The relationship between domestic violence and the attitudes of women towards honor, gender roles, and wife-beating in Turkey

Society's Attitude Toward Spousal Physical Abuse: Findings from the Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey, 2022

Background

Societal attitude toward spousal physical abuse plays a crucial role in preventing violence against women. Yet, this public health issue has been insufficiently addressed. This study examines the relationship between the societal attitude toward spousal physical abuse and various social determinants.

Methods

We used data from the 2022 Philippines' National Demographic and Health Survey. The outcome variable was attitude toward spousal physical abuse. Covariates included women's sociodemographic characteristics, experiences of witnessing their father's abusive behavior, intimate partner violence (IPV), and controlling behavior. Partner-related variables (age, educational level, employment status, and alcohol consumption behavior) were also considered. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the associated factors of spousal physical abuse by using Stata 18.0.

Results

Overall, 1,920 (9%) of 19,228 women reported that spousal physical abuse is justifiable in at least one of the presented scenarios. Women IPV survivors (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 1.35, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.06-1.73) and those who experienced controlling behavior by their partners (aOR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.45-2.15) were more likely to accept spousal physical abuse than their counterparts. Conversely, women with a higher decision-making score were less likely to accept spousal physical abuse than those who had a lower score (aOR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.56-0.98).

Conclusions

Finding suggests that women's attitudes toward spousal physical abuse are significantly influenced by their experience of IPV. Future health research, programs, and policies should address individual, interpersonal, and systemic-level risk factors that profoundly impact women's health.

A retrospective descriptive study of male perpetrators of intimate partner violence referred by judicial authorities: an example from Turkey

PURPOSE

Our study examines the socio-demographic, forensic psychiatric, and childhood trauma exposure (CTE) data of Turkish intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators and draws comparisons with the violence data.

METHODS

Data of male perpetrators referred to the domestic violence outpatient clinic by judicial authorities between November 2019 and June 2022 were retrospectively examined, with a focus on CTE data.

RESULTS

The mean age of the male perpetrators examined in the study was 37.1 years. Among the overall sample, 16.2% (n = 17) had experienced violence at school in childhood, and 22.9% (n = 24) had experienced CTE. Regarding the frequency of domestic violence in their households, of the perpetrators admitted to the clinic for IPV, 40% (n = 42) reported rarely, 43.8% (n = 46) sometimes, and 16.2% (n = 17) often engaged in violent acts. There is a significant relationship between the frequency of IPV and the level of CTE (χ2: 13.052, SD: 2, p = 0.001, Cramer's V: 0.353). Similarly, individuals who witnessed domestic violence during childhood were found to commit partner violence more frequently (χ2: 8.157, SD: 2, p = 0.017, Cramer's V: 0.279).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we found a strong relationship between CTE and IPV. To the best of our knowledge, our study is only example that investigates the relationship between CTE and IPV in a Turkish sample.

The effect of physical and emotional partner violence exerted during pregnancy on prenatal attachment and depression levels in pregnant women

Exposure of pregnant women to physical and emotional violence during pregnancy adversely affects the health of the mother and the fetus. This study aimed to assess the effects of emotional and physical partner violence on prenatal attachment and depression levels in pregnant women. Five-hundred and ten pregnant women in the second and third trimesters were included in the study. A personal information form, the Epidemiological Research Center Depression Scale, and the prenatal attachment inventory (PAI) were used for data collection. Although 7.5% of the pregnant women were exposed to physical partner violence during pregnancy, 24.3% were exposed to emotional partner violence. Depression was observed in 86.9% of the pregnant women, whereas the mean PAI score was 37.29 ± 10.504. There was a statistically significant relationship between the pregnant women's exposure to physical (p = .046) and emotional partner violence (p < .001) and depression. In this study, it was determined that pregnant women's exposure to emotional partner violence poses a risk for depression during pregnancy (p < .002; odds ratio = .143). As professionals working with pregnant women, obstetricians and maternity nurses should inquire about the exposure of pregnant women to partner violence during antenatal follow-ups.

Does domestic violence legislation reduce permissive attitudes about intimate partner violence? Longitudinal evidence from men and women from 61 countries

Background

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is highly prevalent and has substantial implications for women's health. Changing IPV attitudes is one pathway to reduce IPV. While evidence suggests that interventions targeting individuals may change IPV attitudes, the effect of wider-scale interventions, such as legislation, remain unknown.

