Gender Inclusive Rape Myth Acceptance: Evidence of validity and reliability in a Portuguese community sample

Abstract

Research regarding sexual violence myth endorsement has mainly used college student samples and focused on cisgender women victims, disregarding a diverse range of victim profiles. This study aims to provide evidence of the validity and reliability of the Gender Inclusive Rape Myth Acceptance (GIRMA) scale in the Portuguese context using a community sample. A community sample of 518 Portuguese-speaking adults participated in this study between April and June 2024. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted, and the scale’s convergent and divergent validity and reliability were assessed. This study found evidence to support the one-factor structure of the GIRMA scale and the validity and reliability of the scale’s one-factor model. Males, heterosexuals, older individuals, and individuals with lower education levels and higher levels of sexism and social dominance orientation were more likely to endorse sexual violence myths. On the other hand, participants who knew someone who had experienced sexual violence endorsed fewer myths. Similar results were found among participants who experienced sexual violence in adulthood. The GIRMA proved to be a reliable instrument for assessing sexual violence myths in the Portuguese context, thus providing relevant cross-cultural and psychometric evidence. The evidence on sexual violence myth endorsement found in this study may contribute to better inform victim protection policies regarding their inclusiveness and prevention programs to mitigate the dissemination of these myths in community and professional settings.