Opinions and attitudes toward domestic violence: University students’ perspectives in Turkey

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine the attitudes of university students toward domestic violence. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. The sample of this study consisted of 900 students enrolled in a public university’s nursing and forestry faculties. The data of the study were collected by the authors in Istanbul between December 2018 and March 2019. A Participant Introduction Form and the Attitudes toward Domestic Violence Scale were used to collect data. The participants’ mean Attitudes toward Domestic Violence Scale score was found to be 19.90 ± 5.58. A small percentage of the participants was found to have a supportive attitude toward domestic violence. Furthermore, this study revealed a statistically significant relationship between attitudes toward domestic violence and sociodemographic factors such as gender, department of study, region of birth, longest-lived area, place of residence, and family income. The attitudes of society toward domestic violence, as well as the factors that influence these attitudes, should be determined to prevent and eliminate domestic violence. Nurses who interact with the public on a routine basis should take an active position in research and training programs aimed at eradicating approving attitudes regarding domestic violence.