Marital Control Behaviours and Spousal violence: Evidence of a Dose-Response Relationship from Malawi National Survey Data

Marital control behaviours reflect entrenched gendered power inequalities and are increasingly recognised as central to the persistence of spousal violence. However, evidence on their cumulative effects remains limited in Malawi. This study examines the prevalence of marital control behaviours and their association with spousal violence among ever-married women in Malawi. Pooled nationally representative data from the Malawi Demographic and Health Surveys (2005, 2010, and 2016) were analysed, including 16,668 women aged 15–49 who completed the domestic violence module. Marital control was measured using five standard indicators and categorised into graded levels (safe, low, moderate, and high). Survey-weighted descriptive analyses, generalised ordered logit models, and multivariable logistic regression were used to assess patterns of marital control and its association with emotional, physical, sexual, and any spousal violence. More than two-thirds of women reported at least one controlling behaviour, and nearly half experienced moderate to high levels of marital control. Surveillance and jealousy were the most prevalent forms. A strong dose–response association was observed between marital control intensity and spousal violence. Compared with women in safe relationships, those experiencing high marital control had substantially higher odds of emotional (AOR = 10.14; 95% CI:8.47–12.13), sexual (AOR = 6.76; 95% CI 5.59–8.16), physical (AOR = 5.72; 95% CI 4.86–6.74), and any spousal violence (AOR = 7.50; 95% CI:6.49–8.66). Partner alcohol use and regional context were consistently associated with higher levels of marital control, while socioeconomic resources offered limited protection against severe control. These findings highlight marital control as a prevalent and cumulative risk factor for spousal violence in Malawi, underscoring the need for prevention strategies that address controlling behaviours alongside physical and sexual abuse within marriage.