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This analysis estimates prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and its association with probable depression among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Lilongwe, Malawi, and whether partner's controlling behaviour modifies this relationship. Baseline data was utilised from the Girl Power-Malawi study of 1000 15-24-year-old AGYW in Lilongwe. Emotional, physical, and sexual IPV experiences with a current or recent partner were measured using the modified Conflict Tactics Scale. Probable depression was measured by scoring ≥10 on the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies-Short Depression Scale (CES-D-10). Generalised linear models with log-link and binomial distribution estimated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between IPV types and probable depression. Partner's controlling behaviour was examined as an effect modifier. Participants' mean age was 19.2 years, with 70% never-married. IPV prevalence varied for emotional (59%), physical (36%), sexual (46%), and all forms (20%). Prevalence of probable depression was 47%. AGYW who experienced each IPV type had a higher prevalence of probable depression: physical (PR:1.54, CI:1.28-1.86), sexual (1.46, CI:1.21-1.75), emotional (1.37, CI:1.14-1.64), all forms (1.72, CI:1.41-2.09). IPV and probable depression were prevalent and strongly associated, especially among AGYW reporting controlling behaviour. Interventions addressing IPV and controlling behaviour may positively impact depression among AGYW.

Background The experience of intimate partner violence (IPV) is stressful. One objective way to monitor it is to assess victims’ stress response by measuring the concentration of their salivary cortisol, the major stress hormone released by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Objective We investigated how the IPV experienced by women in Cameroon affects their stress levels and those of their children. Method We recruited 50 mother–child dyads exposed to IPV and a control group of 25 mother–child dyads. All mothers completed questionnaires, including the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale to assess IPV, the Sense of Coherence Scale, and the Self-Esteem Scale, to assess their psychological resources. Mothers were asked to collect 3 saliva samples from themselves and 3 from their children on a single weekday: immediately after waking up, 30 minutes after waking up, and 45 minutes after waking up. The total cortisol secretion over the first hour after awakening was determined by calculating the area under the curve with respect to the ground (AUCg). Results Mothers exposed to IPV exhibited higher total post-awakening cortisol concentrations compared with those in the control group. However, no significant difference was found between exposed and non-exposed children. In addition, higher IPV, specifically injuries, was significantly and positively associated with greater AUCg among mothers exhibiting lower self-esteem. When self-esteem was high, however, no significant effect of IPV on AUCg was observed. Conclusions Of particular clinical significance is that self-esteem can modulate the stress levels of women exposed to IPV, a valuable insight into the development of effective psychosocial interventions to support IPV victims in sub-Saharan Africa., HIGHLIGHTS Victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) experience extreme stress through elevated cortisol levels. Our results showed that higher cortisol levels was associated with lower self-esteem and a lower sense of coherence, thus implying that self-esteem may serve as a moderator.

Research demonstrates that children exposed to domestic violence experience a myriad of internalising and externalising symptoms. The current study examines this pathway within a Cambodian sample, specifically determining if the effect of witnessing domestic violence on the child’s tendency to bully or to be bullied is mediated by symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The PTSD Checklist – Civilian Version, a revised version of a12-item bullying and victimisation questionnaire, and the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale were administered to 206 high school students in Phnom Penh. A significant mediational effect of PTSD symptoms was found for victimisation (being bullied); no such mediational model was supported for bullying as the outcome variable. However, controlling for emotional, physical, and sexual child abuse resulted in the mediation effect being non-significant. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and associated factors among pregnant HIV-infected women in primary health care facilities in Nkangala and Gert Sibande districts, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Participants were 673 women who were, on average, 28.39 ± 5.73 years old. Data were collected through Audio Computer Assisted Self Interview (ACASI), and analysed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Overall, 56.3% reported having experienced either psychological or physical IPV, and 19.6% reported physical IPV. In logistic multivariable regression analyses, higher levels of depressive symptoms and greater perceived stigma were associated with combined physical and psychological IPV. Psychological IPV and physical IPV were also individually associated with greater perceived stigma and higher levels of depressive symptoms. The design and implementation of evidence-informed interventions that can empower and protect HIV-infected pregnant women from IPV is essential to managing their health-related quality of life.

