NCJ Number
145083
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 8 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1993) Pages: 253-266
Date Published
1993
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effectiveness of a program designed to stop spouse abuse among couples who had previously experienced it.
Abstract
The setting of the study was a central North Carolina mental health center, under whose auspices the Domestic Violence Prevention Training program was administered. The program was designed to help both abuser and victim stop violence in the home and develop alternatives to violence in resolving their problems. Using Neidig and Friedman's (1984) treatment program, the highly structured program consisted of eight 2-hour weekly didactic and role-playing sessions that emphasized skill building, stress management, relationship enhancement, and problemsolving strategies. Participants also reviewed homework assignments with their facilitators at the beginning of each session. Program effectiveness was assessed using two pretest and posttest standardized measures: the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. The consistent findings regarding the characteristics of the abusive couples were that they had been abused as children and witnessed inter-parental abuse. Another predominant characteristic of the sample was the history of violence among the men in family, work, and social situations. Given the combination of extensive abusive histories and alcohol abuse in these couples, treatment was somewhat successful in influencing positive behavioral changes. The improvements in women's dyadic adjustment may indicate they were more hopeful about their relationships. For the men, changes might have been more favorable had their alcohol abuse been addressed more extensively or had they been referred for simultaneous treatment of alcohol-related problems. Recommendations for future research are offered. 6 figures, 6 tables, and 11 references