Intergenerational Transmission of Myths About Gender-Based Violence in Post-Soviet Societies: A Structural and Psychosocial Approach

Abstract

This study explores the intergenerational transmission of gender-based violence (GBV) myths within the post-Soviet cultural context of Azerbaijan, with a focus on structural and psychosocial mechanisms. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed involving 184 participants aged 18–65. A culturally adapted 16-item GBV Myth Acceptance Scale was utilized, and construct validity was established through Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses (χ²/df = 2.15, CFI = .95, RMSEA = .058). Given the ordinal nature of the data, non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis tests and multivariate regression analysis were applied. Results indicated a clear hierarchy in myth rejection: while myths condoning physical and sexual violence were strongly rejected (M = 1.16–1.85), psychological myths and beliefs around "family privacy" remained more prevalent (e.g., M = 3.27, Mode = 5.0). Significant generational differences emerged (H(4) = 10.52, p = .015, ε² = 0.08), with the 46–55 age group exhibiting the highest myth endorsement (β = +0.69). The regression model accounted for 37.4% of the total variance (R² = .374), identifying gender (β = −0.65, p < .001) and higher education (β = −0.24, p = .007) as significant predictors of lower myth acceptance. While overt forms of violence are increasingly stigmatized, covert and structural mechanisms of control persist through intergenerational socialization. Effective interventions should target psychological literacy and challenge cultural norms that prioritize family privacy over individual well-being.