Katreena Scott

Predicting Abuse in Adolescent Dating Relationships Over 1 Year: The Role of Child Maltreatment and Trauma

Three mediators of the relationship between childhood maltreatment and dating violence perpetration during midadolescence (i.e., trauma-related symptoms, attitudes justifying dating violence, and empathy and self-efficacy in dating relationships) were tested over 1 year with a sample of students from 10 high schools (N = 1,317). Trauma-related symptoms had a significant cross-time effect on predicting incidents of dating violence for both boys and girls. Attitudes and empathy and self-efficacy did not predict dating violence over time, although they were correlated with such behavior at both time points. Child maltreatment is a distal risk factor for adolescent dating violence, and trauma-related symptoms act as a significant mediator of this relationship. The importance of longitudinal methodology that separates correlates from predictors is discussed.

Readiness to change as a predictor of outcome in batterer treatment

The current study examined stage of change as a predictor of outcome in batterer treatment. Men (N=119) were classified into the transtheoretical models stages of change and assessed 3 times over treatment. Hierarchical linear modeling revealed significant variation in mens progress, predictable from their stage of change. As hypothesized, men in the precontemplation stage showed little positive change in empathy, communication, or abusive behavior, whereas men in the contemplation and action stages showed positive growth in all of these domains. These effects occurred in the initial 10 weeks of treatment, after which men progressed at a more homogeneous rate. Interpretation is complicated by pretreatment differences that draw into question stage-related patterns in final outcome. Implications for general models of abuse cessation and for stage-specific trajectories are discussed.

Alternatives to Violence: Empowering Youth To Develop Healthy Relationships.

A Call for Action Violence in the Lives of Children, Youth and Families Responding to Violence Establishing a Commitment to Violence Prevention Approaching Solutions Youth as Resources A Developmental Model of Relationship Violence and Abuse Applying the Principles Core Ingredients of Successful Prevention Programs The Youth Relationships Project

Stage of Change as a Predictor of Attrition Among Men in a Batterer Treatment Program

This study assessed the contribution of the mens stage of change to the prediction of attrition among men attending a batterer treatment program. As outlined by the transtheoretical model of change, men were classified into the precontemplation, contemplation, or action stage based on their level of change motivation and behavior. It was hypothesized that men in the precontemplation stage would dropout of treatment at higher rates than men in later stages of change. Participants were 308 men who enrolled in a batterer treatment program over the course of 1 year, 61.4% of whom dropped out of treatment. Counselor rated, but not self-rated stage of change significantly predicted treatment completion once traditionally used demographic, contextual, and personality variables were taken into account. Specifically, men identified by counselors as being in the precontemplation stage were 2.3 times as likely as men rated in the contemplation stage and 8.8 times as likely as men rated in the action stage to dropout of treatment. Referral source, age, and history of arrest also made significant contributions to the prediction of attrition. The best combination of predictors led to the successful classification of 72% of the cases, 98% of the dropouts but only 19% of the completers. Discussion focuses on the limitations of current findings and their implications for the use of the transtheoretical model to predict attrition from batterer treatment.