Examining women's sexual myth beliefs, sexual violence and help-seeking behaviors

INTODUCTION AND AIM: Women's beliefs in sexual myths can cause problems related to sexuality, communication problems within the family, and sexual violence. It is stated that women tend not to seek help against the sexual violence they are exposed to. This research aims to examine the sexual myth beliefs of women in Turkey, the sexual violence they are exposed to and its degree, and their help-seeking behavior against sexual violence. METHOD AND MATERIAL: The research was conducted with the participation of 584 married women between the ages of 18-65 in Turkey. The data was obtained by survey method. Structured Information Collection Form, Sexual Myths Scale, Sexual Coercion in Intimate Relationships Scale and Severity of Violence Against Women were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyze the data, and linear regression and logistic regression analyzes were used to examine the factors affecting the dependent variable. FINDINGS: A positive relationship was found between the Sexual Myth Scale and the Sexual Violence Exposed to Women in Intimate Partner Relationships Scale and the Violence Against Women Rating Scale. A positive relationship was found between the Sexual Violence Exposed to Women in Intimate Partner Relationships scale and the total score of the Violence Against Women Rating scale and the sexual violence subscale scores. Moderate rather than poor communication with the spouse reduces exposure to violence (p<0.05). Negativities experienced during sexual intercourse increase violence (p<0.05). Violence Against Women Rating scale shows that experiencing violence is increasing (p<0.05). Age, frequency of sexual intercourse, having problems during sexual intercourse, age at first marriage, first sexual intercourse experience, belief in sexual myths, and the Sexual Violence Exposed to Women in Intimate Partner Relationships scale do not affect exposure to violence (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: It can be said that there is a relationship between women's exposure to violence, especially sexual violence, and their beliefs in sexual myths, and that belief xiii in sexual myths affects exposure to violence. Women's tendency to seek help against the sexual violence they are subjected to is very low.