1. Awareness on Domestic Violence in North Cyprus 1
Running Head: AWARENESS on DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN NORTH CYPRUS
Awareness of the Members of NC Community on DV: Cultural Influences on the Health of
Society
Nazif Fuat
Girne American University
Health Psychology Project Paper
Assist. Prof. Dr. Mira Rana GOKDOGAN
April 3, 2012

2. Awareness on Domestic Violence in North Cyprus 2
Awareness of the Members of NC Community on DV: Cultural Influences on the Health of
Society
Introduction
Psychology as both a science and a profession has been closely identified with other disciplines
in the broad field of health science (Holtzman, Evans, Kennedy & Iscoe, 1987). The promotion
and maintenance of physical and psychological wellbeing is provided by the field of health
psychology which is a sub-field in psychology (Prilleltensky and Prilleltensky, 2003). Regarding
the relation between coping and psychosomatic symptoms studied by Vingerhoets & Van Heck
(1990), it can be seen that stress is the main determinant of the psychological and physical
wellbeing; however it is argued that there is a bidirectional relationship between the health status
and coping with stress. The National Violence against Women (NVAW) survey found that
women are significantly more likely to be assaulted by an intimate partner than men are. Twentyfive percent of surveyed women, compared with 8 percent of surveyed men, said they were raped
and/or physically assaulted by a current or former spouse, cohabiting partner, or date at some
time in their life. (U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of
Justice, 1998). According to the results of the study held by Stets and Straus (1990) there is a
positive correlation between the level of violence and the level of stress among both men and
women victims however, women victims have greater tendency in increase stress than men
victims. Stress is one of the main influences of violence on individuals‟ health. Intimate partner
violence refers to any behavior within an intimate relationship that causes physical,
psychological or sexual harm to those in that relationship. It includes acts of physical aggression
(slapping, hitting, kicking or beating), psychological abuse (intimidation, constant belittling or
humiliation), forced sexual intercourse or any other controlling behavior (isolating a person from
family and friends, monitoring their movements and restricting access to information or
assistance) (WHO, Intimate Partner Violence and Alcohol Fact Sheet). „Violence against human
beings can lead directly to serious injury, disability or death. It can also lead indirectly to a

3. Awareness on Domestic Violence in North Cyprus 3
variety of health problems such as stress-induced physiological changes, substance use, or lack
of fertility control and personal autonomy as often seen in abusive relationships.‟ (WHO,
Women&Health, 2009, p.55). Unfortunately, Domestic Violence (DV) is the most common form
of violence especially committed against women. In accordance DV, as a personal as well as a
social issue, is a physical, sexual or emotional abuse of a woman by the man in the process of an
intimate relationship. It is an important public health issue that has physical, psychological and
social impairment influences on people‟s health (Bacchus, Bewley & Mezey, 2001). In order to
understand the affects of DV, a multiple levels of analysis approach is necessary to understand
the effects from an individual level towards the community level. The aim of this present study is
to assess the awareness of the topic DV among members of the North Cyprus community and,
according to the various variables, the influential role on the health of the individuals and the
community.
Materials and Methods
In this research, the questionnaire conducted randomly in different regions of Northern Cyprus.
The questionnaire included twenty-eight questions. The number of participation regarding this
questionnaire was 225. The questions were divided into five different parts. The first part
includes social descriptive questions, the second part basic knowledge regarding the topic and in
the third part, the questions were designed to make a transition from basic knowledge towards
the experiences regarding this issue of the participants. The questions in the fourth part concern
the psychological influences. The questions regarding the public and legal issues concerning DV
took place in the last part of the used questionnaire. Because of the sensitivity of this topic, the
questions were prepared carefully. The aim of the asked questions was to collect the necessary
data from the participants without causing any emotional threat to the respondents. The
questionnaire was conducted with a face-to-face format. Detailed definitions were made on time
by the researchers. Because of the local language of North Cyprus and the potential capacity of
foreign residents, the questionnaire was prepared using two languages; Turkish and English. The
data were analyzed using SPSS.
In order to test the hypothesis, among 28 questions, only 10 questions were used in the
questionnaire. The main questions of the questionnaire are as follows: „Have you ever heard

