Uncovering the Drivers of Violence Against Women and Girls in Brazilian Higher Education: A Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling Approach

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains a pervasive challenge within higher education worldwide, and Brazil is no exception. Understanding the underlying causes of such violence is essential for developing effective prevention and policy interventions. This study investigates the key determinants of VAWG in Brazilian higher education through a structured, data-driven analysis. Using a quantitative approach, structured questionnaires were distributed to undergraduate and postgraduate students across multiple Brazilian universities, yielding 247 valid responses. The data were analysed using exploratory factor analysis with Promax rotation and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). Results from the factor analysis revealed strong intercorrelations among community-level factors and other dimensions of VAWG, while societal factors also emerged as highly influential. Significant path coefficients were identified between individual (β = 0.240), interpersonal (β = 0.312), community (β = 0.249), institutional (β = 0.241), and societal (β = 0.251) levels and the overall causal structure of VAWG. Collectively, the 24 critical causal factors identified accounted for 99.1% of the total variance in VAWG determinants. The study contributes to the theoretical understanding of VAWG by integrating five key causal levels and employing a robust statistical framework. Practically, it offers actionable insights for policymakers, university leaders, and educators to design multi-level, evidence-based strategies that promote safer and more gender-equitable academic environments.