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Armed conflict exposure and violent discipline of children at home: Panel evidence from Ethiopia

Author

Listed:
  • Workineh Ayenew
  • Andreas Kotsadam
  • Charlotte Ringdal
  • Espen Villanger

Abstract

Armed conflict has far-reaching effects on household well-being, including increased risk of violence. We examine whether changes in local armed conflict exposure are associated with changes in caregiver-perpetrated physical punishment of children. We link six waves (2016–2021) of panel survey data from employed women in Ethiopia (1,065 respondents; just over 5,000 respondent-wave observations) to geo-referenced conflict events from ACLED. Using respondent and wave fixed-effects linear probability models, we find that a one–standard–deviation increase in conflict exposure (18.8 events) increases the probability of physical punishment by any caregiver by 3.4 percentage points (pp) (≈ 5.2% relative to the mean), father punishment by 2.7 pp (≈ 6.4%), mother punishment by 3.6 pp (≈ 5.6%), and punishment by both caregivers by 2.9 pp (≈ 7.3%). A decomposition into presence versus intensity indicates a sizeable increase at conflict onset, with smaller incremental increases as events accumulate. Conflict exposure also coincides with higher caregiver distress and indicators of economic strain, including reduced labor supply and lower reported income among fathers. These findings suggest that conflict can spill over into harsher parenting, highlighting the importance of integrating child protection, caregiver mental health support, and livelihood assistance into conflict-response programming.

Suggested Citation

  • Workineh Ayenew & Andreas Kotsadam & Charlotte Ringdal & Espen Villanger, 2026. "Armed conflict exposure and violent discipline of children at home: Panel evidence from Ethiopia," HiCN Working Papers 451, Households in Conflict Network.
    • Handle: RePEc:hic:wpaper:451
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stark, Lindsay & Landis, Debbie, 2016. "Violence against children in humanitarian settings: A literature review of population-based approaches," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 125-137.
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    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth

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