Masculinidade apreendida na infância/adolescência de homens em processo criminal por violência conjugal / La masculinidad incautada de la infancia/adolescencia de los hombres en los procesos penales por violencia conyugal / Masculinity seized in childhood/adolescence of men in criminal proceedings for marital violence

Objetivo: compreender os elementos constitutivos da masculinidade que permearam a infância e/ou adolescência de homens em processo criminal por violência conjugal. Método: estudo qualitativo utilizando-se o referencial metodológico História Oral de Vida. Foram realizadas entrevistas com 13 homens em processo criminal por violência conjugal vinculados à 2ª Vara de Justiça pela Paz em Casa do município de Salvador, Bahia, Brasil. Os dados foram interpretados à luz do referencial teórico sobre masculinidade. Resultados: a infância/adolescência dos homens foi permeada por constructos da masculinidade, na sua maioria introjetados pela figura paterna. São eles: o distanciamento de brincadeiras femininas, embotamento afetivo, infidelidade, provisão familiar e domínio e violência intrafamiliar. Considerações finais: mesmo não sendo possível afirmar que esses padrões tenham influenciado no desenvolvimento da agressividade, infere-se que a observação, o incentivo, a imposição e o convívio com os elementos da masculinidade tenham contribuído para delinear o caráter dos participantes e refletido em suas condutas na vida adulta.

Objetivo: comprender los elementos constitutivos de la masculinidad que impregnaron la infancia y/o adolescencia de los hombres en los procesos penales por violencia conyugal. Método: estudio cualitativo utilizando el marco metodológico Historia Oral de la Vida. Se realizaron entrevistas a 13 hombres en procesos penales por violencia conyugal vinculados a la 2ª Corte de Justicia por la Paz en la Casa del municipio de Salvador, Bahía, Brasil. Los datos fueron interpretados a la luz del marco teórico sobre la masculinidad. Resultados: la infancia/adolescencia de los hombres estuvo impregnada de construcciones de masculinidad, en su mayoría introyectadas por la figura paterna. Son ellos: el distanciamiento de los juegos femeninos, la atonía afectiva, la infidelidad, la provisión y dominación familiar y la violencia familiar. Consideraciones finales: aunque no es posible afirmar que estos patrones hayan influido en el desarrollo de la agresividad, es inferible que la observación, el estímulo, la imposición y la convivencia con los elementos de la masculinidad han contribuido a delinear el carácter de los participantes y se han reflejado en sus conductas en la edad adulta.

Objective: to understand the constitutive elements of masculinity that permeated the childhood and/or adolescence of men in criminal proceedings for marital violence. Method: qualitative study using the methodological framework Oral History of Life. Interviews were conducted with 13 men in criminal proceedings for marital violence linked to the 2nd Court of Justice for Home Peace in the municipality of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The data were interpreted in the light of the theoretical framework on masculinity. Results: men's childhood/adolescence was permeated by masculinity constructs, mostly influenced by the father figure. They are: the distancing of female games, affective dullness, infidelity, family provision and dominance and family violence. Final considerations: even though it is not possible to affirm that these patterns have influenced the development of aggressiveness, it is inferable that observation, encouragement, imposition and conviviality with the elements of masculinity have contributed to delineate the character of the participants and reflected in their conducts in adulthood.

The Operational Challenges for Batterer Intervention Programs: Results From a 2-Year Study.

Batterers intervention programs (BIPs) constitute a primary intervention for perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV). There is little understanding as to what operational, or program-level, challenges BIPs face that can impede their effectiveness and adherence to state standards. As part of a 2-year ethnographic study, we conducted 36 individual semistructured interviews with professionals working with BIPs and identified five themes related to program-level challenges for BIPs: (a) information barriers, (b) safety issues, (c) facilitator retention and training, (d) the need for monitoring, and (e) funding constraints. We conclude that continued work needs to be done at both the state and local level, and in coordination with community judicial, mental health, human services, and other agencies to help provide resources that support BIPs in sustained, safe, and as effective as possible work.

