NCJ Number
209513
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 19 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2004 Pages: 339-354
Date Published
December 2004
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This paper describes two related studies: a literature review of existing adult partner domestic-violence scales and a factor analysis of the results of 64 items of the Artemis Intake Questionnaire (AIQ).
Abstract
The literature review focused on what constructs are commonly incorporated into the scales and whether they had been psychometrically evaluated. The review shows that the scales varied on the available amount of empirical evidence for validity and reliability. Also, the content of the scales focused on physical abuse as the principal feature of domestic violence. Tables describe 21 domestic violence scales, present definitions of construct categories, and indicate the reliability and validity of the 21 scales. The second study examined data on 485 clients who contacted a domestic violence victims' advocacy center between June 1, 1998, and May 31, 1999. The clients were administered the AIQ. The current analysis focused on the 64 AIQ items that were responses to the statement: "Please check the items which have occurred with your partner." Of these 64 items, humiliation and blame of the victim accounted for the largest amount of variance, followed by controlling the victim, and then physical violence. These findings suggest that most adult partner domestic-violence assessment scales focus too narrowly on physical violence as the factor causing the most psychological distress in abusive partner relationships. 5 tables, 1 figure, and 43 references