Patriarchal Beliefs, Sociodemographic Factors, and Spontaneous Self-affirmation as Predictors to Beliefs toward Intimate Partner Violence
Authors:   , Bahja Kawthar 
Published: July 2024

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been studied extensively in Western countries. However, studies from the Arab world and more specifically Lebanon are still scarce with only 50% of the 22 Arab countries presenting with eligible prevalence studies. Few studies (e.g. Usta et al., 2007; Hejase, et al., 2015) conducted in Lebanon highlight that intimate partner violence is very much a serious social problem. However not much is known about people’s beliefs toward intimate partner violence and what predictors play a role in forming those beliefs. The current study employs a survey to assess predictors of intimate partner violence in a sample of adult males and females residing in Lebanon. A risk factor for negative cognitions on intimate partner violence that has been supported theoretically and empirically is patriarchal ideology - a term used by scholars to demonstrate gender inequality, male-dominant society, oppression of women, and hierarchal social arrangements (Dobash&Dobash, 1979). Research has also shown that negative beliefs on intimate partner violence are related to having witnessed episodes of intimate partner violence. This is explained through social learning theories that detail the intergenerational transmission of violence (Akers, 1998; Bandura, 1973, 1977). While risk factors are studied extensively, protective factors are evaluated to a lesser extent. In the current context, spontaneous self-affirmation – the process of naturally reflecting on valued aspects of the self as competencies, central roles and core values (Harris et al., 2019) – is assessed for the first time in relation to beliefs about intimate partner violence. Spontaneous self-affirmation could buffer against threats to men’s self-image specifically in relation to their societal status and masculinity (Bosson, et al., 2021) and render them less likely to endorse violence against women. The current study therefore assessed patriarchal ideology, spontaneous self-affirmation, sociodemographic factors of age and gender as predictors of beliefs toward intimate partner violence while controlling for the contribution of having witnessed and perpetrated intimate partner violence. Also, of interest were examining differences in beliefs towards intimate partner violence across education level and marital status, as literature has previously pointed to differences albeit not consistently. A total of 155 participants aged 18 and above and residing in Lebanon completed the survey online. Response rate was generally low and a large number of participants failed to complete the survey possibly as a function of the sensitive nature of the topic. In a hierarchical multiple regression, the variables of interest were evaluated and results showed that the only significant predictor of beliefs toward intimate partner violence was gender such that males were more likely to hold negative cognitions and beliefs toward intimate partner violence. Neither spontaneous self-affirmation, nor patriarchal ideology emerged as significant predictors. The latter may have been a result of the education level of the current sample. The majority of participants held university degrees and this could have served as a buffer for patriarchal beliefs (Boyle, 2016). Indeed, differences emerged across education level such that participants with a high school education or lower had more negative beliefs than participants holding doctoral degrees. The study points to the importance of raising awareness on intimate partner violence among male youth specifically and using psychoeducation to increase knowledge on intimate partner violence.