Predictors of Attitudes Towards Domestic Violence: The Role of Gender Beliefs and Authenticity

Gender-based violence represents one of the most serious forms of violation of women’s human rights, deeply rooted in gender stereotypes and patriarchal patterns. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between gender beliefs, authenticity in romantic relationships, and attitudes towards domestic violence against women. The research was conducted on a sample of 201 participants through an online platform. The variables were operationalized using the Domestic Violence Myth Acceptance Scale, the Gender Equality Attitudes Scale and the Serbian adaptation of the Authenticity in Relationships Scale – AIRS-22. The results indicate strong and consistent gender differences: on average, men express greater tolerance towards violence compared to women, while women show stronger support for egalitarian gender roles across all domains. The most stable predictor of attitudes towards the justification of partner violence was egalitarianism in the educational role, pointing to the importance of the educational system as a key space for socialization and value transmission. Furthermore, participants from rural areas displayed greater tolerance towards violence and more traditional attitudes about gender roles compared to participants from urban areas. Contrary to expectations, authenticity in romantic relationships did not make a significant contribution in predicting attitudes towards violence, suggesting that global attitudes are predominantly shaped by cultural and social norms rather than individual characteristics. These findings have important implications for the development of preventive and educational programs that emphasize the strengthening of egalitarian values in educational contexts and society as a whole, with particular attention to differences between urban and rural settings.