Domestic Violence Indictors and Coping Styles Among Iranian, Pakistan and Turkish Married Women: A Cultural Study

Abstract

Domestic violence remains a pervasive global issue affecting women across cultural, social, and economic contexts. This cross-cultural causal-comparative study examined the dimensions of domestic violence psychological, physical, sexual, and economic and the associated coping strategies among married women in Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey. A total of 660 married women (220 from each country), aged 20–65 years and married for at least two years, completed the Domestic Violence Scale and the Coping Style Scale through online administration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was utilized to compare violence dimensions and coping methods across the three populations. Results revealed statistically significant differences in all four dimensions of violence among the countries (p < .001). Pakistan reported the highest levels of psychological, physical, economic, and sexual violence, followed by Turkey, while Iran exhibited comparatively lower levels in all domains except economic violence, where Iran and Turkey were similar. Significant cross-cultural differences were also found in coping strategies, particularly cognitive coping and problem-solving approaches (p < .001), whereas emotional coping did not significantly differ. Pakistani women reported significantly higher cognitive coping scores, and Turkish women exhibited stronger problem-solving tendencies compared to Iranian participants. These variations reflect the influence of cultural norms, economic conditions, gender roles, and societal expectations on both the experience and management of intimate partner violence. The study highlights the necessity of culturally informed interventions, enhanced social support systems, and policies that address the structural determinants of domestic violence in developing countries. Limitations include restricted sampling due to pandemic conditions and the sensitivity of self-reported measures. Future research should incorporate longitudinal designs and explore the role of cultural capital in shaping women’s resilience and coping trajectories.