Associations Between Gender Equality Perceptions and Psychological and Physical Dating Violence Among Young Adults

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between young adults’ perceptions of genderequality and their recognition of psychological and physical dating violence while considering the role of sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional surveywas conducted with 465 young adults aged 18–24 in Türkiye. Data were collected via an online questionnaire that included the Gender Equality Scale, the Perceptions of Dating Violence Scale, and sociodemographic variables. Nonparametric tests, Spearman correlation analyses, and OLS multiple regression analyses were used to assess group differences, bivariate relationships, and the unique predictive contribution of gender equalityperceptions while controlling for sociodemographic variables. Results: The findings revealed a significant positive correlation between lower perceptions of gender equality andgreater tolerance for psychological and physical dating violence. Educational level, perceived economic status, and romantic relationship status were associated with differences in perceptions of gender equality and violence, while gender and employment status werenot significant factors. Conclusions: This study highlights the link between perceptionsof gender equality and attitudes toward dating violence. These findings suggest that individual beliefs and sociodemographic characteristics influence how young adults perceive and respond to psychological and physical violence. Further research is needed to explore these relationships across broader populations and cultural contexts.