What Differentiates Batterer Men with and without Histories of Childhood Family Violence?

The goals of this study were to explore the prevalence of childhood family violence (CFV) (both suffered and witnessed) among male batterers in treatment, and to analyze the specific psychological profile of those perpetrators with CFV. A sample of 1,421 men recruited from a specialized batterer treatment program was assessed. A description of the sociodemographic, violence, and psychopathological characteristics of the sample was carried out. Moreover, a comparison of all the variables studied between batterer men with and those without CFV was conducted. The results showed that 35.2% (n = 500) of the sample reported having been victims of CFV (67.2% of them directly suffered abuse, and 32.8% witnessed violence between their parents, mainly from father to mother). Batterers with CFV presented with more irrational beliefs both about women and about violence as a strategy to cope with everyday difficulties. Moreover, they had significantly higher scores than batterers without CFV on all psychopathological symptoms as assessed by the SCL-90-R, as well as on most of the STAXI-2 subscales. In the logistic regression analysis, the main variables related to having a history of CFV were low education level, voluntary access to the program, having a previous psychiatric history, being an immigrant, having children, and presenting a greater number of psychopathological symptoms. According to these results, batterers with CFV showed a higher severity in most of the variables studied than those without CFV. Consequently, these findings highlight the importance of tailoring batterer treatment programs to their specific characteristics, particularly those regarding childhood victimization.

Differential psychopathological profile of male intimate partner violence perpetrators depending on Problematic alcohol use.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the differential psychopathological profile between male perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) with and without problematic alcohol use (PAU). METHOD: A sample of 981 men was recruited from a specialized IPV perpetrators treatment programme. All of them were assessed with the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2), and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III). Comparisons between perpetrators with (n = 125) and without (n = 856) PAU on all the variables studied were carried out. RESULTS: Perpetrators with PAU were less frequently employed and had higher rates of previous psychiatric history and childhood family violence. Moreover, they presented with higher levels of cognitive biases about women and violence. On a psychopathological level, participants with PAU reported significantly higher scores on the SCL-90-R, on the STAXI-2, and on almost all the MCMI-III scales than did those without PAU. The multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that the main variables related to PAU were as follows: higher levels of previous psychiatric history, distorted thoughts about women, depression, drug dependence, and various personality disorders (bipolar, dysthymia, antisocial, avoidant, borderline, and schizotypal); and lower scores on internal control, anger reaction, paranoid ideation, and schizoid personality disorders. DISCUSSION: IPV perpetrators with PAU have a more severe psychopathological profile than those without PAU. Additionally, several variables along with PAU may have contributed to the development of IPV. Therefore, tailored interventions should be developed for those perpetrators with PAU.

Differential MCMI-III psychopathological profiles between intimate partner violence perpetrators with and without childhood family violence.

This study explored the differential prevalence of personality disorders (PD) and clinical syndromes between male perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) with and without a history of childhood family violence (CFV). A sample of 981 perpetrators of IPV was assessed with the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III). Comparisons of sociodemographic characteristics and MCMI-III scales' scores between perpetrators with (n = 293) and without (n = 688) CFV were carried out. Results showed that IPV perpetrators with CFV had a lower level of education, were less frequently employed, and had higher rates of previous psychiatric history than perpetrators without CFV. Statistically significant differences between groups in almost all the MCMI-III scales were found. Perpetrators with CFV presented with higher scores on most of the evaluated scales and showed a more severe psychopathological profile than perpetrators without CFV. The multivariate analysis showed that the main MCMI-III domains related to CFV were higher scores on the disclosure and alcohol dependence scales and lower scores on the passive-aggressive scale. These findings reveal that CFV is associated with a more severe psychopathological profile in perpetrators of IPV. In order to develop tailored interventions, the presence of CFV and psychopathological symptoms should be assessed in IPV perpetrators.

Impact of a court-referred psychological treatment program for intimate partner batterer men with suspended sentences.

In this article, the impact of a court-mandated psychological treatment program for men who had committed an offense of intimate partner violence is tested. The sample consisted of 235 men who received a suspended sentence after being charged and sentenced for an offense in relation to intimate partner violence. The success rate in the posttreatment period was 37.4%, and the improvement rate was 48.1%. Therefore, in 85.5% of cases, the treatment program was effective. Results after 12 months of follow-up were almost identical. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in associated psychopathological symptoms. Regarding prediction of therapeutic results, batterers who were older, who had more distorted thoughts about violence, and who had not been victims of childhood abuse were at a significantly greater risk of treatment failure.

Batterer men in prison and in court-referred treatment programmes: what is the difference?

