This scoping review synthesized empirical findings on in-law abuse — including its prevalence, forms, victim types, risk factors, and consequences — by searching six databases (ProQuest, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Sabinet) and including 14 peer-reviewed studies published between 1997 and 2024.
Only 14 studies met inclusion criteria, underscoring how understudied this topic is. Prevalence ranged widely: 0.38%–27% for women and 0.56%–59.5% for men across studies, depending heavily on sampling method and time frame. The most common forms were emotional/psychological and physical abuse; sexual in-law abuse appeared in only 2 studies. Daughter-in-law abuse (especially by mothers-in-law) dominated the literature. Key risk factors included dowry expectations, son preference, infertility, co-residence in joint family households, and normalization of controlling behaviors. Consequences included depression, PTSD, physical injury, homicide, and divorce.
- Single-author screening with no dual independent review or interrater reliability assessment raises selection bias risk. - No formal quality or risk-of-bias appraisal of included studies; primary studies varied considerably in methodology, making prevalence estimates incomparable. - Restricted to English-language studies only, and excluded gray literature, likely missing relevant evidence.
Clinicians working with married women in South Asian or patrilocal family contexts should routinely ask about abuse from in-laws — not just intimate partners — especially when co-residence is present. Daughters-in-law facing dowry pressure, infertility, or joint household living are at elevated risk and may benefit from targeted safety screening and resource linkage.
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