Development and Validation of the Perception of Wife Battery Scale

Iyabode Giwa; Muniru Ajala; Benjamin Olabimitan; Taiye Ojo

doi:10.18535/sshj.v10i01.2186

Abstract

The present study developed and validated the Perception of Wife Battery Scale (PWBS) to assess culturally grounded beliefs and attitudes toward wife battering. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 204 participants and analysed using exploratory factor analysis, reliability testing, and construct validation procedures. The suitability of the data for factor analysis was confirmed by a meritorious Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin value (.85) and a significant Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity, χ²(190) = 1389.71, p < .001. Principal Component Analysis with Varimax rotation yielded a four-factor structure comprising Psychological and Behavioural Risk Factors, Patriarchal and Normative Beliefs, Cultural Masculinity Ideology, and Protective and Preventive Factors, collectively explaining 54.06% of the total variance. One item was removed due to weak factor loading, resulting in a final 19-item scale. The PWBS demonstrated moderate internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .65), acceptable for a newly developed multidimensional instrument. Concurrent validity was supported by a significant positive correlation with the Domestic Violence Myth Acceptance Scale (r = .44, p < .001), while discriminant validity was established through a non-significant association with self-esteem (r = –.02, p > .05). Overall, the findings indicate that the PWBS is a psychometrically sound and culturally relevant measure for assessing perceptions of wife battering. The scale holds promise for research, policy evaluation, and intervention efforts aimed at addressing intimate partner violence within Nigeria and similar socio-cultural contexts.

Keywords

Perception of wife batteringintimate partner violencescale development and validationNigeria

