The Development of Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence: An Examination of Key Correlates Among a Sample of Young Adults

Abstract

Social learning theory remains one of the leading explanations of intimate partner violence (IPV). Research on attitudes toward IPV represents a logical extension of the social learning tradition, as it is intuitive to expect that individuals exposed to violence in the family of origin may internalize behavioral scripts for violence and adopt attitudes accepting of IPV. Yet despite this assumed link between family violence and attitudes toward IPV, few studies have empirically examined factors associated with the development of such attitudes. Using data from the Toledo Adolescent Relationship Study (TARS), we examine the role of family violence on the adoption of attitudes accepting of IPV among a sample of young adults (n = 928). The current investigation contributes to existing literature on attitudes toward IPV by (a) providing an empirical examination of factors associated with attitudes toward IPV in predictive models; (b) relying on a multifaceted index, describing specific conditions under which IPV may be deemed justifiable; (c) examining extra-familial factors, in addition to family violence exposure, to provide a more comprehensive account of factors associated with attitudes toward IPV; and (d) focusing particular attention on the role of gender, including whether the factors associated with attitudinal acceptance of IPV are similar for men and women. Findings indicated considerable variation in overall endorsement of attitudes regarding the use of violence across conditions, with greater endorsement among women. Consistent with social learning approaches to IPV, exposure to violence in the family of origin was associated with attitudes toward IPV. Yet findings also signaled the salience of factors beyond the family, including a range of sociodemographic, relationship, and adult status characteristics. We discuss the relevance of our findings for future theorizing and research in the area of attitudes toward IPV.

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

“…Attitudes of acceptability of IPVAW are an important risk factor of actual IPVAW (Abramsky et al, 2011;Archer & Graham-Kevan, 2003;Copp et al, 2016;WHO, 2002). However, the measurement of these attitudes in surveys in western countries tends to be based on single items and not supported by reliable and valid instruments .…”

“…Attitudes of acceptability of IPVAW have been linked to the perpetration of this type of violence (Copp, Giordano, Longmore, & Manning, 2016;Gracia, Rodríguez, & Lila, 2015;Sugarman & Frankel, 1996). High levels of acceptability of IPVAW can lead to the perception of this type of behavior as normative, increasing the risk of men perpetrating IPVAW and of this type of violence being justified by victims and their social circles (Waltermaurer, 2012).…”

“…Some studies have used attitudinal scales to measure the acceptability of IPVAW among young people (Copp et al, 2016;Fincham, Cui, Braithwaite, & Pasley, 2008) and rural populations (Schwab-Reese & Renner, 2017). Among the general population, several demographic health surveys have included some brief scales and individual items measuring acceptability of certain IPVAW behaviors (Yount, Halim, Hynes, & Hillman, 2011;Wang, 2016;WHO 2013).…”

Neighborhood Norms, Disadvantage, and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration

“…Importantly, we control for prior IPV exposure; however, given the high level of mutuality observed in young adult samples (see, e.g., Copp et al. 2016), our dependent variable, IPV perpetration, likely includes a certain level of victimization. Also, the current investigation relied on data from a regional sample of young adults.…”

“…However, whereas prior work has focused somewhat narrowly on norms about violence, recent evidence has established that outright endorsement of relationship violence is quite low (Copp et al. 2016). Accordingly, there is a need for work that examines the wider arena of dating and relationships, including important norms that may be drivers of conflict within young adult relationships.…”