Investigating the relations between psychological violence in romantic relationship, perceived social support and self-efficacy

Due to the cummulative effect of psychological violence agianst women in close relationships and having less visible effects than physical violence, self-efficacy beliefs are thought to be important in providing social support and coping of the women who faced psychological violence in their relationships. The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between psychological violence and perceived social support and self-efficacy beliefs in romantic relationship, whether these variables differ according to various demographic variables, and how physical, sexual and economic violence is controlled and how perceived social support and self-efficacy predict psychological violence. The sample of the first study consists of 396, and second study 178 women who is in a romantic relationship and living in Turkey. In order to collect the data, 'Demographic Information Form' that was developed by the researcher, 'Psychological Violence in Close Relationships Scale' that was developed by Cankardaş-Nalbantçılar (2018), 'Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support' that was adapted into Turkish by Eker & Arkar (1995), 'General Self-Efficacy Scale' that was adapted into Turkish by Yıldırım & İlhan (2010), and 'Domestic Violence Coping Self Efficacy Scale' that was adapted into Turkish by Akpınar (2014) were applied. The results indicated that psychological violence in close relationships had significant negative correlations with percieved social support and self-efficacy. Also, perceived social support and self-efficacy had significant positive correlation with self-efficacy. For psychological violence in close relationships, there were significant group differences for age, education level, partners' employment, having children, relationship status and duration, physical and economical violence by the family and physical, economical and sexual violence by the partner. Similarly, for perceived social support, there were significant group differences for age, education level of the participant and partner, partners' employment, having children, relationship status and duration, physical and economic violence by the family and physical, economic and sexual violence by the partner. For self-efficacy, there were significant group differences for employment of the woman, how the woman met her partner, physical and economical violence by the family and physical, economic and sexual violence by the partner. Finally, multiple regression analyses revealed that while psychological violence in close relationships was significantly predicted by physical, economical and sexual violence and perceived social support; self-efficacy did not have a predictor role. The findings were discussed in light of the relevant literature and suggestions for prevention of violence and rehabilitation of women were presented. Key Words Violence, psychological violence, close/romantic relationship, percieved social support, self-efficacy, woman.