4. Awareness on Domestic Violence in North Cyprus 4
about the topic DV?‟, „Where did you hear about DV?‟, „Do you have knowledge about different
knowledge about different forms of Domestic Violence?‟, „As a child have you ever been
physically disciplined?‟, „By whom have you been physically disciplined?‟, „When you look
back to your childhood, do you think being physically disciplined harmed you emotionally?‟,
„Would you approve the way you have been physically disciplined?‟, „At difficult situations, like
feeling under stress, how would you reflect your emotions?, „Do you think DV is considered a
crime?‟, „Regarding to your knowledge, is physically disciplining a topic of DV?.
There were two aims of this study. One of them was to assess the awareness the members of
North Cyprus community regarding the topic of DV. There is an absence of the empirical
research on the topic of DV in North Cyprus. The results of the current study will be analyzed in
the result section of this research paper. The second aim of this study was to review the
influential role of the results of DV on the health of the individuals and community. „Family
violence researchers suggest that sociodemographic indicators of structural inequality
propensities for domestic assaults‟ (Anderson, 1997, p. 655). Unequal sociodemographic
variables include differences in age, gender, education level and economic situation of the
members that cause violence in the family. Anderson (1997) proposed that according to feminist
scholars, DV has roots in gender and power that those variables actively used by men over
women to maintain dominance and control. Parallel relationship between economic situation and
stress in the families are the factors of possible violence. Because of the low socioeconomic
status, men‟s feelings of pressure cause stressful lifestyle that is the risk factor for perpetrating
DV (Riggs, Caulfield & Street, 2000). The main reason of the pressure felt by men is the
indicator of patriarchal socialization structure of many societies. They grow up with teachings as
men should provide the economy of the family. The current opportunities of women in the
education as well as in the workplace, threat the position of men in the family. Apparently, it is
believed that the increased level of education would be the cure of DV with the raised awareness
of its negative effects and results. However, it is expected to prevent the incidences of domestic
violence, yet on the other side, gender base increased level of education corrupt the beliefs
because of the continuous influence of patriarchal social structure on men. „The term “domestic
violence” typically refers to violence between adult intimate partners‟ (Fantuzzo & Mohr, 1999).
Violence between adult intimate partners has long been a part of family life (Edleson, 1999).
„Children who witness violence in their homes are only the most recent victims to become

5. Awareness on Domestic Violence in North Cyprus 5
visible‟ (Edleson, 1999, p. 839). Children in their first years who witness violence in their
families show various excessive psychological disturbances (Osofsky, 1999).
Results
Table 1. Gender of the respondents.
Frequency
male
115
51.1%
female
Valid
Percent%
109
48.4%
224
99.6%
1
4%
225
100.0%
Total
Missing
System
Total
In the conducted research, out of 99.6 percent of the respondents 51.1 percent of them were male and 48.4
percent were female. There were 4 percent missing in the responses.
Table 2. Ages of the respondents.
Frequency
<20
62
27.6%
21-25
84
37.3%
26-30
18
8.0%
31-40
17
7.6%
41-50
9
4.0%
>50
Valid
Percent %
24
10.7%
214
95.1%
11
4.9%
225
100.0%
Total
Missing
Total
System

6. Awareness on Domestic Violence in North Cyprus 6
On the side of the age ranges among the respondents, out of 95.1 percent, 27.6 percent of the
respondents were below the age of 20. The majority of the respondents, 37.3 percent were
between the ages of 21 and 25. 8 percent of the respondents were between the ages of 26 and 30.
7.6 percent of the respondents were between the ages of 31 and 40. 4.0 percent of the
respondents were between the ages of 41 and 50 and 10.7 percent of the respondents were above
the age of 50. 4.9 percent of the responses were missing in the survey.
Education Level
Out of 99.6 percent of the respondents, the percentage of primary school level participants was
0.9, 4.0 percent were at secondary school level, 14.2 percent of the respondents were at high
school level. The majority of the respondents were at undergraduate level, 56.4 percent. 11.6
percent of respondents were graduated. Master level respondents constituted 8.4 percent of the
total responses. PhD students were 3.1 percent. 0.9 percent of the participants responded as
„none‟ to their education level. The missing responses were 0.4 percent.
Physically disciplined
Out of 218, 91 of the respondents physically disciplined in their childhood and 127 of them
mentioned that they didn‟t physically disciplined in their childhood. Out of 91 respondents, 56 of
them were male and 34 of them were female.
Table.3. Economic situation
Physically
disciplined
in
childhood?
Economic Situation
Total
Bad
20
32
3
55
18
3
33
32
Gender
Average
Female 12
Yes
Good
50
6
88
male
22
30
2
54
Female
41
32
0
73
male
Total
No
Gender

