Attitude Towards Intimate Partner Violence in Two Asian Cultures

Abstract

This study used World Values Survey data to investigate which demographics (gender, socioeconomic status, age, marital status, religiosity, and views towards gender equality) of people in two patriarchal societies, China and India, are associated with attitudes towards intimate partner violence (IPV). Participants were asked to rank their attitudes towards IPV on a scale of 1 to 10. Logistic regression and linear regression analyses were run for India and China to determine the effects of gender, socioeconomic status, age, marital status, religiosity, and gender equality on the likelihood that participants favor IPV or oppose IPV. The model for India was statistically significant, indicating male, lower middle, upper middle, and upper socioeconomic classes, older age, no longer married, and no religious affiliation were more likely to favor IPV. The model for China was also statistically significant, with male the only significant predictor for favorable attitude. Linear regression analyses were performed for India and China using the participants who favor IPV to determine which variables (gender, socioeconomic status, age, marital status, religiosity, and gender equality) are associated with favoring IPV to a greater extent. The model for India was statistically significant, with never married, lower class, upper class, and supportive attitudes towards gender equality having a positive relationship with more favorable attitudes towards IPV. The model for China was not statistically significant. Overall, results may help target individuals at higher risk for victimization or perpetration of IPV with prevention strategies.