Papers by Jesús L . Megías
Violence Against Women, Jan 12, 2021
Violence against women (VAW) is currently one of the main problems in El Salvador, which leads th... more Violence against women (VAW) is currently one of the main problems in El Salvador, which leads the ranking of femicides in the world. We conducted the first national survey on VAW in El Salvador following the World Health Organization (WHO) methodology, to determine the impact of violence on women’s mental health ( N = 1,274). Women who had experienced intimate partner violence showed significantly poorer mental health and more suicidal ideations. Common mental disorders were significantly associated with the experience of all forms of violence, after adjusting for sociodemographic variables and stressful life experiences. The results are discussed in connection with the primary care protocols and the design of public policies.
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Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Jun 13, 2018
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Frontiers in Psychology
Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects thousands of women around the world and is prevalent in t... more Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects thousands of women around the world and is prevalent in the Global South. Unequal social structures perpetuate hierarchies and maintain women’s vulnerability to violence. Difficulties women face in accessing education, economic resources, and employment diminish their power in intimate relationships, increasing the likelihood of IPV. These factors can also have a significant effect on women’s mental health. However, some studies show that economic empowerment does not necessarily translate into greater agency for women if they cannot use the resources they earn to pursue whatever goals or values they regard as important in life. Agency is women’s ability to identify their life goals and act upon them through critical evaluation (intrinsic agency) and autonomous decision-making (instrumental agency). In this article, we aim to analyze the relationship between women’s power (educational and economic) and agency and their influence on intimate pa...
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International Journal of Social Psychology, 2020
Two studies addressed effects of the labels ‘victim’, ‘battered woman’ and ‘survivor’ on the perc... more Two studies addressed effects of the labels ‘victim’, ‘battered woman’ and ‘survivor’ on the perception of women who have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV). Spanish undergraduates provided free associations (Study 1; N = 54) and completed semantic differentials (Study 2; N = 142) regarding the labels. Results showed that the term ‘survivor’ evoked more positive associations and ratings than both ‘victim’ and ‘battered woman’, which did not differ from each other. At the same time, however, when asked directly, participants rated ‘survivor’ as the least appropriate term. These seemingly opposing findings replicate research on the terms’ use in sexual aggression. Results were independent of individuals’ acceptance of myths about IPV or knowing a woman who has experienced IPV. Implications for the use of specific language when communicating about IPV are discussed.En dos estudios distintos se abordan los efectos de las etiquetas “víctima”, “mujer maltratada” y “superviviente” en la percepción de las mujeres que han sufrido violencia de pareja (IPV, intimate partner violence). Una muestra de estudiantes universitarios españoles completaron tareas de asociación libre (Estudio 1, N = 54) y diferencial semántico (Estudio 2, N = 142) sobre estas etiquetas. Los resultados revelan que el término “superviviente” evoca asociaciones y valoraciones más positivas que “víctima” y “mujer maltratada”, que no mostraron diferencias entre ellos. No obstante, cuando se les preguntó directamente, los participantes valoraron el término “superviviente” como el menos apropiado. Estos hallazgos aparentemente contradictorios corroboran los de investigaciones previas sobre los términos utilizados en agresiones sexuales. Los resultados fueron independientes del nivel de aceptación de los participantes de los mitos sobre la violencia de pareja o de haber conocido personalmente a alguna mujer que la hubiese sufrido. Por último se discuten las implicaciones del uso del lenguaje cuando se comunican informaciones sobre violencia de pareja.Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad under Grant PSI2016-79812-P (State Research Agency/10.13039/501100011033)Junta de Andalucía and University of Granada through the FEDER 2018/Consejería de Economía y Conocimiento, Program B-SEJ- 135-UGR18
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Supplemental Material, OnlineSupplemental_File_839367 for Gender-Related Ideological and Structur... more Supplemental Material, OnlineSupplemental_File_839367 for Gender-Related Ideological and Structural Macrosocial Factors Associated With Intimate Partner Violence Against European Women by Antonella Ludmila Zapata-Calvente, Jesus L. Megias, Miguel Moya and Dominik Schoebi in Psychology of Women Quarterly
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Personality and Individual Differences, 2021
