https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260520916282
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
1–22
© The Author(s) 2020
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DOI: 10.1177/0886260520916282
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Original Research
Rape Myth Acceptance
of Police Officers in
Portugal
Marisalva Fávero,
1,2
Amaia Del Campo,
3
Sandra Faria,
1
Diana Moreira,
4
Filipe Ribeiro,
1
and Valéria Sousa-Gomes
1,2
Abstract
This study intended to examine rape myth acceptance (RMA) among police
officers and its relationship with sociodemographic data, length of service,
specific training in the field, and professional experience with victims of
rape. To this end, we applied the Sexual Violence Beliefs Scale (ECVS) and
controlled for sociodemographic data, as well as professional experience and
specific training in the field, through a self-report questionnaire. The sample
was composed of 400 police officers from a city in the north of Portugal,
aged between 29 and 54 years, and most were men (94.3%). We found
that tolerance to overall sexual violence exhibits positive correlations with
age and length of service, as well as negative correlations with education
levels. Differences were also found regarding gender, with men exhibiting
greater tolerance/acceptance of overall sexual violence. It was also found
that officers who exhibit higher tolerance/acceptance for sexual violence,
overall, are those who do not consider it relevant to receive specific training
in the field of sexual violence to perform their duties, who report not having
any professional experience with cases of sexual violence and also do not
1
University Institute of Maia, Portugal
2
University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
3
University of Salamanca, Spain
4
University of Porto, Portugal
Corresponding Author:
Marisalva Fávero, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University Institute of Maia,
Av. Carlos de Oliveira Campos, Castelo da Maia, 4475-690 Maia, Portugal.
Email: mfavero@ismai.pt
916282JIV XX X 10.1177/0886260520916282Journal of Interpersonal ViolenceFávero et al.
research-article 2020