Gender roles and dating violence: A mediator role of moral disengagement

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the mediator role of moral disengagement in the relationship between gender roles and dating violence. Participants were 425 university students [310 (72.9%) female, 115 (27.1%) male, Mage = 20.68 years, SD = 2.21] who completed questionnaires package involving the Gender Roles Attitudes Scale, the Attitudes toward Dating Violence Scales, and the Moral Disengagement Scale. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. A bootstrapping analysis was conducted in order to determine any indirect effects. The results showed that gender roles predicted moral disengagement and dating violence negatively, and that moral disengagement predicted dating violence positively. It was further found that the structural equation model that proposed that gender roles had a direct and an indirect effect through moral disengagement on dating violence was confirmed. The results of the study were discussed in the light of relevant literature, and suggestions for future studies were made.