William R. Downs

Factor structure and psychometric characteristics of the beck depression inventory-II

The present study evaluated the factor structure and psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II; Beck, Steer, & Brown, 1996) in the nonclinical sample of 230 young adults. The BDI-II is a revised version of the BDI-IA. We evaluated the fit of three alternative models to the sample data, using confirmatory factor analysis. Results provided support for the fit of the oblique three-factor model. The BDI-II and factor scales had satisfactory coefficient alpha indices. We obtained gender differences on the BDI-II item, total, and factor scale scores. We examined the relations of the BDI-II with demographic variables and with other self-report measures of social desirability, anxiety, depression, stress, and self-esteem. We also examined the issue of whether specific self-report measures of anxiety and depression assess separate or different constructs. We discuss the limitations of the present study.

The role of childhood sexual abuse in the development of alcoholism in women

The effects of childhood sexual abuse on the development of alcoholism in women were examined by comparing a sample of 45 alcoholic women selected from local treatment agencies and Alcoholics Anonymous groups with a group of 40 nonalcoholic women selected randomly from a household population. Face-to-face interview schedules were administered to both samples. Sexual abuse was defined as any unwanted sexual contact with a person at least five years older than the respondent, or with any family relative, regardless of age difference. Types of sexual contact included both nonphysical contact (e.g., invitations, exposure) and physical contact (e.g., fondling, intercourse). Results showed that alcoholic women were more likely to have experienced sexual abuse, had a greater number of different types of sexual abuse experiences, and endured sexual abuse over a longer period than the comparison group. The presence of any childhood sexual abuse experience was sufficient to discriminate between the alcoholic women and the comparison group, even controlling for demographic variables and the presence of a parent with alcohol-related problems. Although alcoholic women were more likely to report that a parent had alcohol-related problems, relatively few of the sexual abuse incidents were perpetrated by a parent. The data suggest that vulnerabilities to sexual abuse were attributable to environmental or psychological factors in homes in which a parent was reported as having alcohol-related problems.

The reasons for living inventory for adolescents (RFL-A): Development and psychometric properties

The role of adaptive beliefs and attitudes against suicide has not been given adequate attention in the clinical or assessment literature. This article reports on the development and initial psychometric properties of a 32-item self-report inventory, the Reasons for Living Inventory for Adolescents (RFL-A). In Phase 1, we used exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to identify five correlated factors: Future Optimism, Suicide-Related Concerns, Family Alliance, Peer Acceptance and Support, and Self-Acceptance. In Phase 2, we cross-validated the 5-factor oblique model in a different group of adolescents recruited from two high schools. In addition, we examined evidence for convergent, discriminant, and construct validities. The coefficient alpha indices for the RFL-A total and scales were satisfactory. In Phase 3, we evaluated additional evidence of reliability and validity using samples of high school and psychiatric inpatient adolescents. The results suggest that the RFL-A is a short, reliable, and valid measure that is potentially useful in the assessment of adolescent suicidal behavior.

The moderating impact of social support following childhood sexual abuse

The role of social support in moderating the impact of childhood sexual abuse on adult psychological adjustment was examined. Subjects included 475 women, age 18-45, some of whom were currently receiving treatment, others who were not. Women in the treatment group were receiving therapy for either alcoholism, for being battered, or for mental health problems. The comparison group was drawn from two sources: a random household sample and a sample of women attending drinking driver classes. Among both groups, women who had been sexually abused exhibited more psychological symptoms and lower self-esteem compared to those who were not abused. Latency of disclosure of childhood sexual abuse had no impact on long-term consequences of the abuse for either the treatment or the comparison group. However, among women in the comparison group, those who experienced supportive reactions following disclosure of sexual abuse had fewer psychological symptoms and somewhat higher self-esteem relative to those who did not receive support. Social support had no apparent effect on the long-term adjustment of women in the treatment group. Possible explanations for this pattern and directions for future research are discussed.