References

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Costello, A. B., & Osborne, J. W. (2005). Best practices in exploratory factor analysis. Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 10(7), 1–9.Google Scholar ↗
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[refR-2] Aihie, O. N. (2009). Prevalence of domestic violence in Nigeria: Implications for counselling. Edo Journal of Counselling, 2(1), 1–8.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-3] Antai D. (2011). Traumatic physical health consequences of intimate partner violence against women: what is the role of community-level factors?. BMC women's health, 11, 56. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6874-11-56DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-4] Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Prentice Hall.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-5] Boateng, G. O., Neilands, T. B., Frongillo, E. A., Melgar-Quiñonez, H. R., & Young, S. L. (2018). Best practices for developing and validating scales for health, social, and behavioral research. Frontiers in Public Health, 6, 149.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-6] https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00149DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-7] Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development. Harvard University Press.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-8] Campbell, D. T., & Fiske, D. W. (1959). Convergent and discriminant validation by the multitrait–multimethod matrix. Psychological Bulletin, 56(2), 81–105.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-9] Cattell, R. B. (1966). The scree test for the number of factors. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 1(2), 245–276.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-10] Connell, R. W., & Messerschmidt, J. W. (2005). Hegemonic masculinity: Rethinking the concept. Gender & Society, 19(6), 829–859.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-11] Costello, A. B., & Osborne, J. W. (2005). Best practices in exploratory factor analysis. Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation, 10(7), 1–9.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-12] DeVellis, R. F. (2017). Scale development: Theory and applications (4th ed.). Sage.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-13] Dobash, R. E., & Dobash, R. P. (1979). Violence against wives. Free Press.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-14] Eriksson, L., & Mazerolle, P. (2015). A cycle of violence? Examining family-of-origin violence, attitudes, and intimate partner violence perpetration. Journal of interpersonal violence, 30(6), 945–964. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260514539759DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-15] Field, A. (2018). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (5th ed.). Sage.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-16] Foran, H. M., & O’Leary, K. D. (2008). Alcohol and intimate partner violence. Clinical Psychology Review, 28(7), 1222–1234.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-17] Fulu, E., Jewkes, R., Roselli, T., & Garcia-Moreno, C. (2013). Prevalence of and factors associated with male perpetration of IPV. The Lancet Global Health, 1(4), e187–e207.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-18] Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2019). Multivariate data analysis (8th ed.). Cengage.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-19] Heise, L. L. (1998). Violence against women: An integrated ecological framework. Violence Against Women, 4(3), 262–290.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-20] Henson, R. K., & Roberts, J. K. (2006). Use of exploratory factor analysis in published research. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 66(3), 393–416.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-21] Ikuteyijo, O. O., Zepro, N., Akinyemi, A. I., Probst-Hensch, N., & Merten, S. (2025). Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Intimate Partner Violence Among Adolescents and Young Women in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review. Public health reviews, 45, 1607041. https://doi.org/10.3389/phrs.2024.1607041DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-22] Kaiser, H. F. (1974). An index of factorial simplicity. Psychometrika, 39(1), 31–36.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-23] Leonard, K. E., & Eiden, R. D. (2007). Marital and family processes in the context of alcohol use. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 3, 285–310.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-24] Lonsway, K. A., & Fitzgerald, L. F. (1994). Rape myths. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 18(2), 133–164.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-25] Moore, T. M., & Stuart, G. L. (2005). A review of masculinity and partner violence. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 10(1), 46–61.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-26] Nunnally, J. C., & Bernstein, I. H. (1994). Psychometric theory (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-27] Odini, F., Amuzie, C., Kalu, K. U., Nwamoh, U., Emma-Ukaegbu, U., Izuka, M., Odini, U., & Ezepue, C. (2024). Prevalence, pattern and predictors of intimate partner violence amongst female undergraduates in Abia State, Nigeria; public health implications. BMC women's health, 24(1), 259. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-03088-xDOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-28] Okafor, M. C., Anorue, L. I., Obayi, P. M., & Chima, O. A. (2023). Knowledge and Attitude Toward Media Campaigns Against Gender-Based Violence Among Nigerian Women in Southeast, Nigeria. Sage Open, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231206594DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-29] Okedare, O. O., & Fawole, O. I. (2023). Intimate partner violence among young women in Ibadan, Nigeria: are there slum and non-slum differences?. BMC women's health, 23(1), 290. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02446-5DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-30] Okedare, O.O., Salawu, M.M. & Fawole, O.I. Intimate partner violence and quality of life of young women in urban slum and non-slum communities, Ibadan, Nigeria. BMC Public Health 25, 1199 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22385-0DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-31] Olatunde O. A. (2025) Intimate Partner Violence in Nigeria: Prevalence, Reporting Behaviour, And Policy Implications. Advances in Preventive Medicine and Health Care, 8(1), 1-8. 1081. DOI: 10.29011/2688-996X.001081DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-32] Osakwe, E. W., & Odungiweru, P. O. (2020). Domestic violence: Its implication for family stability. International Journal of Economics, Environmental Development and Society, 1(1), 65- 81.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-33] Oyediran, K. A., & Isiugo-Abanihe, U. C. (2005). Perceptions of Nigerian women on domestic violence. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 9(2), 38–53.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-34] Peters, J. (2008). Measuring myths about domestic violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 23(7), 1029–1047.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-35] Rakovec-Felser Z. (2014). Domestic Violence and Abuse in Intimate Relationship from Public Health Perspective. Health psychology research, 2(3), 1821. https://doi.org/10.4081/hpr.2014.1821DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-36] Shakya, H. B., Cislaghi, B., Fleming, P., Levtov, R. G., Boyce, S. C., Raj, A., & Silverman, J. G. (2022). Associations of attitudes and social norms with experiences of intimate partner violence among married adolescents and their husbands in rural Niger: a dyadic cross-sectional study. BMC women's health, 22(1), 180. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-01724-yDOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-37] Speizer I. S. (2010). Intimate partner violence attitudes and experience among women and men in Uganda. Journal of interpersonal violence, 25(7), 1224–1241. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260509340550DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-38] Syasyila, K., Gin, L. L., Abdullah Mohd Nor, H., & Kamaluddin, M. R. (2024). The role of cognitive distortion in criminal behavior: a systematic literature review. BMC psychology, 12(1), 741. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-024-02228-0DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-39] Tohan, M. M., Zaman, S., Saha, B. R., Juhi, N. J., Mahbub, S. B., & Howlader, M. H. (2025). Marital control, domestic violence justification, and mental health: a study of married women in Bangladesh. BMC psychiatry, 25(1), 886. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07133-3DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-40] Walby, S. (1990). Theorizing patriarchy. Basil Blackwell.Google Scholar ↗

[refR-41] Wessells, M. G., & Kostelny, K. (2022). The Psychosocial Impacts of Intimate Partner Violence against Women in LMIC Contexts: Toward a Holistic Approach. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(21), 14488. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192114488DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗

[refR-42] Zepinic, V. (2023) Battered Woman Syndrome: The Iceberg of Domestic Violence. Beijing Law Review, 14, 143-161. doi: 10.4236/blr.2023.141008.DOI ↗Google Scholar ↗