Abstract

Background: Domestic violence (DV) is a major public health and human rights concern with profound psychosocial ramifications for survivors. Tribal women in India, including the Tiwa (Lalung) community of Assam, remain significantly underrepresented in empirical literature examining the psychosocial dimensions of domestic violence. Objectives: This study aimed to measure the prevalence of domestic violence among Tiwa women in Kamrup Metropolitan District, Assam, assessing their psychosocial well-being using validated quantitative indicators, and to analyse the relationship between domestic violence experiences and psychosocial outcomes specifically psychological distress and perceived social support. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative design was employed. A structured questionnaire was administered to a purposive sample of fifty-six (n=56) Tiwa women residing in the Bonda and Satgaon localities of Guwahati. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, with responses categorised by frequency and percentage. Results: A majority of respondents (78.6%) reported experiencing at least one form of domestic violence. Emotional and physical violence were the most prevalent (91.1% and 80.3% combined affirmative responses, respectively), while sexual violence was the least disclosed (28.6%), likely due to social stigma. Psychological distress was near-universal; all respondents reported some level of distress in the preceding month, and 62.5% experienced it frequently (always or often). Social support was inadequate, with a substantial proportion of respondents neutral or undisclosed about their support networks. Domestic violence was associated with impaired mental health, reduced social interactions, and heightened feelings of isolation. Conclusion: Domestic violence constitutes a pervasive and psychosocially destructive phenomenon among Tiwa women in the urban periphery of Assam. The findings underscore the urgent need for culturally sensitive, community-embedded interventions and strengthened legal mechanisms for indigenous women in urbanising contexts.