7. Awareness on Domestic Violence in North Cyprus 7
Total
63
Gender
male
Female
Total
2
127
42
62
5
109
53
50
3
106
95
Total
62
112
8
215
Valid
N
Missing
Percent
215
N
95.6%
Total
Percent
10
N
4.4%
Percent
225
100.0%
Out of 215 participants, 12 of physically disciplined female respondents were with good
economic situation while 20 physically disciplined male respondents were with good economic
situation. On the reverse side, out of 215 participants 41 of females with good economic situation
has not physically disciplined and 22 of male respondents with good economic situation has not
physically disciplined.
Table.4. Gender- Physically disciplined- By whom have you been physically disciplined?
By whom have you been physically disciplined?
Physically disciplined in
childhood?
Yes
Father
Gender of the respondent
Male
Mother
0
10
Female
6
1
7
Male
Female
16
6
12
18
1
0
2
2
17
6
14
20
Total
Relative
Teacher
Other
Gender of the respondent
Total
Gender of the respondent
Total
Gender of the respondent
Total
No
10
Total
Gender of the respondent
Total
Male
2
6
6
6
Male
Female
2
2
Male
2
6
1
1
2
1
1
2

8. Awareness on Domestic Violence in North Cyprus 8
more than one
Male
28
1
29
Female
14
42
0
1
14
43
Male
53
1
54
Female
33
3
36
86
Gender of the respondent
4
90
Total
Gender of the respondent
Total
Total
Valid
N
Missing
Percent
90
N
40.0%
Total
Percent
135
N
60.0%
Percent
225
100.0%
Out of 90 participants 10 male respondents physically disciplined by their fathers and 6 of them
physically disciplined by their mothers. On the other hand, out of 90 participants, 6 female
respondents physically disciplined by their fathers, while 12 of them physically disciplined by
their mothers.
Table.5. Gender, physically disciplining, harm and approve.
Physically disciplined in childhood?
Gender
Ever Heard about DV?
Physically
Physically disciplined approve?
disciplined harm?
Male
49
9
20
Female
32
10
10
Total
81
19
30
Valid
Missing
Total
N
Percent
N
Percent
N
Percent
213
94.7 %
12
5.3 %
225
100.0 %
Harm
97
43.1 %
128
56.9 %
225
100.0 %
Approve
76
33.8 %
149
66.2 %
225
100.0 %
Heard
about
DV?

9. Awareness on Domestic Violence in North Cyprus 9
Out of 225 participants, 94.7 percent of the respondents have heard about DV. 43.1 percent of
the respondents responded that their way of physically disciplining harmed their emotions and
33.8 percent of the participants approved their way of disciplining style. Out of 213 participants,
49 males and 32 females heard about DV. Out of 97 responses, 9 male and 10 female
respondents thought that they are harmed while they are disciplining. However out of 76
responses, 20 male and 10 female participants approve the way they physically disciplined.
Table.6. Relationship between education level and people knowledge about DV.
Heard
Education Level
Total
about DV
Yes
Primary
Secondary
High
Undergraduate
Graduated
Master
Ph.D
None
Male
1
4
9
56
12
10
2
2
96
Female
1
4
16
57
11
8
5
0
102
Total
2
8
25
113
23
18
7
2
198
Valid
Missing
Total
N
Percent
N
Percent
N
Percent
220
97.8%
5
2.2 %
225
100.0%
Results show that primary and secondary level participants has minimum knowledge comparing
to high school, undergraduate, graduated and master level participants. Out of 220 responses, 2
participants from primary level, 8 participants from secondary level, 25 from high school level,
113 participants from undergraduate level, , 23 graduated, 18 from master and 7 from PhD level
have heard about DV.
Out of 202 with 23 missing responses, 58 participants responded as TV for their information
resource on DV. Out of these 58 responses, 31 were males and 27 were females. Internet and
university course as a source of information for DV was mentioned only by 6 people. Out of 17
responses, 15 males and 2 females mentioned that they heard about DV through
newspaper/magazine. Friends and family as sources of information were equally mentioned by
total 17 people.

10. Awareness on Domestic Violence in North Cyprus 10
Table .7. The relationship between gender and education level of the respondents and the status
of being physically disciplined.
Frequency
Primary School
2
0.9
Secondary School
9
4.0
High School
32
14.2
Undergraduate
127
56.4
Graduated
26
11.6
Master
19
8.4
PhD
7
3.1
None
2
0.9
Total
224
99.6
1
0.4
225
Valid
Percent
100.0
Missing
system
Total
Physically
Education Level
Total
disciplined?
YES
Primary
Secondary
High
Undergraduate
Graduated
Master
PhD
None
Male
1
4
6
33
7
4
1
56
Female
0
3
7
11
8
5
0
34
Total
1
7
13
44
15
9
1
90
Male
0
0
7
30
7
7
1
2
54
Female
1
2
10
49
3
3
5
0
73
Total
1
2
17
79
10
10
6
2
127
TOTAL
2
9
30
123
25
19
7
2
217
NO
Valid
Missing
Total
N
Percent
N
Percent
N
Percent
217
96.4%
8
3.6%
225
100.0 %

