Early marriage increases risk of abuse for women

Spousal abuse among couples who married early is much higher than the rest, according to a recent study conducted by the Family Ministry and the Hacettepe University Census Institute. The study showed that 48 percent of women who married before the age of 18 were victims of violence, while the rate dropped to 31 among women who married after 18. The study said 26 percent of women married before 18. 7,462 women between the ages of 15 and 59 in 78 provinces participated in the study. It also showed that 36 percent of women were physically abused by their husbands or partners. The rate is the highest in Central Anatolia, with the lowest in Eastern Black Sea Region. 12 percent of women said they were victims of sexual abuse, while 44 percent said they were victims of emotional abuse and 30 percent of economic abuse.

The study showed the marital state of the woman directly influenced the abuse risk, with 75 percent of divorced or separated women saying that they were victims of physical or sexual violence.

The abuse risk was directly proportional to the education level of women, said the report, but added that still more than one quarter of high school graduates and more than 20 percent of university graduates complained of physical and sexual abuse.

Family is the principle reason behind marriages for women under the age of 18, while after personal choice becomes more important. Younger men are more prone to sexual violence while the rate of physical violence increases among older men. Being employed or not does not seem to alter the proclivity to violence among men. Suicidal tendencies among victims of abuse are five times higher than women who have not been subjected to abuse.