D. Alex Heckert

Battered Women’s Perceptions of Risk Versus Risk Factors and Instruments in Predicting Repeat Reassault

This study partially replicates and expands on a previous study that showed women’s perceptions of risk to be a strong predictor of reassault among batterers. The current study employed a larger and multisite sample, a longer follow-up period of 15 months, and multiple outcomes including “repeated reassault” (n = 499). According to the multinomial logistic regressions, women’s perceptions of risk improved prediction with risk factors (ROC area under the curve improved by .04 and sensitivity of repeated reassault increased 12 percentage points). In comparison to simulated risk instruments, women’s perceptions by themselves were better predictors than the K-SID, similar in predictive ability to the SARA, and almost as strong as the DAS. The best prediction of repeated reassault was obtained using risk markers, including women’s perceptions (ROC AUC = .83; 70% sensitivity) or by using the DAS and women’s perceptions together (ROC AUC = .73; 64% sensitivity).

Assessing Assault Self-Reports by Batterer Program Participants and Their Partners

Self-reports on domestic violence inventories remain the basis of court and clinical decision-making and program outcome evaluations, but little research has investigated the reliability and validity of these self-reports with clinical populations. We investigated the most widely used self-report inventory, the Conflict Tactics Scale, using a multisite database of men admitted to batterer programs and their female partners (n = 840). Concurrent validity was assessed by comparing batterer and victim reports to police incident reports at program intake (n = 145). Victims (29%) were more likely than batterers (19%) to report no assault when the police reports indicated an assault. Batterers were, however, more likely to minimize the severity of assaults than their victims. Reliability was assessed by comparing agreement between men and women at intake and at 12-month follow-up (n = 558). Overall man–woman agreement was higher at follow-up (74%) than at intake (64%). However, occurrence agreement declined substantially (from 61 to 17%), and male underreport and male denial markedly increased. Based on the mens and womens descriptions of the assaults, the women who underreport appear to do so primarily to preserve the relationship and men do so in outright denial. The findings imply the need to collect both mens and womens reports at intake and contradict the notion that agreement increases as a result of the batterers sensitization to violence in a program.

Predictors of underreporting of male violence by batterer program participants and their partners

Self-reports on domestic violence inventories remain the basis of court and clinical decision-making and program outcome evaluations, but previous research questions their reliability and validity. Accurate prediction of underreporting would help practitioners and researchers adjust batterer and victim self-reports. We develop prediction equations of underreporting on the Conflict Tactics Scale, using a multi-site database of men admitted to batterer programs and their female partners (n = 840). First we use variables measured at program intake to predict female and male underreporting of male violence at program intake. Second, we use variables measured at program intake, as well as measures of program participation, to predict male-female disagreement (male underreporting) at 12-month follow-up. Several variables were predictive of underreporting, both at intake and follow-up, but overall prediction was marginally better than chance. The findings suggest that men and women underreport based on situational factors (such as relationship characteristics) and rational reasons, rather than based on personality traits or social desirability. However, the ability to predict underreporting is too weak for adjustment of self-reports by clinicians and program evaluators.

Nonphysical Abuse Among Batterer Program Participants

Nonphysical abuse of women is receiving increased attention, but research with “clinical” samples of batterers has not substantially addressed the risk markers of nonphysical abuse. A multisite sample of batterer program participants (n = 840) with a longitudinal 15-month follow-up was used to identify risk markers. Logistic regressions were computed with batterer characteristics for 4 categories of nonphysical abuse (i.e., control, verbal, threats, combined) reported by the batterers female partners during the follow-up. The only substantial and consistent risk markers were nonphysical and physical abuse prior to program intake and program dropout. The programs appear to help reduce the abuse. Other significant risk markers varied across the categories of nonphysical abuse, suggesting that the categories do not form a continuum or hierarchy of abuse. Recurrent abuse, moreover, continues to be more difficult to predict in clinical samples than in the general population.