Validation of the Working Alliance Inventory-Observer Short Version with male intimate partner violence offenders / Validación de la versión breve del Working Alliance Inventory-Observer con hombres maltratadores

The working alliance is a key element to increase intimate partner violence (IPV) offenders' motivation, adherence to treatment, and active participation in batterer intervention programs (BIPs). The objective of the present study is to assess the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Working Alliance Inventory-Observer Short Version (WAI-O-S) with a sample of IPV offenders. The sample was 140 men convicted for IPV and court-mandated to a community-based BIP. Inter-rater agreement and reliability were evaluated by computing the intraclass correlation coefficient. To test the latent structure a Bayesian confirmatory factor analysis approach was used. To test criterion-related validity, the WAI-O-S factorial scores were correlated to protherapeutic behavior, stage of change and motivation to change. The WAI-O-S showed an adequate reliability. Results from Bayesian confirmatory factor analyses showed two first-order factors (Bond and Agreement), and a second-order factor (General working alliance) explaining the relationship between the first-order factors. Results also support the validity of this instrument. The availability of reliable and valid observational measure of the working alliance provides a useful tool to overcome self-report measurement limitations such as social desirability, deception, and denial among IPV offenders

Antecedentes/Objetivo: La alianza terapéutica es clave para incrementar la motivación, adherencia al tratamiento y participación en los programas de intervención con maltratadores. El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar las propiedades psicométricas y estructura factorial del Working Alliance Inventory-Observer Short Version (WAI-O-S) con una muestra de hombres maltratadores. Método: Se utilizó una muestra de 140 hombres condenados por violencia de género y derivados a un programa de intervención con maltratadores. El acuerdo inter-jueces y la fiabilidad se evaluaron mediante el coeficiente de correlación intraclase. La estructura latente se obtuvo con un análisis factorial confirmatorio Bayesiano. Las puntuaciones del WAI-O-S se correlacionaron con la conducta proterapéutica, estadio y motivación para el cambio para analizar la validez. Resultados: El WAI-O-S mostró una fiabilidad adecuada. El análisis factorial confirmatorio dio lugar a dos factores de primer orden (Vínculo y Acuerdo), y un factor de segundo orden (Alianza terapéutica general). Los resultados obtenidos también avalan la validez del instrumento. Conclusiones: Una medida observacional fiable y válida de la alianza terapéutica, proporciona una herramienta útil para superar las limitaciones de las medidas basadas en auto-informes que se utilizan con población de hombres maltratadores, tales como la deseabilidad social, la negación y el engaño

"It Gave Me My Life Back": An Evaluation of a Specialist Legal Domestic Abuse Service.

Community-based advocacy services are important in enabling victims to escape domestic abuse and rebuild their lives. This study evaluated a domestic abuse service. Two phases of research were conducted following case-file analysis (n = 86): surveys (n = 22) and interviews (n = 12) with victims, and interviews with key individuals (n = 12) based in related statutory and community organizations. The findings revealed the holistic model of legal, practical, mental health-related, and advocacy components resulted in a range of benefits to victims and enhanced interagency partnership working. Core elements of a successful needs-led, victim-centered service could be distilled.

From Blue to Green: The Development and Implementation of a Therapeutic Horticulture Program for Residents of a Battered Women's Shelter.

The delivery of therapeutic services to clients is influenced by service providers' understanding of the "fit" of a specific program with their service mandate as well as their perceptions of the potential benefits of the program. This article discusses the development and implementation of a therapeutic horticulture (TH) program at a battered women's shelter that serves 17 counties in Central Kentucky. Through semistructured interviews, we gauge the shelter staff's perceptions of the relationship of the TH program to the shelter's overall mission; their sense of the program's benefits for residents, for the shelter as a community organization, and for themselves; and their concerns about the TH program. We consider how these findings may impact future programming at the shelter, and we discuss plans for further evaluation of the TH program in terms of its impact on shelter residents' long-term outcomes.

Reducing the Harm of Criminal Victimization: The Role of Restitution.

Restitution is a court-ordered payment by offenders to their victims to cover the victims' economic losses resulting from the crime. These losses can be substantial and can harm victims and victims' families both directly and indirectly. But most victims do not receive reparation for their injuries, both because judges do not always impose restitution and because of problems with collecting restitution payments, even if there is a court order to do so. In this article, we review the literature on restitution and suggest that this compensatory mechanism is necessary to restore victims to where they were before the crime occurred. But monetary restitution alone is not sufficient. Making victims whole requires not only financial compensation from the offender but also procedural, informational, and interpersonal justice from the criminal justice system.

