A Global Examination on the Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence Against Women: A Multilevel Modeling Analysis

Intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) is a global health and human rights issue. This study explores the multilevel risk factors-individual, interpersonal, neighborhood, and national-that influence attitudes toward wife abuse. Using multilevel modeling, data from the World Value Survey and country-level datasets (n = 76,025), our findings suggest that improving perceptions of gender inequality (individual-level) and emphasizing the values of democracy (country-level) are particularly critical to reducing positive attitudes toward IPVAW. Additionally, merely enacting domestic violence laws may not change attitudes that tolerate IPVAW. Instead, the proper implementation, resources, and public awareness of these laws are crucial, particularly among women.