The mediator role of dominance levels in the relationship between sexism types and intimate partner violence on heterosexual dyads

This study aimed to examine the mediation role of dominance in the relationship between ambivalent sexism and intimate partner violence in heterosexual dyads and to adapt the Dominance Scale into Turkish. The design was a predictive correlational study. The study participants consisted of 108 heterosexual couples selected by a convenient sampling method. The Instruments were the Personal Information Form, Ambivalent Sexism Inventory, Conflict Tactics Scale-2, and Dominance Scale. Data analysis was performed in Mplus 8.1. Dominance Scale was adapted into Turkish, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted for construct validity, and Cronbach alpha coefficients were calculated to evaluate the reliability. The results indicated that the reliability and validity coefficients of Dominance Scale were sufficient. Later, dyad members' distinguishability was examined, and the results showed that dyad members are distinguishable. Data obtained from couples were assessed through the actor-partner interdependence mediation model. The results revealed that intimate partner violence was bidirectional. As men's benevolent sexism level increased, the likelihood of exposure and perpetration of intimate partner violence reduced for both men and women. Ambivalent sexism had no direct effect on the increase of intimate partner violence. However, when partners' dominance levels rose, ambivalent sexism caused an increase in the victimization and perpetration of intimate partner violence. As one of the partners' dominance levels rose, women's ambivalent sexism levels and men's hostile sexism levels increased the violence exposed and perpetrated by partners. The findings were discussed in intimate partner violence literature, and recommendations were presented for theoretical and practical applications.