Abstract In two studies, we analyzed the differences in the appreciation (i.e., funniness and ave... more Abstract In two studies, we analyzed the differences in the appreciation (i.e., funniness and aversiveness) and interpretation (i.e., criticism of sexism and woman and man disparagement) of subversive humor against sexism compared to sexist humor. In Study 1 (n = 202), we used a confirmatory factor analysis to verify the independence of subversive humor and sexist humor. The pattern of relations between feminist identity and the appreciation and interpretation of subversive humor against sexism was the opposite to that found between feminist identity and the appreciation and interpretation of sexist humor. The same happened with the relations between hostile sexism and subversive humor vs. sexist humor. In Study 2 (n = 169), we experimentally manipulated the type of humor. The pattern of interactions between type of humor and feminist identity was the opposite to that found between type of humor and hostile sexism. Both studies revealed that the appreciation of subversive humor was higher in more feminist participants but the appreciation of sexist humor was higher in more sexist participants. Participants with the highest levels of feminist identity and the lowest levels of hostile sexism perceived the greatest criticism of sexism in subversive humor and the highest woman disparagement in sexist humor.
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Psychology of Women Quarterly, 2017
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European Journal of Social Psychology, 2019
Moral Foundations Theory proposes five intuition‐based moral concerns: Care and Fairness (“indivi... more Moral Foundations Theory proposes five intuition‐based moral concerns: Care and Fairness (“individualizing foundations”) as well as Loyalty, Authority, and Sanctity (“binding foundations”). In studies carried out in Italy, Spain, and Germany, the authors examined how these concerns are associated with the acceptance of modern myths about sexual aggression (AMMSA), and how both jointly predict rape victim blaming. Overall, victim blaming was positively predicted by Authority and Sanctity, and negatively predicted by Care and Fairness. Although victim blaming was best predicted by AMMSA, moral concerns also contributed to its prediction, partly independently, partly mediated through AMMSA, and in the case of Sanctity in interaction with AMMSA. Discussion highlights how integrating moral foundations in the investigation of victim blaming and AMMSA across different cultural contexts may deepen our understanding of why, in each cultural context, victim blaming and related beliefs are res...
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Psychology of Women Quarterly, 2019
Intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) is investigated mostly at the individual level, w... more Intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) is investigated mostly at the individual level, which ignores the role of macrosocial variables and possible interactions between them. We explored how two ideological gender-related macrosocial factors (traditional gender role beliefs and attitudes toward gender equality) and one structural gender-related macrosocial factor (the economic Gender Equality Index) are associated with physical, psychological, and sexual IPVAW in Europe. We examined their interactions with individual-level factors in predicting IPVAW. Secondary analysis ( N = 30,284 heterosexual women) of the 2015 European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights’ Violence Against Women survey revealed that 26.1% of women in Europe reported at least one act of physical, psychological, or sexual violence. Generalized linear mixed models analysis revealed that individual-level factors (women’s education, childhood victimization, equal say about income, partner’s alcohol consumptio...
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Revista de Psicología Social, 2017
Abstract Self-objectification happens when people internalize a view of themselves as an object o... more Abstract Self-objectification happens when people internalize a view of themselves as an object or collection of body parts. Two studies were conducted to validate the Spanish version of the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBCS). This scale assesses self-objectification through three components: body surveillance, body shame and appearance control beliefs in women. In Study 1 and Study 2, 218 and 201 female undergraduate students, respectively, responded to the Spanish version of this scale and other related measures. In Study 2, they also reported on their emotions after being exposed to an objectifying scenario. The three subscales of the Spanish version of the OBCS showed acceptable indices of internal consistency (ranging between α = .68 to .84), and the confirmatory factor analysis showed a three-factor solution to be the most appropriate. Adequate convergent validity was found with respect to the Self-Objectification Questionnaire (SOQ) and other variables such as self-esteem, other-directedness, hostile sexism and enjoyment of sexualization. These findings suggest that the Spanish version of the OBCS is a satisfactory measure of college women’s self-objectification.