Developmental Considerations for the Effects of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Childhood sexual abuse has numerous negative effects for the victim. The severity and specific form of these effects vary across individual victims and within individuals over time. The timing of the impact of childhood sexual abuse on the victims course of psychosocial development is considered as a source of this variation. First, the variation in effects from childhood sexual abuse across individuals and within individuals over time is discussed, with implications for the developmental impact of that abuse. Second, the timing of the impact of the abuse on the victims psychosocial development is discussed, specifically for adolescence. Third, implications for treatment are considered.

Violent victimization among women with alcohol problems.

Empirical evidence regarding the role of childhood victimization in the development of womens alcohol problems is examined in this chapter. In particular, childhood sexual abuse and father-to-daughter violence are found to predict later alcohol problems. Key variables that link experiences of childhood victimization and the development of adult alcohol problems are identified. Strengths and weaknesses of the research provide a better assessment of our confidence in the empirical evidence to date. Possible explanations for how and why the experiences of violent victimization may lead to womens alcohol problems are presented. Finally, important directions for policymakers, clinicians, and researchers are discussed.

Alcohol, Drugs, and Violence in Children’s Lives

This chapter reviews the current state of knowledge concerning the interrelationship between the cycle of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) use and the cycle of violence. This issue is framed in terms of two questions. The first is the extent to which AOD use by the perpetrator is related to the perpetration of violence toward children, defined here as including both physical and sexual abuse. The second question is whether the experience of abuse during childhood is related to the subsequent development of the abuse of alcohol and other drugs. The review indicates that parental AOD abuse is related to physical and sexual abuse. However, because most perpetrators are not parents, the relationship is not yet clear. The data do support the link between experiencing childhood violence and the development of later AOD abuse. Theoretical explanations for each link are reviewed and mediating variables are identified. The review concludes with a presentation of methodological issues and the directions for future research.

Differential patterns of partner-to-woman violence: a comparison of samples of community, alcohol-abusing, and battered women

This paper compared a sample of women in treatment for alcoholism (N = 45) with a randomly selected sample of women from the local community (N = 40), and a sample of women receiving services for victimization by severe partner violence (N = 38). Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) items were dichotomized into low frequency of partner violence (twice per year or less) and high frequency of violence (once per month or more), and then summed to yield separate low frequency and high frequency scores for each CTS subscale. Results showed that at the high frequency level, battered women reported the highest scores on each subscale, alcoholic women the second highest, and the community sample of women reported the lowest level of violence. A multiple regression analysis revealed that being in the alcoholic sample significantly predicted high frequency negative verbal interaction and moderate violence, controlling for presence of a partner with alcohol-related problems and demographic differences among the samples.

Childhood experiences of parental physical violence for alcoholic women as compared with a randomly selected household sample of women

The effects of childhood experiences of parental violence on the development of alcoholism in women were examined by comparing a sample of 45 alcoholic women selected from local treatment agencies and Alcoholics Anonymous groups with 40 nonalcoholic women selected randomly from the population. Two-hour person-to-person interview schedules were administered to both samples. The Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) assessed both father-to-daughter and mother-to-daughter relationships. Type of sample was regressed on each CTS subscale, controlling for presence of parental alcoholism, number of childhood changes in family structure, present age of respondent, and present income source. Alcoholic women were found to have higher father-to-daughter negative verbal interaction, moderate violence, and serious violence than household women. Father-to-daughter positive verbal interaction was found unrelated to membership in the alcoholism sample. None of the mother-to-daughter subscales were found to predict membership in the alcoholism sample.

Women's Use of Physical and Nonphysical Self-Defense Strategies During Incidents of Partner Violence

Two incidents of partner violence are investigated using qualitative methodology to discover strategies women use to protect themselves and examine womens use of violence. Data were collected from 447 women (age 18 or older) from 7 domestic violence programs and 5 substance use disorder treatment programs in a midwestern state. Women were found to have developed numerous self-protection strategies, some using nonphysical means only, others using physical means only, and others combining nonphysical and physical means. Women often used a variety of strategies in the same incident. Few women initiated violence against partners. Implications for theory and research are discussed.