Development, Validity, and Reliability Analyses of Beliefs about Relationship Violence against Women Scale and Gender Stereotypes and Beliefs in Nigeria

This article describes development, validity, and reliability analyses of Beliefs about Relationship Violence against Women Scale (BEREVIWOS) and Gender Stereotypes and Beliefs (GESTABE). BEREVIWOS consisted of 13 items measuring beliefs about physical violence (4 items), psychological manipulation and control (5 items), and sexual violence against women (4 items). GESTABE consisted of 16 items measuring beliefs about sexual submissiveness of women (4 items), emotional stereotypes about women (6 items), and sexual stereotypes about men (6 items). Analysis was based on a convenience sample of 210 respondents in Nigeria. Exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation was used to determine the factor structure. Relevant scales (i.e., adversarial sexual beliefs, physical aggression, hostility, relationship victimization experience, propensity to victimize partner, and relationship distress assessment) were used to establish convergent, concurrent, and discriminant validity. Social desirability scale was used to control for common method bias using partial-correlation procedures. Cronbach’s alpha indicated that the internal consistency of BEREVIWOS (.87), as well as the subscales (physical violence .79, psychological manipulation and control .82, and sexual violence .82), were acceptable. Cronbach’s alpha for GESTABE (.88), as well as its subscales (sexual submissiveness of women .81, emotional stereotypes about women .90, and sexual stereotypes about men .85) were equally acceptable. Hypothetical relationships between BEREVIWOS, GESTABE, and socio-demographic variables were examined. Implications for policy, practice, and research were discussed.