Beyond urban places: responding to intimate partner violence in rural and remote areas.

Intimate partner violence is a recognized public health problem impacting the lives of women, families, and communities. Women in rural and more remote areas who experience IPV face unique barriers and challenges to accessing healthcare services to support healthy outcomes. Resources, access to services, presence of compassionate and informed healthcare providers, and environmental circumstances influence effective responses to this issue in rural and more remote areas. In a public health approach to this problem, prevention efforts, victim-centered responses, and the support of safety are imperative to improve outcomes for women. Forensic nurses play an important role in effective response by building linkages across health, human, and social systems through collaboration, partnership, activism, advocacy, and sensitivity to the issue across the rural landscape.

Preferences for intervention among Peruvian women in intimate partner violence relationships.

We sought to identify what abused Peruvian women want or need as intervention strategies. We conducted five focus groups with 30 women with prior or current experience with intimate partner violence. Participants noted that abused women need compassionate support, professional counseling, and informational and practical (e.g., work skills training, employment, shelter, financial support) interventions. We propose a 2-tiered intervention strategy that includes community support groups and individual professional counseling. This strategy is intended to offer broad coverage, meeting the needs of large groups of women who experience abuse, whereas providing specialized counseling for those requiring intensive support. Respect for each woman's autonomy in the decision-making process is a priority. Interventions targeted toward women and men should address structural factors that contribute to violence against women.

Effects of a culturally informed intervention on abused, suicidal African American women.

This study examined (a) the relative efficacy of a culturally sensitive empowerment group intervention (Nia) aimed at increasing 3 protective factors-self-esteem, hopefulness, and effectiveness of obtaining resources-versus treatment as usual (TAU) for low-income, abused African American women who recently had attempted suicide and (b) the impact of participants' readiness to change with regard to their abusive relationship and suicidal behavior on their levels of each protective factor in the 2 conditions. The sample included 89 African American women who reported intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure and a recent suicide attempt. Multivariate general linear modeling revealed that those in Nia showed greater improvements in self-esteem, but not in hopefulness or effectiveness of obtaining resources. However, significant interactions emerged in which participants who were "less ready to change" (i.e., earlier in the stages of change process) their IPV situation and suicidal behavior endorsed greater levels of hopefulness and perceived effectiveness of obtaining resources, respectively, following Nia. Findings suggest that abused, suicidal African American women who are more reluctant initially to changing their abusive situation and suicidal behavior may benefit from even a brief, culturally informed intervention.

[Psychological consequences and treatment of female victims of violence]. / Conséquences psychologiques et prise en charge des femmes victimes de violences.

Domestic violence often just reproduces the repeated violence suffered as a child. The treatment of a female victim depends a lot on her traumatic past, and the care is designed in coordination with various partners. By improving the identification and care of children who are so-called witnesses to family violence, but who are really co-victims, in other words abused, it is possible to avoid violence in all its forms being reproduced across the generations.

A complexity-based approach to batterer intervention programmes.

This paper was aimed at providing opinion by adopting a complexity-based approach to coordinating nursing science and psychology concerning psycho-educational intervention for batterers regarding their partner or ex-partner. Improving both disciplines' interrelationship should facilitate implementing relevant action, thereby engendering motivation for change in participants and modifying sexist attitudes and beliefs. The document has analyzed the importance of coordinating scientific disciplines' action and defined guidelines for an approach involving intervention as well as highlighting implications for practice and research.

From violence to hope: the construction of professional knowledge in treating imprisoned male batterers in Israel.

The treatment of incarcerated batterers has not been as thoroughly studied as that of men who take part in community treatment programs. The current study describes and analyzes the "practice wisdom" of professionals in a special unit that focuses on treating batterers in an Israeli prison. The analysis is based on in-depth semistructured interviews aimed at facilitating a self-reflective process among the participating social workers. In understanding the construction of tacit knowledge by the social workers, we observe four major dialectical themes in their construction of their practice knowledge: (a) the dialectics of behavior modification and psychodynamic change, (b) the paradoxical use of authority in the service of treatment, (c) the multiple meanings of gender, and (d) the question of change--what really makes the difference? While such opposites might never be fully reconciled, the tension and changes can contribute to construction of professional knowledge.

