systemic challenges.