The direct and indirect pathways through which gender norms influences decision-making autonomy among young women and men in Southern Uganda. A mediation analysis

Restrictive gender norms shape the lives of young women and men, constraining their ability to make decisions that affect multiple aspects of their well-being. While women are often confined to balancing domestic and reproductive roles with limited economic opportunities, men face pressures to conform to traditional expectations as breadwinners and primary decision-makers. Prior research has extensively documented the constraints faced by women; less is known about how these norms simultaneously affect young men. Using data from 614 participants in the Bridges R2 study in Southern Uganda, we examined the mediating roles of asset ownership and self-esteem, as well as the moderating role of sex, in the relationship between restrictive gender norms and decision-making autonomy. Structural equation modeling in Mplus was employed to estimate direct, indirect, and total effects of gender norms on decision-making autonomy. Results showed a significant direct effect of gender norms on decision-making autonomy (β = 0.065 [95 % CI: 0.006, 0.125], p = 0.032) and a specific indirect effect mediated through asset ownership (β = -0.033 [95 % CI: −0.057, −0.008], p = 0.008). Sex moderated the effect of gender norms on decision-making autonomy (β = -0.894 [95 % CI: −1.203, −0.586], p < 0.001) and asset ownership (β = -0.433 [95 % CI: −0.490, −0.376], p < 0.001). These findings highlight the dual impact of restrictive gender norms: limiting women’s autonomy and economic resources, while simultaneously constraining men through rigid expectations of masculinity. Interventions that challenge entrenched gender norms and expand equitable access to assets and psychosocial resources are critical to improving autonomy and well-being for both young women and men.