Eficacia de un programa de tratamiento psicológico individual para mujeres maltratadas por su pareja / Efficacy of an individual psychological treatment for battered women

El objetivo del presente trabajo es evaluar la eficacia de un programa de intervención psicológica individual para mujeres maltratadas por su pareja. La muestra está formada por un total de 128 mujeres maltratadas por su pareja, usuarias de servicios públicos especializados, con edades comprendidas entre 18 y 67 años (M = 38.49, DT = 9.20) y diferente estado civil y niveles educativo y laboral. Noventa y seis de ellas participaron en el programa de intervención protocolizado que se puso a prueba en el presente estudio y 32 no participaron, las cuales se consideraron como grupo de control. Se encontró que las mujeres que participaron en la intervención psicológica experimentaron tras ésta una reducción estadísticamente significativa de la sintomatología depresiva, ansiosa y de tipo postraumático, así como de la inseguridad en sí mismas. Además, aumentó su autoestima y confianza en sí mismas, cambios que no se dieron en las mujeres que no participaron en dicho programa y que se mantuvieron en el seguimiento. La mejoría de la salud mental de las mujeres también fue significativa a nivel clínico. Se concluye la eficacia del programa de intervención psicológica puesto a prueba

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of an individual psychological treatment for battered women. The sample comprises a total of 128 women battered by their partners, users of public services, aged between 18 and 67 years (M = 38.49, SD = 9.20), and with different marital status and educational and occupational levels. Ninety-six of them participated in the protocol-centered intervention program assessed in the present study, whereas 32 were not involved and were considered as control group. Results show a statistically significant reduction of posttraumatic, depressive, and anxiety symptoms as well as of self-insecurity in women who received psychological intervention. In addition, whereas the latter experienced an increase of self-esteem and self-confidence, women who did not participate in the program did not observe such changes. Moreover, these changes remained constant in the follow-up. The improvement of women’s mental health was also significant at the clinical level. We thus conclude that these findings prove the efficacy of this psychological intervention program

Barriers to compliance with Oregon batterer intervention program standards.

Although standards for batterer intervention programs (BIPs) have been adopted in nearly all U.S. states, there is no evidence that standards are implemented and no information about challenges programs may encounter in efforts to comply with standards. This study uses qualitative survey data from BIPs in the state of Oregon (N = 42) to identify barriers to implementation during a 2-year period following the introduction of state standards. Nine challenges were identified including difficulty finding qualified facilitators, inadequate funding, difficulty meeting training requirements, high workloads, trouble creating and maintaining collaborations, inability to accommodate diverse participant needs, conflict between state standards and county requirements, and perceived gaps between standards and evidence-based practices. These findings inform controversy surrounding BIP standards and efforts to increase BIP effectiveness.

Male victims of intimate partner abuse: use and helpfulness of services.

Data obtained from a national study of male victims or survivors of intimate partner abuse (IPA) indicate that the experience (current or past) of abuse and with service use may predict a positive perception toward help seeking. However, marital status and a tendency to minimize problems may predict negative attitudes toward help seeking. Empirical evidence from this mixed-method study suggests that male victims face many interpersonal and societal obstacles. Feeling uncomfortable when requesting assistance, men in IPA situations are affected by a masking factor that causes them to hide their situation and contributes to a misconception factor that causes people to treat men as the sole perpetrator. Although men are eligible, services may not be perceived as being available or helpful. The study yields important implications for social work practice, and the findings result in several recommendations for increased awareness about IPA, advocacy for gender-inclusive services, revision of laws and policies, increased research, and emphasis on funded and anonymous services.

The impact of legislative standards on batterer intervention program practices and characteristics.

