John Schafer

Neighborhood poverty as a predictor of intimate partner violence among White, Black, and Hispanic couples in the United States: a multilevel analysis

PURPOSE This study assessed the contribution of neighborhood poverty, measured at the census tract level, to the risk of male-to-female and female-to-male partner violence (MFPV, FMPV) among white, black, and Hispanic couples in the United States. METHODS As part of the 1995 National Alcohol Survey, a representative sample of married/cohabiting couples was obtained through a multistage, multicluster household probability sampling frame. The outcome variables, MFPV and FMPV, were measured through the Conflict Tactics Scale, Form R. Sociodemographic, psychosocial, and alcohol consumption covariates that were statistically significant through bivariate analysis were retained as individual-level predictors. Neighborhood poverty, indicating residence in a census tract where greater than 20% of the population lived below the Federal poverty line, was assessed by appending 1990 Census data to the primary data set. Multilevel logistic regression models were constructed, with separate analyses performed for each outcome (MFPV, FMPV) among the white, black, and Hispanic couples. RESULTS Couples residing in impoverished neighborhoods are at increased risk for both MFPV and FMPV. The association between residence in an impoverished neighborhood and MFPV was statistically significant for black couples (Odds Ratio [OR] 2.87; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.36, 6.07). The association between residence in an impoverished neighborhood and FMPV was statistically significant for black couples and white couples. CONCLUSIONS Characteristics of the socioenvironment, such as neighborhood poverty, are associated with the risk of partner violence, particularly among black couples. Policies aimed at reducing community poverty may contribute to effective partner violence prevention strategies.

Intimate Partner Violence and Drinking Patterns Among White, Black, and Hispanic Couples in the U.S.

PURPOSE Using reports from both partners, this study estimated prevalence rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) among white, black, and Hispanic couples in the U.S., and assessed the contribution of drinking patterns, psychosocial, and other sociodemographic factors to the risk of partner violence. METHODS A multistage area probability sample consisting of 555 white, 358 black, and 527 Hispanic couples in the U.S. household population was interviewed in 1995. Logistic regression analyses revealed that predictors of IPV vary by ethnicity. RESULTS Rates of male-to-female (MFPV) and female-to-male partner violence (FMPV) were highest among black couples (23% and 30%), followed by Hispanic (17% and 21%), and white couples (12% and 16%). Between 27 percent and 41 percent of the men, and 4 percent and 24 percent of the women were drinking at the time of the violent incident. IMPLICATIONS Black and Hispanic couples are at higher risk for IPV than white couples and should be targeted for prevention intervention. The interrelationships among IPV, alcohol consumption, and ethnicity are complex. These findings suggest that future attempts at modeling IPV should be ethnically sensitive and, ideally, include separate analyses of each ethnic group.

Socioeconomic Predictors of Intimate Partner Violence Among White, Black, and Hispanic Couples in the United States

This study assesses the relative influence of various SES measures on the probability of intimate partner violence (IPV) among a national sample of White, Black, and Hispanic married and cohabiting couples. Participants were interviewed in conjunction with the 1995 National Alcohol Survey. Sociodemographic, psychosocial, and alcohol consumption data were obtained from both members of the couple. IPV was measured through the Conflict Tactics Scale, Form R. Bivariate tests were employed to investigate the association between SES and IPV. Deviance statistics, based on contrasting transformed likelihood measures obtained through multivariate logistic regression models, were computed to assess the relative influence of SES on the probability of IPV. Results indicate that annual household income had the greatest relative influence on the probability of partner violence. Future research is needed to explore the pathways by which SES contributes to the risk of partner violence.

A comparison of behavioral group therapy and individual behavior therapy in treating obsessive-compulsive disorder

Outpatients with a primary DSM-III axis I diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD; N = 93) were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: One group (N = 30) received 24 sessions of behavioral group therapy over a 12-week period; a second group (N = 31) received 24 individual behavior therapy sessions over the same treatment interval; and members of a control group (N = 32) received 24 individual sessions of progressive muscle relaxation. The Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale was administered before treatment, at 2-week intervals during treatment, and at 6-month follow-up to measure changes in distress caused by OCD symptoms. The Beck Depression Inventory and the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale were also administered at pretreatment, posttreatment, and 6-month follow-up. Both individual and group interventions proved to be equally effective at reducing distress caused by OCD symptoms, general depression, and anxiety by the end of treatment, although patients in the individual behavior therapy condition demonstrated faster reductions in OCD symptom severity. Patients in the group and individual behavioral interventions were able to maintain their gains at 6-month follow-up. Implications of these findings for outpatient treatment are discussed.

