A Network Analysis of Domestic Violence Beliefs Among Young Adults in India

This study sought to describe the system of beliefs on gender, attitudes toward women, and wife beating, in young adults who live in Mysore, India. Furthermore, it identified structural sex differences in the interplay of values among these matters that can affect individual and community views towa...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of interpersonal violence 2021-11, Vol.36 (21-22), p.NP12041-NP12066
Main Authors: Rodriguez, Ana L., Stephens, Dionne P., Brewe, Eric, Ramarao, Indira, Madhivanan, Purnima
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attitude
Attitudes
Beliefs
Domestic Violence
Family power
Family structure
Family Violence
Female
Females
Gender differences
Gender role attitudes
Humans
India
Male
Masculinity
Men
Network analysis
Power structure
Sex differences
Social power
Spouse Abuse
Spouses
Values
Violence
Women
Young Adult
Young adults
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This study sought to describe the system of beliefs on gender, attitudes toward women, and wife beating, in young adults who live in Mysore, India. Furthermore, it identified structural sex differences in the interplay of values among these matters that can affect individual and community views toward domestic violence. Drawing from survey data gathered from 265 young adult Indian men and women, this study used network analysis to graph a correlation network of beliefs and attitudes toward domestic violence. Node, scale, and network structure descriptions allowed for comparisons among male and female participant responses. The findings support the assertion that there are sex differences among the system of beliefs toward wife beating among Indian young adults. Gender ideology, masculine role in relationships, and legal and social consequences of wife beating emerged as the most important values to focus on when addressing young men’s beliefs of domestic violence and attitudes toward women. In contrast, values influencing women’s perceptions of domestic violence are more complex and related to multiple beliefs about women’s power, family structure, and social and legal implications of domestic violence. The results highlight the importance of recognizing gender differences in the connectivity between gender and wife beating beliefs when designing interventions. There is a need for efforts to accurately target these values and attitudes to more effectively address gendered attitudes and beliefs about domestic violence in this population.
ISSN:0886-2605
1552-6518
DOI:10.1177/0886260519889923