This paper describes the demographic, gender violence and psychopathological characteristics of 399 men in a specialized treatment programme for gender violence. Furthermore, a comparison of all the variables studied among the subjects referred by the court to the treatment programme (n = 276) and those who were imprisoned (n = 123) was conducted. The results showed the existence of numerous statistically significant differences between groups, primarily in psychopathological variables and in cognitive bias about women and violence use. In general, imprisoned batterers showed more irrational beliefs both about women and about violence as a strategy to cope with everyday difficulties. Moreover, batterers in prison had significantly higher scores on all psychopathological symptoms as assessed by SCL-90-R, as well as in most of STAXI-2 subscales. According to these results, batterers in prison showed a higher severity in variables studied than those who were referred by the court to the treatment programme. Implications of these results for further research and clinical practice are also commented on.

Batterer men in prison and in court-referred treatment programmes: what is the difference?

This paper describes the demographic, gender violence and psychopathological characteristics of 399 men in a specialized treatment programme for gender violence. Furthermore, a comparison of all the variables studied among the subjects referred by the court to the treatment programme (n = 276) and those who were imprisoned (n = 123) was conducted. The results showed the existence of numerous statistically significant differences between groups, primarily in psychopathological variables and in cognitive bias about women and violence use. In general, imprisoned batterers showed more irrational beliefs both about women and about violence as a strategy to cope with everyday difficulties. Moreover, batterers in prison had significantly higher scores on all psychopathological symptoms as assessed by SCL-90-R, as well as in most of STAXI-2 subscales. According to these results, batterers in prison showed a higher severity in variables studied than those who were referred by the court to the treatment programme. Implications of these results for further research and clinical practice are also commented on (AU)

En este artículo se presentan las características demográficas, de violencia y psicopatológicas de 399 hombres que acuden a un programa especializado en el tratamiento de violencia de género. Además, se lleva a cabo una comparación en todas las variables estudiadas entre los agresores enviados al programa como suspensión de la ejecución de la pena (n = 276) y aquellos que cumplían condena en prisión (n = 123). Los resultados obtenidos mostraron la existencia de numerosas diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los dos grupos. En general los maltratadores en prisión mostraron más ideas irracionales sobre la mujer y sobre la violencia como forma aceptable de resolver las dificultades cotidianas. Además, los agresores en prisión presentaron puntuaciones más altas en los síntomas psicopatológicos evaluados con el SCL-90-R, así como en la mayoría de las subescalas del STAXI-2. Con arreglo a estos resultados, los maltratadores en prisión presentaban una mayor gravedad en las variables estudiadas en comparación con aquellos enviados al programa de tratamiento como alternativa a la ejecución de la pena. Se discuten las implicaciones de estos resultados para la investigación futura y para la práctica clínica con agresores (AU)

Violencia de género e inmigración: perfil diferencial de hombres maltratadores nacionales e inmigrantes / Gender violence and migration: differential profile of domestic violence between native and migrant men

En este artículo se lleva a cabo una descripción de las características demográficas, de maltrato y psicopatológicas de 448 sujetos que han acudido en busca de tratamiento por haber cometido un delito de violencia de género. Además, se hace una comparación en todas las variables estudiadas entre los sujetos que proceden de España (n= 221) y aquellos que proceden de otros países (n= 227). Los resultados ponen de manifiesto la existencia de numerosas diferencias significativas entre los dos grupos en las variables sociodemográficas y de maltrato. Sin embargo, desde una perspectiva psicopatológica las diferencias encontradas no son clínicamente importantes. Los maltratadores inmigrantes son más jóvenes, con más hijos en común con la víctima, con un nivel de estudios ligeramente superior y con más antecedentes psiquiátricos, en comparación con los maltratadores españoles. Asimismo, los maltratadores inmigrantes presentan más pensamientos irracionales sobre la mujer y sobre la utilización de la violencia, y han tenido experiencias de maltrato en la infancia más frecuentemente que los agresores españoles (AU)

This paper describes the demography, nature of gender violence and psychopathological characteristics of 448 men who have sought help after committing an act of domestic violence. Furthermore, a comparison is made of all the variables studied between Spanish nationals (n= 221) and nationals from other countries (n= 227). The results reveal the existence of numerous statistically significant differences between both groups in terms of the socio-demographic and abuse variables. However, from a psychopathological point of view the differences found are not clinically significant. Migrant male abusers are younger, with more children in common with the victim, with a slightly higher level of education and with a longer history of mental illness than Spanish abusers. Furthermore, migrant abusers have more irrational thoughts about women and the use of violence, and they have experienced childhood abuse more often than their Spanish counterparts