Measuring social norms related to child marriage among married women and men in Niger
Outcomes: Child, Early, and Forced Marriage
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways Social norms surrounding child marriage in Niger are deeply rooted in collective beliefs about protecting girls from social and economic risks, particularly related to sexuality, reputation, and poverty. The discussion highlights that both descriptive norms (what others do) and injunctive norms (what others approve) reinforce early marriage, often justified as protective. Critically, norms are shaped differently by gender, with men showing stronger sensitivity to injunctive norms, suggesting that effective interventions must address gendered perceptions and engage both men and women to shift community expectations and promote delayed marriage.
Objectives The study aimed to examine social norms related to child marriage in Niger and assess how individual, behavioral, and contextual factors are associated with descriptive and injunctive norms, with the goal of informing interventions to delay age at marriage.
Methods The study used a cross-sectional household survey conducted in 2022 with married women (15–49 years, n=2,726) and male household members (15–59 years, n=1,136) in Niger. Quantitative analyses included descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression models to assess associations between social norms outcomes and individual attributes, behavioral expectations, and contextual factors. Social norms were measured using adapted items capturing descriptive norms (perceptions of others’ behaviors) and injunctive norms (perceptions of approval or disapproval), particularly related to early marriage and premarital sexual behavior.
Results The study found high prevalence of norms supporting early marriage, with men reporting higher agreement than women. Beliefs that child marriage is protective—such as preventing harassment, poverty, or damaged marriage prospects—were strongly associated with both descriptive and injunctive norms among men and women. For example, believing child marriage is protective significantly increased the likelihood of endorsing norms favoring early marriage (e.g., OR=4.49 among women; OR=8.21 among men). Norms related to restricting girls’ premarital sexual activity were also strongly linked to norms supporting early marriage, indicating interconnected normative systems.
Conclusions The study concludes that interventions to reduce child marriage must address the underlying social norms that frame early marriage as protective and socially necessary. Programs should incorporate both male and female perspectives, target beliefs about girls’ sexuality and protection, and promote community-level dialogue and intergenerational communication to shift norms and delay early marriage.
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