Methods

We used individual-level IPV attitudes information collected between 1997 and 2020 by the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), which we linked with national-level domestic violence (DV) legislation information. We evaluated the effect of adoption of DV legislation on changes in IPV attitudes using a difference-in-differences study design that controlled for time-varying country-level confounding and accounted for staggered timing of legislation adoption.

Findings

Our sample included 2,184,047 women from 60 countries and 390,877 men from 40 countries. After controlling for country-level confounders, adoption of DV legislation reduced IPV acceptability among women (average treatment effect among treated (ATT) = -0.07, 95% CI: -0.16, 0.06) and men (ATT = -0.11, 95% CI: -0.22, 0.03) although estimates were imprecise and included the null.

Interpretation

DV legislation may reduce permissive IPV attitudes, especially among men, although conclusions should be interpreted cautiously due to imprecise estimates.

Funding

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (5R00HD104896).

Opinions of male nursing students about violence against women: A qualitative study

AIM

This study aims to explore the opinions of male nursing students on violence against women in Turkey.

INTRODUCTION

The prevalence of violence against women in the world is increasing every passing day. Although women try to deal with the changes their lives bring along, they are faced with physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence for various reasons at the same time.

BACKGROUND

Inclusion of men in studies can have a strong impact on how strategies are developed and implemented. Tackling the issue of violence against women requires active engagement of men and, therefore, knowing the knowledge, attitudes, and understanding of male nursing students is important.

METHODS

In this qualitative study, 18 male nursing students participated. The participants were selected through purposive sampling, and data were collected through individual semi structured interviews. The data were analyzed using the thematic analysis method designed by Clarke and Braun.

FINDINGS

The findings of the study are presented in seven themes and these are definition of violence, causes of violence, reactions to witnessing violence, impacts of violence on society, solutions to violence, efforts regarding violence in Turkey, and being a male nurse. Among the striking results of the study were that students considered violence with its many dimensions, that they stated that violence could be prevented, that they found that efforts regarding the issue were insufficient in Turkey, and that they stated that important responsibilities for preventing violence against women lay with nurses.

CONCLUSION/IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Students considered violence and its various dimensions. They felt that violence could be prevented, that the efforts regarding the issue were insufficient in Turkey, and that important responsibilities for preventing violence against women lay with nurses. The views of male nursing students on violence against women are promising as it encourages the empowerment of future nurse professionals, who are expected to be the pioneers of necessary changes in the field of health in order to defend women.

Psychometric evaluation of the Social Support Questionnaire for Transactions in Turkish gender-based violence sample

AIM

This study aims to investigate the reliability and predictive validity of the Social Support Questionnaire for Transactions (SSQT) scale.

DESIGN

A psychometric design using cross-sectional data.

METHOD

This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted between February-June 2021 using snowball sampling through an online survey panel. 204 Turkish survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) participated in the research.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants was 35.66 ± 12.50. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis examined the construct validity of the SSQT scale. The principle axis factoring (PAF) estimation method was performed, including oblique rotation (Promax) for EFA, and the diagonally weighted least squares (DWLS) estimation method was used for CFA. Test-retest reliability coefficients (r) were moderate to excellent, ranging from 0.48 to 0.88. The analyzes supported the 5-factor solution, and the reliability was evaluated with Cronbach's Alpha coefficients for Social Friendship, Daily Emotional Support, Problem-Oriented Emotional Support, Daily Instrumental Support, and Problem-Focused Instrumental Support sub-dimensions, and the total score of SSQT showing 0.87, 0.84, 0.90, 0.73, 0.83, and 0.93, respectively. The relationships between sub-dimensions of SSQT showed moderate positive correlations ranging from 0.40 to 0.60. There were weak negative correlations between SSQT and PHQ-9, PHQ-15 and GAD-7, ranging from -0.20 to -0.34, which shows the external validity of the SSQT.

CONCLUSION

The relationships between sub-dimensions of SSQT and PHQ-9, PHQ-15, GAD-7 are given in the results support using the SSQT scale as a research and clinical instrument for assessing women who had experienced GBV and have/have not received social support in Turkish culture.

