Exposure to Violence and mental health: A study from Youth in India-Situation and Need Survey

Exposure and experience of domestic violence has negative consequences on children’s and youth’s social, emotional, mental and academic development. Most of the youth get violence exposure either as witness or as victim at home, a setting where primary socialization take place. Thus, by examining the association between youth’s mental health and violence at home using the data from the survey “Youth in India-Situation and Need-2006-07”, this study reveal that exposure of violence contributes to increased risk to suffer from mental health problem. Findings indicate the influence of domestic violence exposure and experience on mental health symptoms like unhappiness, depression, losing confidence and feeling of under strain.
Results imply high prevalence of domestic violence and adverse mental health among Indian youth. Though, several laws and policies have been set in motion to prevent the domestic violence but challenges remain same in some domains such as youth physical, mental health and overall development.