11. Awareness on Domestic Violence in North Cyprus 11
Out of 217 responses, the majority of physically disciplined participants were at the
undergraduate level and out of 123 responses from undergraduate level, 33 male and 11 female
participants physically disciplined in their childhood while 30 males and 49 females responded
that they didn‟t disciplined physically. According to the results, out of 9 responses, 7 participants
from secondary level participants physically disciplined while only 2 of didn‟t. Out of 30
responses from high school level of participants, 13 of them physically disciplined while 6 of
them are male and 7 of them are female. Among the 25 responses from graduated level
participants, 15 of them physically disciplined while 10 of them didn‟t. Out of 19 responses, 9 of
master level participants mentioned that they had physically disciplined while out of 7 responses,
only 1 of them physically disciplined.
Table.8. Reflection of emotions according to gender.
How you reflect your emotions at difficult situations?
Being
Being
Being
all
More than
quiet
sensitive
confused
one
29
9
12
1
9
Total
Male
Being
angry
30
Female
30
19
12
16
2
6
85
60
48
21
28
3
15
175
90
Gender
Total
Valid
Missing
Total
N
Gender
of
Percent
N
Percent
N
Percent
175
77.8 %
50
22.2%
225
100.0 %
the
respondent*reflect
your emotions?
Out of 175 responses to the question „the way of reflection of emotions at difficult situations‟,
with the equal number, both male and female respondents reflect their emotions through anger.
Results also show that males are quieter than females, females are more sensitive than males and
females are more confused than males at difficult situations.

12. Awareness on Domestic Violence in North Cyprus 12
Table.9. Gender - Physically disciplined - Think DV is a crime? – Physically disciplining a topic
of DV?
Physically disciplined in childhood?
Yes
No
Yes
No
Gender
Is physically disciplining a topic Think DV is a crime?
YES
of DV?
Male
22
30
33
39
Female
13
42
21
54
Total
35
72
54
93
Male
14
7
2
2
Female
6
8
3
1
Total
20
15
5
3
NO
Valid
Missing
Total
N
A
topic
Percent
N
Percent
N
Percent
172
76.4 %
53
23.6%
225
100.0 %
171
76.0 %
54
24.0%
225
100.0 %
of DV?
Think
DV is a
crime?
Results show that out of 172 responses, among 35 physically disciplined participants, 22 males
and 13 females believe that physically disciplining a topic of DV while 30 males and 42 females
who were not physically disciplined believe that it is a topic of DV. On the other hand, out of
171 responses, physically disciplined 33 males and 21 females think that DV is crime, while 39
males and 54 females who were not physically disciplined think that DV is crime.

13. Awareness on Domestic Violence in North Cyprus 13
Discussion and conclusion
In the field of psychology, health psychology has a big role on health promotion and
maintenance. The promotion and maintenance of health would operate in close personal relations
and family, school and work and community and society levels (Prilleltensky and Prilleltensky,
2003). Social and cultural factors on health and illnesses belong to the study area of health
psychology. Therefore, DV is one of the topics of health psychology. However, DV, as a topic, is
related to social life and physical health. With a more general perspective, DV influences
community health through many aspects. DV as a research topic of health psychology has a
negative influence on individuals‟ emotional, behavioral and psychological development in
particular and the effects of influenced individuals on the health of the community in general.
However, individuals who are victims of any kind of DV will eventually develop different
personality traits and the next generations will be effected from these environmentally affected
personality traits.
The aim of this present study was to assess the awareness of the topic DV among members of the
North Cyprus community. This topic is evaluated according to the variables of gender, age,
educational level and economical situation of members of North Cyprus community, the
influential role on the health of the individuals and the community.
The results of this study indicate that male members of North Cyprus community are more aware
of the topic DV than females. TV and newspapers/magazines are more in use by males than
females. According to the results, male members of NC community physically disciplined more
than females and more males believe that „being physically disciplined in childhood‟ is a topic of
DV and more males believe that DV is a crime.
Even though female members less physically disciplined than males, males approve the way they
had physically disciplined while females more think that being physically disciplined harmed
their emotions when they were child. In spite of the equal education level of male and female
respondents, males have more knowledge regarding the topic.
Results show that participants physically disciplined by different family members during their
childhood. Because of the cultural factors and the influences of patriarchal social system, male

14. Awareness on Domestic Violence in North Cyprus 14
participants physically disciplined more by their fathers when they were child and female
participants physically disciplined more by their mothers when they were child.
The issue in this study is „are males aware of the topic DV because they had physically
disciplined more than females?‟ or „is the term „physically disciplined‟ have different meanings
for males and females?‟.
Results also indicate that males physically disciplined more by their fathers and females are more
by their mothers. The study about the „awareness of DV in North Cyprus‟ has not conducted yet.
The international literature about the awareness of DV is also very poor.

15. Awareness on Domestic Violence in North Cyprus 15
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