Anxious Attachment and the Endorsement of Intimate Partner Violence: Mediating Effects of Romantic and Violence Myths

This study investigates how anxious attachment in women influences the legitimization and severity perception of intimate partner violence (IPV), mediated by romantic love myths and IPV-related myths. Data were collected from 390 female university students in northwestern Türkiye using validated self-report measures and scenario-based evaluations. Structural Equation Modeling revealed that anxious attachment significantly predicts both increased legitimization and decreased severity perception of IPV, primarily through the sequential mediation of romantic and violence-related myths. Findings highlight the critical role of cultural belief systems in shaping attitudes toward partner violence and offer insight into the psychological mechanisms underlying IPV tolerance.