Multigenerational attitudes toward gender norms on intimate partner violence did not differ significantly across generation cohorts, but significant generational differences existed in attitudes toward sexuality and reproductive health behaviour, shaped by factors such as age, gender, and education level.
Key Findings
Results
Differences in mean attitude scores toward gender norms on IPV and sexuality in intimate partner relationships were not statistically significant across generation cohorts.
Cross-sectional household survey conducted among 1630 young people and adults in six communities in Ebonyi state, southeast Nigeria.
Analysis of variance was used to compare mean attitude scores across generation cohorts.
p > 0.05 for differences in attitudes towards gender norms about IPV and sexuality across generation cohorts.
This suggests a persistence of similar attitudes toward IPV across generations.
Results
Significant differences existed across generation cohorts in attitudes toward gender norms relating to sexuality and reproductive health behaviour.
Unlike IPV-related attitudes, generational differences in attitudes toward reproductive health behaviour were statistically significant.
Mean attitude scores were computed and compared across generation cohorts using analysis of variance.
The study was conducted in six communities in Ebonyi state, southeast Nigeria.
Generational differences were shaped by factors such as age, gender, and education level.
Results
Male gender and urban residence were significant sociodemographic predictors of attitudes toward gender norms on intimate partner violence.
Male gender was a significant predictor of attitudes toward gender norms on IPV (β = 0.106, p < 0.001).
Urban residence was also a significant predictor of attitudes toward gender norms on IPV (β = 0.075, p < 0.001).
Three separate linear regression analyses were conducted with attitudes toward each domain of intimate partner relationships as dependent variables.
Both male gender and urban residence were positively associated with attitudes toward IPV-related gender norms.
Results
Tertiary education was a significant negative predictor of attitudes toward gender norms on both sexuality and reproductive health behaviour.
Tertiary education predicted attitudes toward gender norms on sexuality (β = -0.156, p = 0.012), indicating more progressive attitudes among those with higher education.
Tertiary education also predicted attitudes toward gender norms on reproductive health behaviour (β = -0.216, p < 0.001).
The negative beta coefficients suggest that tertiary education was associated with less endorsement of restrictive gender norms in these domains.
Education level was identified as one of the key factors shaping generational differences in attitudes.
Methods
The study design was a cross-sectional household survey conducted across six communities in Ebonyi state, southeast Nigeria.
Total sample size was 1630 young people and adults.
Data were collected from six communities in Ebonyi state, southeast Nigeria.
Mean attitude scores were computed and compared across generation cohorts using analysis of variance (ANOVA).
Three separate linear regression analyses were used to identify sociodemographic predictors of attitudes in three domains: IPV, sexuality, and reproductive health behaviour.
Conclusions
The authors recommend longitudinal studies to reveal how attitudes toward gender norms evolve over time and in response to societal changes.
The cross-sectional design of the study limits causal inference about how attitudes change across generations.
The authors note that 'conducting longitudinal studies could reveal how these attitudes evolve and societal changes' impact.'
Findings highlighted both generational similarities and differences in attitudes toward gender norms in intimate partner relationships.
What This Means
This research suggests that in six communities in Ebonyi state, southeast Nigeria, people across different generations hold surprisingly similar views about whether intimate partner violence (IPV) is acceptable — meaning that attitudes tolerating or justifying violence between partners have not changed much from older to younger generations. However, when it comes to views about sexual behavior and reproductive health decisions (such as family planning and contraception use), there were meaningful differences between generations, with younger generations tending to hold somewhat different views than older ones.
The study also found that certain characteristics predicted people's attitudes. Men and people living in urban areas were more likely to endorse traditional, restrictive gender norms around IPV. In contrast, people who had completed tertiary (university-level) education were less likely to endorse restrictive gender norms around sexuality and reproductive health — suggesting that higher education is associated with more progressive attitudes in these areas. These patterns held across a sample of 1,630 participants.
The practical implication is that simply waiting for generational turnover may not be sufficient to reduce community acceptance of intimate partner violence in this context, since attitudes appear relatively stable across age groups. Targeted interventions — particularly those focused on education and reaching men and rural residents — may be needed to shift harmful gender norms. The authors also note that this was a snapshot-in-time study, and longer-term research tracking the same individuals over time would better reveal how attitudes actually change in response to social, economic, and policy shifts.
Mbachu C, Ozughalu J, Agu I, Agu C, Onwujekwe O. (2025). Multigenerational attitudes to gender norms on intimate partner violence and the sexual and reproductive health of young people in Nigeria.. Scientific reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-98049-1