Applying the structural equation model approach to study the simultaneous relationship between women's empowerment and mental disorder in Egypt

PurposeThe main purpose of this paper is to examine whether women's empowerment and mental disorder affect each other in a one-way or two-way simultaneous relationship. Accordingly, the study fills a gap in the literature since it is the first attempt to examine the simultaneous relationship between women's empowerment and mental disorder in Egypt. To achieve this, the study aims to examine the most important dimensions of women's empowerment and mental disorder that affect each other simultaneously, and the most important determinants affecting women's empowerment and mental disorder.Design/methodology/approachThe study depends on the cross-sectional data from the "Survey of Young People in Egypt" implemented in 2014. Married women aged 14-35 are included in the analysis (N = 3052). Recursive and nonrecursive structural equation models are used to examine the simultaneous relationship between women's empowerment and mental disorder using AMOS, which stands for Analysis of Moment Structures (Version 22).ResultsWomen's education has a positive significant impact on women's empowerment and mental health. Violence has a positive significant impact on mental disorder, while it has a negative impact on women's empowerment. Sexual harassment has a negative impact on treatment with spouse dimension. Regarding the one-way relationship, the results show that the more empowered the woman, the better her mental health is. Considering the two-way simultaneous relationship, the findings show that there is a partial two-way simultaneous relationship.ConclusionThere is a relationship between women's empowerment and mental health, indicating that they affect each other simultaneously. Awareness of the importance of psychological counselling and treatment for mental disorders in women is needed.