The intergenerational transmission of domestic violence has received significant research attention. In this study, a sample of 194 couples in Beijing was tested on the transmission mechanism. Thus, we asked: does marital attribution play a mediated role in the transmission from family-of-origin violence to subsequent intimate partner violence? We used three questionnaires: family-of-origin violence, Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2), and Marital Attitude Survey (MAS). Results showed that: (1) in family-of-origin violence, incidence of parent-to-child violence is much higher than inter-parental violence, in which incidence of father-to-mother violence is much higher than mother-to-father violence. (2) Family-of-origin violence has an impact on intimate partner violence (IPV); however, mothers’ perpetration of violence is more likely to have stronger effects. (3) Husbands’ attributions of malicious intent to spouse, and wives’ attributions of causality to spouse’s behavior can mediate parent-to-self vi...

This study utilised data and interviewed participants (n = 138), aged 22–23 years from the Australian Temperament Project, which is a prospective national longitudinal study that has tracked pathways of antisocial behaviour and psychosocial adjustment from infancy to young adulthood. Gender- and group-related differences in interpersonal conflict resolution of young adults with differing histories of antisocial behaviour (namely high-risk persistently antisocial, low-risk persistently antisocial and non-antisocial groups) were examined, as measured by a modified version of the conflict tactics scale. The study findings show that both the high-risk and low-risk persistently antisocial groups reported higher levels of physically aggressive strategies than the non-antisocial group. The high-risk group also reported higher levels of non-physically aggressive strategies in resolving interpersonal conflict. Interestingly, young adult females reported higher levels of non-physical tactics in dealing with interpe...

When older adults with dementia are hospitalized for psychiatric treatment, which elder abuse screen to use is questionable. This article reviews screens to identify desirable characteristics. For clinician completion, the Elder Assessment Instrument and the Brief Abuse Screens for the Elderly are recommended. For the older adult, the brief Hwalek-Sengstock Elder Abuse Screening Test is suitable. The Modified Conflict Tactics Scale, which can be used by both the older adult and the nonprofessional caregiver, has many of the recommended characteristics. Research is necessary in the application of these screens within hospitals to detect elder abuse within this specialized population.

Introduction: Violence is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients seeking care in urban emergency departments (EDs). Few studies have examined the relationship between substance use and violence among ED patients with substance use disorders. The urban ED is a critical location for intervening with patients with substance use disorders and violence. This study examined correlates of violence by patients with substance use disorders.Method: For this cross-sectional study, 1215 patients (64.7% males, average age 34.1 years, SD = 10.58) in an ED, with substance use disorder, completed Substance Abuse Outcome Module (Smith et al., 1996, Psychiatric outcomes module: Substance Abuse Outcomes Module (SOAM). Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins), Addiction Severity Index (McLellan et al., 2006, The Addiction Severity Index at 25: Origins, contributions and transitions. American Journal on Addictions, 15(2), 113–124), Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus, 1979, Measuring intrafamily conflict and violence:...

This study explores the effects of romantic relational aggression on intimate partner violence. The concept of relational aggression denotes a type of nonphysical aggression that is specific to relationships and that has only recently been recognized in the psychological literature. Using responses to the Conflict Tactics Scale from adults participating in the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods, romantic relational aggression is examined with regard to male and female intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization. Results indicate that romantic relational aggression is a predictor of partner violence perpetration and victimization among both males and females.

This exploratory study examines the potential relationship between parenting stress, child maltreatment, and alcoholism in a pilot data set. Twenty-four participants (six African-American, six European-American, six Mexican-American, and six Native-American) completed four questionnaires (Parenting Stress Index, Conflict Tactics Scale Parent-Child, Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test, Chemical Dependency Assessment Profile [PSI, CTSPC, MAST, and CDAP]). Through principle component analyses and multiple regression analyses, it was suggested that self-perceived parenting strength or competence directly affect a parent's tactics to deal with parent-child conflicts. Results indicated that self-confidence as a competent parent was related to the frequency of using verbal degrading and physical punishment. Parents who reported that the child's temperament bothers them a lot were more likely to physically abuse the child. Though all the participants could be categorized as alcoholic by the MAST, parents'...

This study is an investigation of the occurrence and awareness of violence in intimate partner relationships as reported by college students recruited by e-mail from a small Midwestern university. Students responded to an online survey using a modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scale 2. Data were collected on the occurrences of violent behaviors in their intimate partner relationships as well as their awareness of victimization and perpetration behaviors. Over 22% of the students who have been perpetrators or victims of violent physical acts are still unaware that these violent behaviors constitute relational abuse. Descriptive statistics concerning the prevalence of physical, sexual, and psychological violence are also reported. Implications about Internet sampling and the prevalence and awareness of intimate partner violence are discussed.

