This randomized trial will test a newly developed intervention aimed at fathers who have a history of family violence compared to a standard batterer intervention program.
This study will expand on Fathers for Change (F4C), a novel intervention for fathers with histories of perpetrating intimate partner violence (IPV). F4C is designed to meet a significant unmet intervention need for fathers who have a history of family violence who are not helped by currently available batterer intervention programs (BIPs). BIPs that are currently available nationally have shown limited efficacy with high rates of repeat violence. This project will provide needed data to further develop F4C and move to a Stage II efficacy trial by: 1) revising the BIP group intervention manual to be delivered in an individual treatment format; 2) develop a fidelity measure for F4C and the BIP; 4) conduct a stage 1b randomized trial (consistent with the stage model of intervention development) to show initial feasibility, acceptability and intervention signal with the targeted population. Sixty fathers with a history of IPV who have already failed a treatment as usual group BIP will be randomly assigned to F4C or an individually delivered comparable dose of BIP. Reflective functioning and emotion regulation will be examined as the mechanisms through which Fathers for Change reduces IPV and child maltreatment risk behaviors.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
60
Fathers for Change (F4C) focuses on: 1) the fathering role to facilitate engagement, 2) RF to understand self, partner and children and emotion regulation skills to reduce IPV and child maltreatment. F4C focuses on understanding of emotional experiences, how they impact thinking and behaviors related to partners, co-parents and children. F4C clients will meet individually with their F4C therapist for 50 minutes per week over 16 weeks.
The Batterer Intervention Program (BIP) is a psychoeducational intervention that will be delivered in 50- minute individual weekly sessions over 16 weeks. The intervention focuses on the impact of violence on victims, power and control tactics, and societal influences supporting men's violence toward women. The intervention includes didactics and experiential exercises including role plays to teach anger management skills.
Carla Stover
Hamden, Connecticut, United States
Completion Rate
To test the hypothesis that fathers randomized to F4C will have higher completion rates than those in the individual BIP treatment, chi-square analysis will be used to examine between group differences in treatment completion.
Time frame: 18 weeks
Working Alliance Inventory Sum Score
To test the hypothesis that fathers randomized to F4C will report greater overall working alliance, analysis of variance will be used to test between group difference in overall working alliance between F4C and BIP at week 8 of intervention (approximately mid-point). The Working Alliance Inventory (WAI-therapist version) will be used to measure working alliance among clinicians and clients. The WAI for therapists measures the strength of the working alliance with the client with 36 items utilizing a 5-point Likert scale. The minimum score is 0, the maximum score is 180. Higher sum score indicates a stronger working alliance.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Client Satisfaction Sum Score
To test the hypothesis that fathers randomized to F4C will report greater overall satisfaction, analysis of variance will be used to test between group difference in overall client satisfaction between F4C and BIP. Satisfaction scores range from 2 to 8 with 8 indicating greater overall satisfaction with the services received.
Time frame: 18 weeks
Reflective Functioning
Reflective functioning will be assessed using the Parent Development Interview-Revised (PDI). The PDI is a 40-item semi-structured interview that assesses reflective functioning through questions about child-rearing and the ways respondents are like or unlike their own parents. Interviews will be audio recorded and transcribed verbatim for scoring. Interviews are coded on a scale of 1 to 9 with 1 being poor and 9 being excellent reflective functioning. A score of 3 or less is considered very poor.
Time frame: Baseline and 18 weeks
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Emotional Regulation
Emotional regulation will be assessed with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-short form (DERS-SF). The DERS-SF is an 18-item self-report measure scored on a 5-point Likert-type scale where higher scores indicate greater difficulty in emotional regulation. Scores range from 18-90.
Time frame: Baseline and 18 weeks
Intimate Partner Violence
The TimeLine Follow-back-Spousal Violence will be used to characterize the frequency of intimate partner violence.
Time frame: 18 weeks
Child Maltreatment
Child maltreatment risk will be assessed using TimeLine Follow-back to assess the frequency of behaviors characterized as child maltreatment.
Time frame: 18 weeks