Examining the profile of couples attending a violence prevention intervention: A dyadic latent profile analysis

Existing research points to how increasing male engagement in public health interventions without addressing gender inequities can perpetuate power imbalances in a relationship which may lead to increased stress and anxiety for women. The aim of this study was to identify profiles of couples who attended a violence prevention intervention based on their attitudes toward gender norms and power sharing within a couple, determine if these profiles have different women's mental health outcome and examine whether male engagement moderates this relationship.

Using data from a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, we conducted a latent profile analysis to categorize different profiles amongst couples in the intervention (n=202) and conduct logistic regression to examine the study aims.

The latent profile analysis identified three profiles of couples: (1) discordant dyads, (2) concordant high gender equity dyads, and (3) concordant average dyads. There were no differences in women's depression symptoms at the end of the intervention amongst the three profiles. Male engagement, measured through attendance data, did not moderate the relationship between the couple's relationship profile and women's mental health.

Small sample size, measurement sensitivity, and potential response bias to the scales assessing gender norms, power dynamics and mental well-being might have led to the null results we see. Yet, future studies should further explore the potential for differences in mental health outcomes and the impact of interventions on these outcomes based on intercouple dynamics in understanding and expression of power and gender norms.