Development and Validation of the Acceptance of Violence Against Women Scale (AVAWS)

Violence against women is one of the most dramatic expressions of subjugation to which women are subjected in all patriarchal societies. The present research comprised four studies to develop and validate the Acceptance of Violence Against Women Scale (AVAWS).

Participants in these studies included 15 experts (Study 1), 305 general respondents (Study 2), 293 respondents (Study 3), and 300 respondents (Study 4).

In Study 1, we provided evidence of content validity for a theoretically appropriate, accurate, clear, and relevant set of items and scenarios to be included in the AVAWS. In Study 2, we analyzed the factor structure of the scale and identified a multidimensional measure representing five types of violence (physical, sexual, psychological, moral, and economic). Study 3 confirmed this factor structure and showed that the AVAWS is best represented by a bifactor model that assesses both general (G-factor) and specific (S-factors) support for violence against women. Finally, in Study 4, we experimentally demonstrated the criterion validity of the AVAWS and showed that it is sensitive to manipulations of cultural sexism.

It is concluded that the AVAWS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing social support for violence against women, being a pioneer in documenting cultural sexism as an organizing principle of this support, with potential applications in clinical, educational, and legal contexts.