Publication Date
Fall 12-12-2024
Degree Level
B.A.
Program
Honors
First Advisor
Colton L. Daniels, PhD
Second Advisor
Camille Langston, PhD
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
Religious beliefs bear a great significance in many individuals’ lives, as they shape our personal belief systems and affect our relationships with others. Limited research has explored the relationship between religion and intimate partner violence (IPV), an increasingly prevalent issue that persists in our society. The traditional values, such as male gender roles associated with patriarchal societies and traditional religious beliefs, may magnify the prevalence of IPV perpetration. Other variables that may be associated with positive attitudes toward IPV include self-control, alcohol intake, and belief in divine control. This analysis used preliminary data from the Crime, Health, and Intimate Partner Problems Survey (CHIPPS), a cross-sectional probability sample of college undergraduate students (n = 318) designed to analyze differences in partner violence, health, and religion. Findings reveal that there persists a positive association between low self-control and pro-IPV attitudes. Additionally, greater frequency of prayer was inversely associated with pro-IPV attitudes. Despite initial support for religiously based gender role attitudes predicting greater acceptance of IPV attitudes, this finding was explained away by respondent’s demographic characteristics. These findings underscore the complex relationship between traditional religious values associated with IPV and the public health concern it poses. Research directions, discussion, and theoretical implications are further discussed.
Recommended Citation
Pawlak, C. J. (2024). Submit Yourself: Religious Beliefs, Gender Roles, Self-Control, and Alcohol Use’s Influence on Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence. Honors Program Theses and Research Projects. https://commons.stmarytx.edu/honorstheses/
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.