Measuring Acceptability of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women: Development and Validation of the A-IPVAW Scale

Abstract

A B S T R A C TIntimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) is a major social and public health problem of global proportions. Public attitudes toward IPVAW shape the social environment in which such violence takes place, and attitudes of acceptability of IPVAW are considered a risk factor to actual IPVAW. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a scale measuring acceptability of IPVAW (A-IPVAW). To this end, a sample of 1,800 respondents was recruited via social media. A second sample of 50 IPVAW offenders was used for concurrent validity analyses. Following a cross-validation approach and using item response theory analyses, we found that the latent structure of the scale was one-dimensional and very informative for high and very high levels of acceptability of IPVAW. Regarding criterion-related validity, we found that (a) our measure was related to perceived severity of IPVAW and ambivalent sexism, (b) men showed higher levels of acceptability than women, and (c) IPVAW offenders reported higher levels of acceptability than men from the general population. Taken together, our results provide evidence that the A-IPVAW is a reliable and valid instrument to assess acceptability of IPVAW.

Assessing Victim-Blaming Attitudes in Cases of Intimate Partner Violence against Women: Development and Validation of the VB-IPVAW Scale

“…Responses were gathered on a 3-point Likert-type scale (0 = not acceptable, 1 = somewhat acceptable, 2 = acceptable). This instrument was cross-validated in the general Spanish population and showed an adequate internal structure, as well as validity evidence based on its relationship with other variables, such as perceived severity of IPVAW or ambivalent sexism (Martín-Fernández et al, 2018). The A-IPVAW showed a good internal consistency in the general sample (Cronbach's α = .89).…”

Españoles e Inmigrantes Latinoamericanos condenados por violencia de género: ¿Existe un perfil diferencial?

“…"), y Actitudes ante la denuncia ("¿Qué haría si estando en su casa usted oye que un vecino está pegando a su mujer?") (Gracia 2014;Martín-Fernández, Gracia, Marco, Vargas, Santirso y Lila, 2018). …”

A Feasibility Evaluation of the Incredible Years® School Readiness Parenting Programme

“…The Acceptability of Intimate Partner Violence against Women Scale (A-IPVAW; Martín-Fernández, Gracia, Marco et al, 2018). This scale consisted of 20 items that were scored on a 4-point Likerttype scale (1 = nothing acceptable, 4 = very acceptable).…”

“…Different authors agree that ambivalent sexism is positively related to justification of violent attitudes against the partner in the traditional context (Herrera, Expósito, & Moya, 2012;Herrero, Rodríguez, & Torres, 2017;Valor-Segura, Expósito, & Moya, 2011) and victim-blaming (Gracia, García, & Lila, 2014; Martín-Fernández, Gracia, & Lila, 2018; Vidal-Fernández & Megías, 2014). Furthermore, an association has been found between acceptability of intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) and perpetration of it (Copp, Giordano, Longmore, & Manning, 2016;Gracia, Rodríguez, & Lila, 2015), so high grades of acceptability of IPVAW increase the likelihood that men exercise violence in the couple and that this violence will be justified and normalized by victims (Martín-Fernández, Gracia, Marco et al, 2018;Waltermaurer, 2012). Additionally, high levels of acceptability of IPVAW have been associated with high levels of ambivalent sexism (Martín-Fernández, Gracia, Marco et al, 2018).…”

“…Furthermore, an association has been found between acceptability of intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) and perpetration of it (Copp, Giordano, Longmore, & Manning, 2016;Gracia, Rodríguez, & Lila, 2015), so high grades of acceptability of IPVAW increase the likelihood that men exercise violence in the couple and that this violence will be justified and normalized by victims (Martín-Fernández, Gracia, Marco et al, 2018;Waltermaurer, 2012). Additionally, high levels of acceptability of IPVAW have been associated with high levels of ambivalent sexism (Martín-Fernández, Gracia, Marco et al, 2018). In a technological context, several researchers agree that ICT devices facilitate the consolidation of gender stereotypes and a symbolic violence that legitimates models of domination based on patriarchal culture and distinction by sex (Donoso, Baños, Hurtado, & Soto, 2016;Flores & Browne, 2017).…”