Compared with urban settings, much less is known about the prevalence and correlates of elder abuse in rural areas. The purposes of this study were to: (1) examine the prevalence of elder domestic part ner violence and (2) estimate the prevalence of elder abuse reported and inflicted by men and women and to identify factors associated with elder domestic partner violence. A secondary data analyses was completed for 362 cohabitating partners who were participants in a population-based, prospective study. Based on results of the Conflict Tactics Scale, 32% of the cohabiting participants reported emotional abuse and 2% reported physical abuse. Significant risk factors of reported emotional abuse were having depressive symptoms, higher antisocial personality score, and not living in a town.

The purpose of this study was to gather preliminary data about the experience of domestic violence from the perspective of immigrant Indian and Pakistani women residing in the United States. Using hierarchical linear regression, we explored the association between individual-, familial-, and cultural-level variables and the experience of domestic violence as assessed by the four aggression subscales of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale. Our sample consisted of 78 women who were Indian, residents of Illinois, between 18 and 35 years old, college educated, and employed. Most of the women were married. Results showed a 77% prevalence rate and a 71% incidence rate for the experience of domestic violence for the women in our sample. Results of the hierarchical linear regression analysis indicated that level of education, employment status, domestic violence among immediate and extended family members, and cultural belief in male domination were significantly associated with domestic violence.

INTRODUCTION Although domestic violence is a widely recognized public health problem, violence in dating relationships among teens and college-aged individuals is under-studied. (1) Both the denial and ignorance about abuse in relationships contribute to the problem. If an individual does not perceive a behavior to constitute abuse, there is little likelihood that the abuse will cease, or that the individual will recognize the patterns of increasingly abusive behaviors and seek help. Similarly, since abuse and violence tend to escalate with age and over time, patterns of behaviors developed during the formative years of dating may set the stage for violence in adult relationships. (2,3) The purpose of this activity is to improve self-identification by increasing awareness and recognition of abuse using items derived from the Conflict Tactics Scale. The Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2) for couples is a validated measure of the range of behaviors in relationships. (4) OBJECTIVES By the end of this exercise, students will be able to: (1) Distinguish abusive behaviors from non-abusive behaviors. (2) Differentiate among verbal, emotional/psychological, sexual, economic, and physical types of abuse. MATERIALS & RESOURCES (1) In total, 30 cards approximately 11"x 6" in size, will be needed. Each card should have printed on it one of the behaviors from the Conflict Tactics Scale Revised (Table 1). Use different colors as follows: 5 Emotional/Verbal Abuse cards (Green); 5 Psychological Abuse cards (Orange); 6 Sexual Abuse cards (Pink); 7 Physical Abuse cards (Yellow); 2 Economic Abuse (Blue); and 2 Control cards (Red). Using brightly colored neon paper makes it easier for the entire classroom to see the words and to observe the pattern of abuse. Each card should be printed in at least 80-point font size or greater, depending upon the size of the classroom. Make sure that each card can be read from anywhere in the room. Lamination is recommended. (2) Masking tape. (3)(Optional) Overheads of Tables 2, 3, & 4 could be incorporated as well. TARGET POPULATION This teaching idea is suitable for students in both high school and college. PROCEDURE The following procedure was developed for a 75-minute class period. Introduce the activity and pass out the cards, one to each student. Place 3 additional cards or write "No Abuse," "Low Abuse" and "High Abuse" across the chalkboard or draw a continuum to represent the categories of abuse. For younger students, you may choose to have the three categories of abuse be discrete, but for older students, have the categories remain as a continuum. Read the statement of instructions that accompanies the Conflict Tactic Scale: "No matter how well a couple gets along, there are times when they disagree, get annoyed with the other person, want different things, or just have spats or fights because they are in a bad mood, are tired, or for some other reason. Couples also have many different ways of trying to settle their conflicts. Each of these cards is a description of things that might happen when you have conflicts." (4) Have each student read their card to his or herself and then, using masking tape, affix their card to the chalkboard wherever each feels the level of abuse best represents their card. You may need to remind students that the behaviors occur in the context of conflict or resolving conflict. It may be a good idea to have students write down the placement of their particular card in their notebook prior to the group discussion. After the students have placed the cards on the chalkboard, allow time for everyone to view the cards and their placements. Read each card aloud and ask if students think the card is in the right place, or if it should be moved lower (behavior is less abusive), or moved higher (more abusive). It is not necessary to achieve complete consensus; if the group takes too long discussing one particular behavior does not reach a consensus, (re)place the card where it best represents the "average" of student consensus. …

