Perceived Parental Violence, Sexism, and Attitudes towards Dating Violence against Women
Perceived Parental Violence, Sexism, and Attitudes towards Dating Violence against Women

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived parental violence during childhood, sexist attitudes towards women and the attitudes towards dating violence perpetrated by men. For this purpose, data were collected from 351 (201 female, 150 male) university students aged 18-28. A battery of scales including the Attitudes towards Dating Violence Scale, Ambivalent Sexism Scale, and questions about physical and psychological violence from their parents during childhood were administered to the participants. Three different hierarchical regression analyzes were conducted to determine the predictors of participants’ attitudes towards physical, psychological and sexual dating violence. The results of the analysis indicated that male university students’ attitudes towards physical, psychological, and sexual dating violence were more positive than female students. Parental violence that the participants experienced during their childhood predicted their attitudes towards sexual dating violence positively. When the relationship between sexist attitudes and attitudes towards dating violence was examined, hostile sexism towards women positively predicted positive attitudes towards psychological, physical, and sexual dating violence. On the other hand, benevolent sexism towards women positively predicted positive attitudes towards physical dating violence. In conclusion, the findings remark to the role of sexist attitudes towards women and perceived parental violence in childhood on positive attitudes towards dating violence. Determining the variables that predict attitudes towards dating violence seems important for intervention studies aiming to prevent dating violence in romantic relationships.

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