The effects of exposure to physical and emotional violence from partners on psychological resilience, forgiveness, happiness, life satisfaction, and depression level in Turkish women

The data of this descriptive and correlational study were collected from 583 women between October 2021 and December 2021 with information form, Brief Resilience Scale, Oxford Happiness Scale-Short Form, Epidemiological Research Center Depression Scale, Heartland Forgiveness Scale, and Life Satisfaction Scale. There is a statistically significant difference between the resilience, happiness, and life satisfaction levels of women exposed to physical violence from their partners and the presence of depression (p < .001). A statistically significant difference was found between the presence of depression and resilience, happiness, and life satisfaction (p < .001) and forgiveness (p = .004) in women who were exposed to emotional violence from their partners. While resilience, happiness, and life satisfaction levels decreased in women who were exposed to physical violence from their partners, the incidence of depression increased. While the presence of depression increased in women who were exposed to emotional violence from their partners, the level of resilience, happiness, life satisfaction, and forgiveness decreased.

Verbal and psychological violence against women in Turkey and its determinants

Verbal and psychological violence against women is considered an important sociological and legal problem and a serious threat within the context of basic human rights. The aim of this study was to detect the factors affecting verbal and psychological violence against women in Turkey, a developing country. The micro data set of the National research on domestic violence against women in Turkey, which was conducted by the Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies, was employed in this study. The factors affecting women's exposure to verbal and psychological violence by their husbands or partners in Turkey were determined using binary logistic and binary probit regression analyses. Women whose husbands or partners cheated and used alcohol were more exposed to verbal and psychological violence compared to others. In addition, women who were exposed to physical, economic, and sexual violence were more exposed to verbal and psychological violence compared to others. Exposure to violence by first-degree relatives increases the possibility of exposure to verbal and psychological violence. More effective results can be achieved by prioritizing women likelier to be exposed to violence in policies aimed at preventing acts of verbal violence against women in our country. There are few studies on verbal and psychological violence against women. Therefore, it will be useful to conduct relevant studies from different perspectives.

The relationship between municipal trainees' attitudes toward violence against women and their gender perceptions

PURPOSE

This study examined the relationship between individuals' attitudes toward violence against women and their perception of gender roles.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This descriptive and cross-sectional study design (n = 635) collected data using the ISKEBE Violence against Women Attitude Scale and the Perception of Gender Scale. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analyses.

RESULTS

About 37.5% of the participants had been exposed to violence. A moderately positive correlation was found between the participants' scores on gender perception and attitude toward violence against women (r = 0.551, p < 0.000).

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Women did not approve of violence against women more than men did. Participants with higher education levels and employment had a more negative attitude toward violence against women.

Women's attitude towards intimate partner violence and utilization of contraceptive methods and maternal health care services: an analysis of nationally representative cross-sectional surveys from four South Asian countries

BACKGROUND

Intimate partner violence (IPV) adversely affects women's reproductive health outcomes but to what extent women's justification of IPV affects maternal health care service utilization is unexplored.

METHODS

The secondary cross-sectional datasets from multiple indicator cluster surveys of Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal and Pakistan conducted between 2010 and 2015 were used. We used a generalized linear mixed model with random effects, at both cluster- and country-level, to determine the odds ratio of maternal health service utilization at the regional level and a multivariable logistic regression model adjusting for complex survey design at the country level. Interaction between women's justification of IPV and residential location, and linear trend in the utilization of maternal health care services associated with increasing levels of women's justification of IPV, were examined using the Likelihood Ratio Test (LRT).

RESULTS

A total of 26,029 women aged 15-49 years, living with their partners and had a pregnancy outcome 2 years prior to the survey were included. Women justifying IPV were less likely to utilize contraceptive methods (aOR) = 0.86, 95% CI 0.84, 0.88), at-least one Antenatal Care (ANC) visit (aOR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.72, 0.88), four or more ANC services (aOR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.76, 0.86), institutional delivery (aOR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.80, 0.94) and Post-natal Care (aOR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.62, 0.95) services. A decreasing linear trend was observed for four or more ANC visits (LRT P = 0.96) and institutional delivery (LRT P = 0.80) with increasing levels of IPV justification. Women justifying IPV were less likely to have at least one ANC visit in urban (aOR 0.67, 95% CI 0.60, 0.75) compared to rural areas (aOR 0.83, 95% CI 0.73, 0.94).

CONCLUSIONS

Women's justification of IPV was associated with decreased odds of utilizing a wide range of maternal health care services at the regional level. Although further research that may help establish a causal link is important before formulating public health interventions, our study indicates interventions targeting women's condoning attitude toward IPV, delivered sooner rather than later, could potentially help to improve women's utilization of essential maternal health care services in the South Asian region that comprises Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, and Pakistan.