A New Zealand Institute for Pacific Research (NZIPR) team involving the University of Otago, University of Auckland, and National University of Samoa, believes churches have the potential to address this situation.
In the recently published NZIPR report ''Church Responses to Gender-Based Violence Against Women in Samoa'', the group examines how Samoa's social, cultural and religious systems act to sustain the nation's high rates of violence against women.
Samoa has a strong Christian faith, where 99% of the population attend church.
Studies have recorded rates of violence against women to be as high as 60%.
The latest study found most adults agree it is acceptable for a man to beat his wife if she was disobedient, refused sex, or neglected their children.
Lead researcher Dr Mercy Ah Siu-Maliko was based at Piula Theological College (Samoa) and was also a Research Associate of Otago's Centre for Theology and Public Issues.
She said the Bible had been used in Samoan churches to justify men's presumed superiority over women.
In a paper recently published in the Journal of the Arts Faculty of the National University of Samoa, she challenged Samoan Christians to instead become agents for healing.
Ideals for male-female relationships in Samoan churches have been strongly influenced by the patriarchal system that dominated the Old Testament.
''Christian theology does not lack grounds upon which to stand against domestic violence,'' Dr Siu-Maliko said.
She believed core Samoan values could contribute to a public theology response to the issue.
''If churches offer clear messages that violence against women is both unacceptable and illegal - both a sin and a crime - this would help to challenge the social acceptance of violence against women in Samoan culture and church life.''
Centre for Theology and Public Issue director Prof David Tombs highlighted the ''enormous potential'' churches had.
''Teachings from the pulpit have great influence on gender role and development and perception of acceptable behaviour and conduct,'' Prof Tombs said.
