Citation

Rosenbaum A, Gearan PJ, Ondovic C. J. Aggression Maltreat. Trauma 2002; 5(2): 199-220.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1300/J146v05n02_12

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Batterers treatment has become a central component in efforts to curb relationship aggression. However, debate continues over the relative effectiveness of batterers treatment both independent of, and in concert with, legal interventions. The present study examined the relationship between referral source (i.e., self-referred vs. court-mandated), participant characteristics, treatment length (i.e., 7, 10, and 20 weeks), treatment completion, and recidivism in a sample of 326 men who had completed at least one session of a batterers treatment program. Results indicated that court-referred men had a significantly higher treatment completion rate than self-referred men in the 20-session condition, but not in either of the shorter treatment lengths. Men who were exposed to their fathers' physical abuse of their mothers and men who have been aggressive in past relationships had significantly lower completion rates. Recidivism was lowest for men who had been court-referred and completed treatment. Treatment completion was associated with significantly lower rates of recidivism for court-referred but not self-referred participants. Participants in the 10and 20session treatment programs had significantly lower rates of recidivism than those in the seven-session program, but were not significantly different from one another. No participant characteristics were found to be significantly associated with recidivism. Implications of these findings for the structure of batterers treatment and public policy are discussed.