"Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects men and women worldwide. Previous research on IPV perpetration suggested a number of individual-, interpersonal-, and contextual-level risk factors. Despite this large body of research enhancing our understanding of IPV perpetration, there is still a lack of a comprehensive examination of the etiology of IPV. Researchers have called for a contextual and systematic approach that acknowledges the influence of multilevel forces on IPV perpetration. Therefore, the current study aims to examine the applicability of Aker's Social Structure and Social Learning (SSSL) theory to explain severe IPV perpetration. SSSL theory is a multilevel integrated theory that links structural level factors to IPV perpetration through a social learning process. In other words, the current study tests the mediation effect of the social learning process on the connection between social structural factors and IPV perpetration. Data on IPV perpetration by both male and female college students in 30 nations were taken from the International Dating Violence Study, which also included social learning variables. Structural level indicators of gender equality for individual nations were taken from Global Gender Gap Index, which provides a multi-faceted indicator of gender equality. Because the students are nested within countries, multilevel regression models were used. Findings suggest that national-level gender equality is partially mediated by definitions favorable to breaking the law; a component of SSSL theory. However, other components of the social learning process, such as differential association, differential reinforcement, and imitation, were not found to have mediating effects. Therefore, the findings only partially support SSSL theory that social learning variables mediate the effect of gender equality on IPV perpetration. Implications of the findings are discussed."--Pages ii-iii.
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