Attitudes towards domestic violence: categories, measurements, predictors and consequences

 
Audio is AI-generated
0

Abstract

Context and relevance. Domestic violence (DV) is a global problem that worsens during social crises and international conflicts, especially in countries that lack legislative protection against DV, including Russia. Public opinion polls show that Russians agree that DV is a serious problem, but disagree on whether Russian society needs to adopt a law on DV prevention. Low willingness to support legislative initiatives to protect the population from DV may be associated with attitudes towards DV. Objective. To analyze and summarize results of modern foreign research on measurements, predictors and consequences of attitudes towards DV. Research question. What categories of attitudes towards the problem of DV, predictors and consequences of attitudes towards DV are distinguished in the modern research field? Methods and materials. Theoretical analysis of foreign publications in the Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO databases over the past 5 years. Results. Categories of attitudes towards DV include legitimation, acceptability, attitudes towards intervention, and perceived severity. The predictors and consequences of attitudes towards DV are presented. Conclusions. Classification of different attitudes’ categories is necessary for studying psychological mechanisms hindering or facilitating positive change in the fight against domestic violence.

General Information

Keywords: violence, domestic violence, attitudes, measurements, predictors, consequences

Journal rubric: Legal Psychology and Psychology of Safety

Article type: review article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/jmfp.2025140408

Funding. The study was implemented in the framework of the Basic Research Program at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE University).

Received 08.11.2024

Revised 07.12.2025

Accepted

Published

For citation: Ananyeva, O.A. (2025). Attitudes towards domestic violence: categories, measurements, predictors and consequences. Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology, 14(4), 77–86. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/jmfp.2025140408

© Ananyeva O.A., 2025

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Podcast

 

 
 

