The moderating role of social anxiety in the effect of self-esteem on attitude of violence against women

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the mediating role of social anxiety in the effect of self-esteem on the attitude of violence towards women. The sample of the study consists of 1093 university students. The study data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Social Anxiety Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Iskebe Violence Against Women Attitude Scale. The mediation analysis was conducted using the Process Macro developed by Hayes. According to the findings, social anxiety mediates the relationship between self-esteem and violence against women. Individuals with high levels of social anxiety and low self-esteem tend to have an increased attitude towards violence against women. When the results of the regression analysis, which showed the mediation effect, were examined, it was determined that the effect of self-esteem on the attitude of violence against women was negative and significant. As self-esteem increases, the level of violence against women decreases. Our results indicate that adopting positive self-esteem is significant for reducing the negative outcomes on attitudes towards violence against women.