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Nurse Education Today, 2017
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PsycTESTS Dataset, 2013
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Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2016
Exposure to some magazines aimed at young male readers— lads’ mags—has recently been associated w... more Exposure to some magazines aimed at young male readers— lads’ mags—has recently been associated with behaviors and attitudes that are derogatory toward women, including sexual violence. In the present study, a group of Spanish adult men was exposed to the covers of a lads’ mag while a second group was exposed to the covers of a neutral magazine. Results showed that, compared with participants in the second group, participants who were exposed to covers of lads’ mags who also showed high rape myth acceptance and legitimized the consumption of such magazines reported higher rape proclivity in a hypothetical situation. These findings suggest the need to further explore the possible detrimental effects of some sexualized media that are widely accepted in many Western countries.
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Psychology of Gender Through the Lens of Culture, 2015
In this chapter, we provide an overview of the main internal and external factors proposed by soc... more In this chapter, we provide an overview of the main internal and external factors proposed by social and evolutionary psychologists to explain the development of prejudice and stereotypes from childhood. We focus particularly on gender prejudice and empirical evidence obtained from studies conducted in Spain. Gender relations differ from other intergroup relations in that contact between girls and boys increases with age. It has been proposed that this is due to the greater interdependence that underlies the development of heterosexual intimacy during adolescence. Despite this, gender prejudice persists (or even grows) during adulthood. Thus, gender prejudice is an atypical type of intergroup conflict that is characterized by attitudinal ambivalence toward the out-group. We analyze the theoretical and empirical evidence about the development of gender relations from childhood to adolescence and adulthood in relation to the emergence of ambivalently sexist attitudes. We discuss the importance of exploring such processes to develop effective social interventions.
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PsycTESTS Dataset, 2010
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Sex Roles, 2012
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Sex Roles, 2009
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Psychology of Women Quarterly, 2013
The emergence of heterosexual intimate relationship experiences has been described as central to ... more The emergence of heterosexual intimate relationship experiences has been described as central to the development of ambivalent sexist attitudes during adolescence. The quality of these relationships might be largely determined by the perceived attractiveness and expectancies about potential partners also in ideological terms. In a questionnaire study, 262 Spanish adolescents reported their attraction toward various sexist (hostile, benevolent, and ambivalent) and non-sexist profiles of other-sex targets as potential friends and intimate partners. Relationships between attraction judgments and participants' own sexist beliefs as well as their experiences in romantic relationships were examined. Results show that young women considered benevolent sexist young men to be most attractive and young men considered ambivalent sexist young women to be most attractive. Congruency effects were found between these preferences and participants’ own sexist attitudes. In addition, young women’...
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Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2004
This study assessed the role of rape myth acceptance (RMA) and situational factors in the percept... more This study assessed the role of rape myth acceptance (RMA) and situational factors in the perception of three different rape scenarios (date rape, marital rape, and stranger rape). One hundred and eighty-two psychology undergraduates were asked to emit four judgements about each rape situation: victim responsibility, perpetrator responsibility, intensity of trauma, and likelihood to report the crime to the police. It was hypothesized that neither RMA nor situational factors alone can explain how rape is perceived; it is the interaction between these two factors that best account for social reactions to sexual aggression. The results generally supported the authors’ hypothesis: Victim blame, estimation of trauma, and the likelihood of reporting the crime to the police were best explained by the interaction between observer characteristics, such as RMA, and situational clues. That is, the less stereotypic the rape situation was, the greater was the influence of attitudes toward rape o...
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Papers by Jesús L . Megías