Factors Associated to Gender-Based Violence Beliefs in Trainee Teachers

Background: Gender-based violence remains one of the most persistent forms of inequality, grounded in deeply held beliefs. This study examined how individual, ideological, and sociocultural factors influence beliefs about gender-based violence among trainee teachers in Madrid and Castilla-La Mancha. Methods: Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, the Gender-Based Violence Stereotypical Beliefs Scale (GBVSBS) was applied to 404 trainee teachers (83.4% identified as women, 16.1% as men, and 0.5% as other genders) enrolled in education programs. A non-random purposive sampling was used. Results: Pearson’s correlations showed that acceptance of gender-based violence myths increased with religiosity, conservative ideology, and pornography consumption, and decreased with perceived social machismo, feminist identification, and age. Myths about male perpetrators increased with religiosity and decreased with perception of machismo, feminist identification, and age. Myths about gender-based violence and female victims increased with religiosity, conservative ideology, and pornography consumption, and decreased with feminist identification and perception of machismo. Multiple regression identified sex, religiosity, political ideology, perceived social machismo, and feminist positioning as key predictors of GBVSBS acceptance. Conclusions: Results highlight the need for educational and social strategies to challenge these myths and combat gender-based violence.