Sexism and Attitude Toward Dating Violence: A Cross-Cultural Comparison Between Adolescents in Poland and the United States.

Abstract

Sexist attitudes are a risk factor for favorable attitude toward dating violence and dating violence experiences. Culture impacts how individuals express and address sexism, as well as perceive violence in intimate relationships. This study explores differences in sexist attitudes and attitude toward dating violence across adolescents in rural and urban Poland and the United States. Poland and the United States share similarities in their cultural contexts (e.g., higher income, low gender equity for high-income countries), yet differences still exist (e.g., historical). A quantitative design was used to collect survey data from 256 Polish adolescents and 208 U.S. adolescents. Data were analyzed using three-way multivariate analysis of variance and multigroup structural equation modeling. The results revealed that adolescents in Poland have stronger sexist attitudes, particularly in rural areas. Additionally, sexist attitudes are significantly related to attitudes toward dating violence in both Poland and the United States. The results inform prevention and intervention efforts that can target sexist attitudes and relationship health among adolescents in Poland and the United States in both rural and urban contexts.