A Path Model of Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Violence among Couples in the United States

The present study was designed to identify the impact of drinking problems, impulsivity, and a history of childhood physical abuse on both male-to-female (MFIPV) and female-to-male intimate partner violence (FMIPV). The data were collected in 1995 from a representative national sample of couples living in the contiguous 48 states. Using a multistage probability sampling design, face-to-face interviews were conducted in respondents’homes, privately with each member of 1, 635 couples. A complex path model building on earlier work was tested for African American, Hispanic, and White couples separately. Multiple-group path analysis demonstrated that impulsivity, alcohol problems, and childhood physical abuse were differentially associated with reports of MFIPV and FMIPV as a function of ethnicity. This study suggests that a history of being physically harmed by parental figures during childhood, impulsivity, and drinking problems are all risk factors for intimate partner violence in the general household population in the United States.

Agreement About Violence in U.S. Couples

Numerous studies have demonstrated that cohabiting and married partners often do not agree about the occurrence of intimate partner violence. This study assessed agreement about intimate partner violence in a large, representative sample of U.S. couples. Using a multistage probability sampling design, separate face-to-face interviews were conducted with both members of 1,635 respondent couples in their homes in the 48 contiguous states. Using statistics appropriate for the evaluation of agreement, the results suggest that concordance about intimate partner violence in the U.S. general population is low. Classification of one partners report as violent on the basis of the other partners report of violence yielded unacceptably high misclassification errors. Use of the proxy method for investigations of intimate partner violence is not recommended

Measuring Spousal Violence With the Conflict Tactics Scale Notes on Reliability and Validity Issues

The violence scale of the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) is a widely used instrument in the field of spousal violence research. However, a number of criticisms have been raised about measuring spousal violence with the CTS, including questioning the item content and the reliability and construct validity of the violence scale. This article discusses certain aspects of these issues and illustrates several points with data analysis.

Behavioral reputation: A cross-age perspective

This study examined the measurement of peer perceptions of behavioral reputation within the contexts of elementary, middle, and high school environments (Grades 2-12, N = 2,812) through the systematic evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Revised Class Play (A. S. Masten, P. Morison, & D. S. Pellegrini, 1985). Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated that the data did not fit A. S. Masten et al.s original 3-factor structure. Cross-loading of items and different patterns of association between subscales across age groups (elementary, middle, and high school) contributed to the overall poor fit. Exploratory factor analyses revealed an alternative 4-factor structure as a more reliable and valid means of assessing behavioral reputation regardless of the age of the peer group sampled. Both convergent and divergent patterns of associations emerged across developmental levels.

Religious Affiliation, Denominational Homogamy, and Intimate Partner Violence among U.S. Couples

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health issue. Few studies, however, have examined the role of religion in IPV perpetration and victimization. This study analyzed the contribution of religious factors to IPV risk and prevalence among a sample of 1,440 married couples interviewed for the 1995 National Study of Couples. Results indicate that rates of IPV did not significantly differ by couple homogamy/heterogamy or type of denominational affiliation. Attendance at religious services at least weekly was associated with lower rates of IPV perpetration among men and with lower rates of IPV victimization among men and women. These findings were attenuated in the multivariate logistic regression analyses. Study findings suggest that religion does not have a strong or direct influence on the occurrence of IPV; alcohol-related problems, however, may be a mediating factor. Despite the null findings, religious institutions can play an important role in primary and secondary IPV prevention.

The treatment of substance abusers diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder: an outcome study.

Sixty substance abusers dually diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and voluntarily admitted to a drug-free therapeutic community were randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions. One group received a combined intervention that addressed their obsessive-compulsive symptoms and substance abuse; a second group received only substance abuse treatment; and an attention control group received treatment for their substance abuse and training in progressive muscle relaxation. Patients who received treatment for their OCD and substance abuse stayed in treatment longer, showed greater reductions in OCD symptom severity, and had higher overall abstinence rates at 12-month follow-up.