Changes in social policy are often pursued with the goal of reducing a social problem by improving prevention efforts, intervention program practices, or participant outcomes. State legislative standards for intimate partner violence intervention programs have been adopted nearly universally across the US, however, we do not know whether such standards actually achieve the intended goal of affecting programs' policies and practices. To assess the effect that batterer intervention program (BIP) standards have on policies and practices of programs, this study used longitudinal surveys collected as part of an ongoing evaluation conducted from 2001 to the present to compare intervention program (N = 74) characteristics and practices at three time points before and after the adoption of standards in Oregon. Analyses were conducted to examine all BIPs in Oregon at each time point, as well as change among a subset of programs in existence at all survey assessments. Results indicate that across all programs, the use of mixed gender group co-facilitation increased by 14% between 2004 and 2008, while program length increased by approximately 12 weeks. However, other practices such as programs' coordination with community partners were unchanged. Analyses of within-program change revealed fewer differences, with only program length increasing significantly over the three assessments. These and other findings indicate that while standards affected program length as intended, other practices commonly addressed by legislative standards remained unchanged. The findings provide needed information regarding programs' compliance with components of the standards, the potential need for compliance monitoring, and the potential impact of state standards on program effectiveness and on the prevalence of intimate partner violence.

A glimpse into the world of battered ultra-Orthodox Jewish women in Israel: a follow-up study on women who resided in a shelter.

Using a mixed-methods approach to content analysis, we interviewed 88 ultra-Orthodox Jewish women who had endured spousal abuse and chose to find refuge in the only shelter in Israel specifically designated for religious women. All had experienced some type of spousal abuse for several years. The majority summarized the period they spent in the shelter in positive terms and reported that they had developed personal strength and that their social and family relationships had improved. About half of them described the postshelter period in positive terms, while the rest described it in both positive and negative terms or in negative terms only. Negative themes were mostly related to the women's economic situation and to emotional and behavioral problems of their children. Further research is required to expand existing knowledge regarding this population.

Support by trained mentor mothers for abused women: a promising intervention in primary care.

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a major health problem and negatively affects the victim's mental and physical health. Evidence-based interventions in family practice are scarce. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate a low threshold home-visiting intervention for abused women provided by trained mentor mothers in family practice. The aim was to reduce exposure to IPV, symptoms of depression as well as to improve social support, participation in society and acceptance of mental health care. METHODS: A pre-post study of a 16-week mentoring intervention with identified abused women with children was conducted. After referral by a family doctor, a mentor mother visited the abused woman weekly. Primary outcomes are IPV assessed with the Composite Abuse Scale (CAS), depressive symptoms using the Symptom Checklist (SCL 90) and social support by the Utrecht Coping List. Secondary outcomes are analysed qualitatively: participation in society defined as employment and education and the acceptance of mental health care. RESULTS: At baseline, 63 out of 66 abused women were referred to mentor support. Forty-three participants completed the intervention programme. IPV decreased from CASt otal 46.7 (SD 24.7) to 9.0 (SD 9.1) (P ≤ 0.001) after the mentor mother support programme. Symptoms of depression decreased from 53.3 (SD 13.7) to 34.8 (SD 11.5) (P ≤ 0.001) and social support increased from 13.2 (SD 4.0) to 15.2 (SD 3.5) (P ≤ 0.001). Participation in society and the acceptance of mental health for mother and child improved. CONCLUSIONS: Sixteen weekly visits by trained mentor mothers are a promising intervention to decrease exposure to IPV and symptoms of depression, as well as to improve social support, participation in society and the acceptance of professional help for abused women and their children.

PERCEIVED FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING DEDICATED ELDER ABUSE PROGRAMS OF CARE AT HOSPITAL-BASED SEXUAL ASSAULT/DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TREATMENT CENTETR.

BACKGROUND: Elder abuse is an increasingly important issue that must be addressed in a systematic and coordinated way. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to evaluate the perceived feasibility of establishing an elder abuse care program at hospital-based sexual assault and domestic violence treatment centers in Ontario, Canada. METHOD: In July 2012, a questionnaire focused on elder abuse care was distributed to all of Ontario's Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centre (SA/DVTC) Program Coordinators/Managers. RESULTS: We found that the majority of Program Coordinators/ Managers favored expansion of their program mandates to include an elder abuse care program. However, these respondents viewed collaboration with a large network of well trained professionals and available services in the community that address elder abuse as integral to responding in a coordinated manner. DISCUSSION: The expansion of health services to address the needs of abused older adults in a comprehensive and integrated manner should be considered as an important next step for hospital-based violence care programs worldwide.