Household Size and Domestic Violence: Evidence from Jordan Population and Family Health Surveys (JPFHS)

In societies where cultural and social norms strongly emphasize childbearing, this study examines the link between household size and domestic violence against women. The analysis uses data from three waves (2012, 2017, and 2023) of the Jordan Population and Family Health Surveys, employing ordinary least squares (OLS) and instrumental variables (IV) estimation. Same-sex sibling pairs and female firstborns are used as instruments to address endogeneity concerns. We find that the number of household members is associated with an increase in domestic violence, confirming that larger families face higher risks, including physical and emotional abuse. The results do not support that having more family members increases fear of the spouse, the likelihood of serious injury, the tendency to seek help, or women’s attitudes that justify domestic violence. While reduced female labor force participation and household economic stress are negatively associated with household size, this suggests a potential mechanism linking larger households to higher domestic violence risk. These findings highlight the importance of family size, caregiving burdens, and socio-demographic characteristics when designing policies to enhance women’s empowerment and combat domestic violence.