Employment as a Pathway to Reducing Domestic Violence in India: Insights from NFHS-5

Employment as a Pathway to Reducing Domestic Violence in India: Insights from NFHS-5 | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Employment as a Pathway to Reducing Domestic Violence in India: Insights from NFHS-5 Maya Singh, Gyan Prakash Singh This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8128672/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Domestic violence (DV) is a major public health and gender equality concern. While women’s employment is often assumed to reduce vulnerability, evidence remains mixed due to issues of endogeneity and selection bias. This study examines the impact of women’s employment on DV in India, emphasizing the mediating role of empowerment. Using data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–2020), we applied econometric and causal inference methods. Mean differences in DV by employment were using t-tests. To address selection bias, propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted. Endogeneity was tested and corrected using two-stage least squares (2SLS) for continuous DV and two-stage ordered probit (2SOP) for severity, with heterogeneity across subgroups. Mediation was assessed by two-stage residual inclusion (2SRI), with empowerment (PCA based) as mediator. DV prevalence was higher among employed (36.8%) than unemployed women (27.2%); PSM confirmed this with an 8.1% absolute standard ratio. After correcting for endogeneity and covariates, employment reduced DV scores (β = -0.171, p < 0.01) and severity (β = -0.081, p < 0.05). Stronger protective effects were observed for younger (β = -0.719, p < 0.001), rural (β = -0.148, p < 0.05), and less-educated women (β = -0.269, p < 0.05). Mediation analysis showed direct (β = -0.378, p < 0.001) and indirect (β = -0.028, p < 0.001) protective effects through empowerment. Women’s employment lowers domestic violence, strengthened by empowerment. Results endorse causal inference perspectives, dispute male backlash theory, and stress policies promoting employment, empowerment, and gender equality. Domestic Violence Mediation analysis Endogeneity Two-stage residual inclusion (2SRI) Propensity score matching Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8128672","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":545839330,"identity":"5e21d21a-a228-4fcc-a8a5-14a53ec6e0c8","order_by":0,"name":"Maya 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While women’s employment is often assumed to reduce vulnerability, evidence remains mixed due to issues of endogeneity and selection bias. This study examines the impact of women’s employment on DV in India, emphasizing the mediating role of empowerment. Using data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–2020), we applied econometric and causal inference methods. Mean differences in DV by employment were using t-tests. To address selection bias, propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted. Endogeneity was tested and corrected using two-stage least squares (2SLS) for continuous DV and two-stage ordered probit (2SOP) for severity, with heterogeneity across subgroups. Mediation was assessed by two-stage residual inclusion (2SRI), with empowerment (PCA based) as mediator. DV prevalence was higher among employed (36.8%) than unemployed women (27.2%); PSM confirmed this with an 8.1% absolute standard ratio. After correcting for endogeneity and covariates, employment reduced DV scores (β = -0.171, p \u0026lt; 0.01) and severity (β = -0.081, p \u0026lt; 0.05). Stronger protective effects were observed for younger (β = -0.719, p \u0026lt; 0.001), rural (β = -0.148, p \u0026lt; 0.05), and less-educated women (β = -0.269, p \u0026lt; 0.05). Mediation analysis showed direct (β = -0.378, p \u0026lt; 0.001) and indirect (β = -0.028, p \u0026lt; 0.001) protective effects through empowerment. Women’s employment lowers domestic violence, strengthened by empowerment. 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