Path analysis of patriarchal and sexist beliefs, attitudes toward violence, and dating violence

Dating violence research needs to examine the perspective and experience that women and men have of this type of violence and the cognitive factors associated with it. In order to fill this gap, the objective of this research was to analyze the relations between patriarchal and sexist beliefs, attitudes favorable to physical, psychological, and sexual violence towards women and men, and the prevalence of dating violence. A total of 774 Mexican university students (52.33% women and 47.67% men) participated answering five instruments. In order to examine the data obtained, four path analysis models were created. The results showed that men have developed more attitudes supporting the use of physical, psychological, and sexual violence against women from the influence of patriarchal and sexist beliefs. Likewise, women who reported greater adherence to patriarchal and sexist beliefs presented more favorable attitudes towards physical, psychological, and sexual violence towards themselves. In turn, it was found that female participants who reported higher scores in the attitudes supporting sexual, psychological, and sexual violence towards themselves had a higher level of victimization. In conclusion, the four models revealed the impact that patriarchal and sexist beliefs have on dating violence through attitudes supporting violence towards women and men.