Processes of Resistance in Domestic Violence Offenders

PROJECT SUMMARY 2003-IJ-CX-1030 This proposed research extends rhe work on the application of transtheorical model of Change to domestic violence offenders by examinig processes of resistance a new TTM construct that represents activities that inhibit stage progression or increase risk of regression. Research Subjects will be 766 male domestic violence offenders involved in group counseling for partner violence at participating Rhode Island proggrams. The sequentioal method for scale development will include: 1) a literature review, focus group with batterers, and interview with experts to generate ideas for inclusion in the the process of resistence measire; 2) the measure will be administered to 350 adult males in batterer treatment; 3) principal components analysis and and item analysis willbe conducted to refine the measure and determine it's dimensionality and content, and 4) preliminary statistical analyses will be conducted to assess the measure's external validity. Subsequence, the measure will be administered to a seperate sample of 350 domestic violence offenders at treatment intake and again 3 months later in order to confirm and validate the measure. Finally, the researchers will returns to the literature and experts on domestic violence treatment and conduct addtional focus groups with return to the literature and experts on domestic violence treatment and conduct additional focous groups with batterers to identify best practices for dealing with resistance in batterer treatment.