Changing sex risk behaviors, gender norms, and relationship dynamics among couples in Cape Town, South Africa: Efficacy of an intervention on the dyad
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study approaches gender norms through the lens of individual attitudes, measuring participants’ agreement with statements reflecting equitable or inequitable beliefs about gender roles and relationship dynamics. While not direct measures of collective social norms (such as perceived community expectations or reference group behaviors), these attitudinal indicators reflect how deeply internalized […]
Changing Social Norms in Somalia: Baseline Report on CHANGES Project Addressing Women Empowerment, Female Circumcision and Early Marriage
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The CHANGES baseline shows that while harmful practices like female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and child marriage remain prevalent in Somalia, there is a mismatch between people’s perceptions and actual behaviors. Many overestimate child marriage rates and underestimate opposition to FGM/C. This gap presents a key opportunity for social norms change—interventions must […]
Childhood Trauma, Gender Inequitable Attitudes, Alcohol Use, and Multiple Sexual Partners: Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence in Northern Tanzania
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study shows that intimate partner violence (IPV) in northern Tanzania is deeply influenced by gender norms that legitimize male control and normalize violence. Both men and women often accept these norms, with women in some cases more likely to justify IPV. Socialization into inequitable attitudes begins early and is reinforced […]
Collective norms and modern contraceptive use in men and women: A multilevel analysis of DHS Program data in Nigeria and Zambia
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study highlights the powerful role of collective social norms—especially those related to fertility—in shaping modern contraceptive use among both men and women in Nigeria and Zambia. In both countries, higher community-level fertility norms (i.e., desire for larger families) were consistently associated with lower contraceptive use for both genders. However, gender […]
Community Factors Influencing Birth Spacing among Married Women in Uganda and Zimbabwe
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study highlights how community-level gender norms and fertility expectations influence birth spacing practices. In Uganda and Zimbabwe, delayed marriage and childbearing do not necessarily lead to healthier birth intervals. Instead, social norms emphasizing high fertility may pressure women to ‘catch up’ by shortening birth intervals. Norms that tolerate gender-based violence […]
Beliefs About Sexual Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration Among Adolescents in South Africa
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study shows how social norms that reinforce male dominance and tolerance of sexual coercion contribute to the perpetration of sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) among adolescents in South Africa. Boys were more likely than girls to perpetrate and experience sexual IPV and perceived greater social approval from peers and family […]
Beyond Individual-Level Theorizing in Social Norms Research: How Collective Norms and Media Access Affect Adolescents’ Use of Contraception
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study emphasizes that interventions aiming to improve adolescent contraceptive use should not only target individuals but also consider the broader collective norms of their communities. Programs should assess both the strength of local norms and the level of media access when designing strategies. Media campaigns may be especially powerful in […]
Associations of Attitudes and Social Norms with Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence Among Married Adolescents and Their Husbands in Rural Niger: A Dyadic Cross-Sectional Study
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study shows that social norms — particularly men’s perceptions of what others believe about violence — are more strongly associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) than individual attitudes. Specifically, men who believed their communities found IPV acceptable were significantly more likely to have wives reporting IPV. This highlights that community-level […]
Attitudes, Norms, and Self-Efficacy: Examining Socio-Cognitive Correlates and Sexual Abstinence Among Ugandan Youth Ages 16–18 years, in the Slums of Kampala, Uganda
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The findings underscore the powerful role of peer and parental norms in shaping sexual behavior among Ugandan youth. Programs aiming to delay sexual initiation must go beyond providing knowledge; they should also address the social pressures and normative environments influencing young people’s choices, helping adolescents develop confidence and strategies to navigate […]
Area-Level Normative Social Context and Intimate Partner Physical Violence in Mozambique
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study demonstrates that normative social contexts—particularly community-level religious norms, early marriage practices, and female education—significantly shape both women’s acceptance of spousal abuse and their risk of experiencing intimate partner physical violence (IPV) in Mozambique. The findings highlight that religious norms in some contexts may protect against IPV acceptance, while early […]