The Effect of Perceptions of Sanctions on Batterer Program Outcomes

A persistent theme in intervening with male batterers is the deterrent effect of certain and severe sanctions. However, no studies address the effect of “specific” deterrence on batterer program outcomes. Fifteen-month follow-up data from a multisite evaluation of batterer programs was used to test the effect of batterer perceptions of the likelihood of jailing on dropout and reassault. Approximately half of the batterers perceived jailing as likely to result from program dropout or reassault. Batterers from programs with a court review process for program compliance and/or higher arrest rates for reassault were more likely to perceive jail as likely. The results also support the “experiential effect” of prior contact with the criminal justice system and alcohol treatment. However, neither perceived certainty of sanctions (jailing likely) nor perceived severity of sanctions was predictive of dropout and reassault. Increasing perceptions of criminal justice sanctions alone may not prevent batterers from reassault.

Orientations Toward Disability: Differences over the lifecourse

This article presents the results of a study of differences in orientation toward disability over the lifecourse. The study was based on an instrument developed by the authors, the Questionnaire on Disability Identity and Opportunity (QDIO). This instrument measures two dimensions of disability: participation and orientation. Orientation, in turn, consists of the dimensions of identity, role, and model. In an earlier study, the QDIO was validated with a convenience sample of 388 people with disabilities in the United States. Using the same data, this article focuses on the association between disability orientation and ageing. Among other findings, we found that age was negatively associated with “disability pride” and positively associated with exclusion. However, the interpretation of these findings is limited by the fact that age was strongly associated with age at disability onset in this sample. The discussion speculates about why older adults are less likely to have been exposed to the “social model” of disability and suggests the value of these findings for interventions with older populations.

Egalitarianism in Retired Rural Couples: Household Tasks, Decision Making, and Leisure Activities.

This study investigated conjugal role organization in retired rural couples. Three major aspects of the conjugal relationship were examined: division of household tasks, decision-making patterns, and leisure activities shared by the couple. Interviews were conducted with 149 couples who participated in the retirement substudy of an 8-year epidemiological investigation of two rural counties in Iowa. Results showed that rural couples: (a) exhibited a traditional, gender-differentiated division of household tasks, but that household role segregation decreased significantly after retirement; (b) made a majority of decisions jointly during retirement, with joint decision making increasing significantly after retirement; (c) participated in a large number of joint leisure activities during retirement.

Complex behavioral patterns and trajectories of domestic violence offenders.

Evidence-based practice within the criminal justice system has relied primarily on cumulative reports of reassaults or rearrests, especially in evaluating effectiveness of domestic violence (DV) interventions. We use a longitudinal sample of DV offenders arrested and referred to DV offender programs in four cities to examine complex multi-outcome patterns of violent and abusive behavior and trajectories between patterns over time. Offenders and their partners were surveyed at program intake and followed for 15 months (N = 550). A Hidden Markov Model identifies four distinct behavioral patterns. Trajectory analysis indicates that the most abusive state is relatively stable and indicative of a high probability of future physical assault. Results suggest that evaluation based on complex outcomes may improve criminal justice intervention effectiveness, risk assessment, and risk management.

Latent Markov Model for Analyzing Temporal Configuration for Violence Profiles and Trajectories in a Sample of Batterers

In this article, the authors demonstrate the utility of an extended latent Markov model for analyzing temporal configurations in the behaviors of a sample of 550 domestic violence batterers. Domestic violence research indicates that victims experience a constellation of abusive behaviors rather than a single type of violent outcome. There is also evidence that observed behaviors are highly dynamic, with batterers cycling back and forth between periods of no abuse and violent or controlling behavior. These issues pose methodological challenges for social scientists. The extended latent Markov method uses multiple indicators to characterize batterer behaviors and relates the trajectories of violent states to predictors of abuse at baseline. The authors discuss both methodological refinements of the latent Markov models and policy implications of the data analysis.

Activism, models, identities, and opportunities: A preliminary test of a typology of disability orientations

The concept that guides the present research is orientation toward disability. This concept is related to, but broader than, the concept of disability identity that has driven some previous research in this area (see, e.g., Gill, 1997; Putnam, 2005). The concept of identity or self suggests a persons definition of him or herself and usually includes both cognitive (“I am a person with a disability”) and evaluative (“I am proud to be a person with a disability”) components.