References

  1. ВЦИОМ. (2019). Худой мир — или добрая ссора? Тема «домашнего насилия» весьма активно обсуждается в российском обществе и вызывает сильные эмоции у респондентов. URL: https://wciom.ru/analytical-reviews/analiticheskii-obzor/khudoj-mir-ili-dobraya-ssora (дата обращения: 10.11.2025).
  2. VCIOM. (2019). A bad peace—or a good fight? The topic of "domestic war" is being actively discussed in Russian society and evokes strong emotions among respondents. (In Russ.). URL: https://wciom.ru/analytical-reviews/analiticheskii-obzor/khudoj-mir-ili-dobraya-ssora (viewed: 10.11.2025).
  3. Казун, А.П., Карпушкина, А.А., Курихина, Д.В., Савунова, М.С. (2022). Бьет — значит любит? Стратегии депроблематизации домашнего насилия в российских СМИ. Мониторинг общественного мнения: Экономические и социальные перемены, 5(171), 149—171. https://doi.org/10.14515/monitoring.2022.5.2220
    Kazun, A.P., Karpushkina, A.A., Kurikhina, D.V., Savunova M.S. (2022). «If he beats you, it means he loves you?» Strategies for deproblematizing domestic violence in the Russian media. Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes, 5(171), 149—171. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.14515/monitoring.2022.5.2220
  4. Addis, S., Snowdon, L. (2023). What works to prevent violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence (VAWDASV)? A systematic evidence assessment. Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being, 8(2), 75—84. https://doi.org/10.35502/jcswb.318
  5. Agadullina, E., Lovakov, A., Balezina, M., Gulevich, O.A. (2022). Ambivalent sexism and violence toward women: A meta‐analysis. European Journal of Social Psychology, 52(5—6), 819—859. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2855
  6. Antmen, D. (2023). Explaining the justification of violence against women based on the system justification theory. Nesne-Psikoloji Dergisi, 11(29), 504—518. https://doi.org/10.7816/nesne-11-29-10
  7. Bareket, O., Fiske, S.T. (2023). A systematic review of the ambivalent sexism literature: Hostile sexism protects men’s power; benevolent sexism guards traditional gender roles. Psychological Bulletin, 149(11—12), 637—698. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000400
  8. Bonilla-Algovia, E., Pana, A.G., Carrasco Carpio, C. (2024). Design and validation of the gender-based violence stereotypical beliefs scale. Behavioral Sciences, 14(11), Article 1093. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14111093
  9. Brunton, R., Shin, M. (2024). Further psychometric examination of the Intimate Partner Violence Internalized Stigma Scale (IPVIS; Brunton & Harris, 2023): Examining criterion-related validity. Acta Psychologica, 251, Article 104576. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104576
  10. Cesur, R., Sabia, J.J. (2016). When war comes home: The effect of combat service on domestic violence. Review of Economics and Statistics, 98(2), 209—225. https://doi.org/10.1162/REST_a_00541
  11. Cinquegrana, V., Marini, M., Galdi, S. (2023). Psychological abuse is not a problem! Exploring the role of domestic violence myths in psychological revictimization. Frontiers in psychology, 14, Article 1228822. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1228822
  12. Fernandez, D., Montague, A., Dinh, J., Clare, C.A., Velasquez, G., Martorell, G.M.M. (2021). Risk factors for male perpetration of intimate partner violence: A review. Aggression and violent behavior, 56, Article 101532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2020.101532
  13. Flood, M., Pease, B. (2009). Factors influencing attitudes to violence against women. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 10(2), 125—142. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838009334131
  14. Galdo-Castiñeiras, J.A., Hernández-Morante, J.J., Morales-Moreno, I., Echevarría-Pérez, P. (2023). Educational intervention to decrease justification of adolescent dating violence: A comparative quasi-experimental study. Healthcare, 11(8), Article 1156. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11081156
  15. Golovko, L., Shynkaruk, N., Yara, O., Uliutina, O., Halai, V. (2023). Peculiarities of judicial consideration of causes related to domestic violence: Comparative analysis. Cuestiones Políticas, 41(76), 512—527. https://doi.org/10.46398/cuestpol.4176.30
  16. Gracia, E., Lila, M., Santirso, F.A. (2020). Attitudes toward intimate partner violence against women in the European Union: A systematic review. European Psychologist, 25(2), 104—121. https://doi.org/10.1027/1016-9040/a000392
  17. Gram, L., Kanougiya, S., Daruwalla, N., Osrin, D. (2020). Measuring the psychological drivers of participation in collective action to address violence against women in Mumbai, India. Wellcome open research, 5, Article 22. https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15707.2
  18. Grose, R.G., Chen, J.S., Roof, K.A., Rachel, S., Yount, K.M. (2021). Sexual and reproductive health outcomes of violence against women and girls in lower-income countries: a review of reviews. The Journal of Sex Research, 58(1), 1—20. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2019.1707466
  19. Htun, M., Jensenius, F.R. (2022). Expressive power of anti-violence legislation: Changes in social norms on violence against women in Mexico. World Politics, 74(1), 1—36. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0043887121000186
  20. Levy, R., Mattsson, M. (2023). The effects of social movements: Evidence from# MeToo. SSRN, Preprint 3496903. http://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3496903
  21. Martín-Fernández, M., Gracia, E., Lila, M. (2022a). A short measure of acceptability of intimate partner violence against women: Development and validation of the A-IPVAW-8 Scale. Assessment, 29(5), 896—908. https://doi.org/10.1177/10731911211000110
  22. Martín-Fernández, M., Gracia, E., Lila, M. (2022b). Measuring perceived severity of intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) among the general population and IPVAW offenders. Psychosocial Intervention, 31(2), 109—119. https://doi.org/10.5093/pi2022a8
  23. Murvartian, L., Saavedra-Macías, F.J., García-Jiménez, M. (2025). The relationship between gender, training, experience and acceptance of myths about intimate partner violence against women and willingness to intervene among university students in Spain. Journal of School Violence, 24(1), 95—108. https://doi.org/10.1080/15388220.2024.2393151
  24. Negessa, E.H., Joseph, S.A., Kitaba, K.A., Negesa, M.G. (2023). Effectiveness of training program on improving health care providers’ readiness for managing domestic violence in Jimma Medical Center: Pre-experimental study. International journal of women's health, 15, 71—77. https://doi.org/10.2147/IJWH.S389433
  25. Pagliaro, S., Pacilli, M.G., Giannella, V.A., Giovannelli, I., Spaccatini, F., Baldry, A.C. (2021). Legitimizing intimate partner violence: Moral evaluations, attribution of responsibility, and (reduced) helping intentions. Journal of interpersonal violence, 36(5—6), 2929—2941. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518760611
  26. Perry, L.R., Moorhouse, T.P., Jacobsen, K., Loveridge, A.J., Macdonald, D.W. (2022). More than a feeling: Cognitive beliefs and positive—but not negative—affect predict overall attitudes toward predators. Conservation Science and Practice, 4(2), Article e584. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.584
  27. Satyen, L., Hansen, A., Green, J.L., Zark, L. (2022). The effectiveness of culturally specific male domestic violence offender intervention programs on behavior changes and mental health: A systematic review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(22), Article 15180. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215180
  28. Semukhina, O. (2020). The decriminalization of domestic violence in Russia. Demokratizatsiya: The Journal of Post-Soviet Democratization, 28(1), 15—45. https://muse.jhu.edu/article/747823
  29. Serrano-Montilla, C., Lozano, L.M., Bender, M., Padilla, J.L. (2020). Individual and societal risk factors of attitudes justifying intimate partner violence against women: A multilevel cross-sectional study. BMJ open, 10, Article e037993. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037993
  30. Sheng, X., Youde, A., Bryan, H. (2023). How do adolescents perceive intimate partner violence and its associated issues? International journal of health promotion and education. https://doi.org/10.1080/14635240.2023.2214532
  31. UNODC. (2023). Gender-related killings of women and girls (femicide/feminicide): Global estimates of female intimate partner/family-related homicides in 2022. Vienna: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. URL: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/2023-11/gender-related-killings-of-women-and-girls-femicide-feminicide-global-estimates-2022-en.pdf (viewed: 11.11.2025).
  32. UN Women. (2023). Progress on the sustainable development goals: The gender snapshot 2023. New York: UN Women. URL: https://bit.ly/gender-snapshot-2023 (viewed: 11.11.2025).
  33. Vall, B., López-i-Martín, X., Grané Morcillo, J., Hester, M. (2024). A systematic review of the quality of perpetrator programs’ outcome studies: Toward a new model of outcome measurement. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 25(3), 1985—1997. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380231203718
  34. Villagrán, A.M., Santirso, F.A., Lila, M., Gracia, E. (2024). Attitudes toward intimate partner violence against women in Latin America: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 25(3), 2065—2077. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380231205825
  35. Webster, K., Ward, A., Diemer, K., Flood, M., Honey, N., Morgan, J., Politoff, V., Powell, A., Stubbs, J. (2021). How are gender inequality and violence against women related? Findings from a population‐level community attitudes survey. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 56(3), 374—392. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajs4.158

Appendix

 

 
 

Information About the Authors

Olga A. Ananyeva, junior research fellow, Laboratory for Psychology, National Research University Higher School of Economics,, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8696-6935, e-mail: oananyeva@hse.ru

Metrics

 Web Views

Whole time: 1
Previous month: 0
Current month: 1

 PDF Downloads

Whole time: 0
Previous month: 0
Current month: 0

 Total

Whole time: 1
Previous month: 0
Current month: 1