Attributions related to spousal sexual violence among married women in Turkey

Objective: Spousal sexual violence (SSV) is a form of inti-mate partner violence (IPV) that can affect women phys-ically and psychologically and often co-occurs with other forms of IPV. The estimated prevalence of SSV might not reflect the reality since women often do not readily per-ceive it as a form of violence. Method: This descriptive study aimed to investigate the factors associated with married women's attributions related to SSV. The sample consisted of 510 married women who were recruited during their visits to various outpatient clinics in a hospi-tal in Turkey between July and December 2016. The data was collected as self-reports via sociodemographic forms, Attributions related to the Sexual Violence Scale, the sources of help-seeking, and the Bem Sex-Role Inventory. Results: Among the sample, 12.7 % reported lifetime SSV. The age and education level of the father predicted victim-blaming attributions, and the education level of women and their fathers predicted rape -support-ive attributions. Women who had an arranged marriage had higher rape-supportive attributions. These attribu-tions were not associated with gender role orientation and experience of SSV. Consultation with healthcare pro-fessionals was the most common suggestion for women who experienced SSV. Discussion: Attributions of mar-ried women to SSV are related to individual and marital factors. Education could be a valuable tool with its form and content for shaping women's attributions to SSV.