This study examined verbal aggression in a sample of community dwelling older adults with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) using the Risk and Vulnerability model as a means for identifying factors associated with verbal mistreatment in caregiver/patient dyads.Subjects were recruited in the State of Florida through their association with state-funded memory disorder clinics or with local chapters of the Alzheimer's Association. The sample for this analysis consisted of 254 caregivers who completed both a questionnaire and an in-home interview between the years 1998 and 2002. Verbal mistreatment was measured using the verbal aggression sub-scale of the Conflict Tactics Scale and logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with increased risk.Verbal aggression as a conflict resolution style was self reported by 60.1% of caregivers, and was reported as a technique used against them by 74.8% of family members with AD. Logistic regression analysis suggests that factors associated with increased risk for verbal aggression by caregivers included being female, providing care to verbally aggressive elders, caregiver's diminished cognitive status, high levels of psychiatric symptoms, depression, or experiencing a high degree of caregiver hassle. Additionally, a significant interaction effect was found between levels of depression in caregivers and dementia symptoms in elders, as well as between levels of psychiatric symptoms in caregivers, feelings of caregiver hassle, and depression in care recipients and risk for verbal mistreatment.This study highlights the importance of both risks and vulnerabilities in the outcome of verbal mistreatment, and identifies that in many cases verbal mistreatment may be a reciprocal phenomenain dyads of caregivers and persons with AD.

We examined the relationship between defense mechanisms and self-reported violence toward partners and toward strangers in a sample of college student men. Fifty men completed the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT; Murray, 1943) and the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS; Straus, 1979), a self-report measure of strategies (including violence) for resolving conflicts with partners and strangers. The TAT responses were coded for defense mechanisms with the Defense Mechanisms Manual (Cramer, 1991b). The relative use of identification was negatively correlated (r = -.49, p < .001), and the relative use of projection was positively correlated (r = .49, p < .001) with the most extreme CTS report of violence toward partners. The relative use of identification was negatively correlated with the most extreme CTS report of violence toward strangers (r = -.34, p < .05). The relative use of denial was positively correlated with the most extreme CTS report of violence toward strangers (r = .32, p < .05).

This article describes the characteristics of male perpetrators of domestic violence and their relationship to the level of violence. The data about the male partners obtained from 151 battered women were used for this analysis. Using multiple regression, demographic variables and three behavioral indicators, including use of alcohol before a violent episode, history of arrests, and the generality of violence, were examined together for their relationship with the violence scores. With the level of violence as measured by the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS) as the dependent variable, demographic variables explained 19.1% of the variability, with the behavioral indicators accounting for an additional 4.6% of the variability. Several research and clinical implications are addressed.

Background : Interpersonal violence (IPV) is associated with higher risk of depression. Female Chinese rural-to-urban migrants may experience greater depression following exposure to IPV due to lack of social support and integration within their receiving communities. The current study estimated the prevalence of IPV among rural-to-urban migrants in Guangzhou, China, and evaluated the moderating effects of social resources on migrant’s depression symptoms. Method : We recruited 1,368 women (1,003 migrants and 365 local-born) of childbearing age from population and family planning centers in two districts using a quota sampling method matched to the 2012 population census. Chinese versions of the Conflict Tactics Scale 2 Short Form, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and the Social Support Rating Scale measured IPV, depression, and social support. Social integration was measured with a locally derived scale. Results : Migrants reported a similar prevalence for IPV (41.20%) to local women (39.20%). Bivariate comparisons demonstrated that migrants reported greater depression (11.8±8.9 vs. 10.0±8.8, t =−3.27, p

Critiques of behavioral inventories, qualitative studies of battered women's experiences, and communications research all suggest that women's accounts of violence contain information and a more complex structure than is captured by checklist measures that focus on types of abuse. We conducted a quantitative thematic analysis of 162 women's accounts of domestic violence to assess structure and content. Most women presented domestic violence as a “story” with an introduction, body and a conclusion: 59% presented a “complete story” and 33% a “near story.” Background information and problem statements were the most prevalent content statements in the “introduction,” and relationship issues and explanations were most common in the “conclusion.” Bivariate analyses revealed that accounts did not vary by socio-demographic factors and severity of the incident. Men were less likely to present complete stories, had far briefer narratives, and never discussed relationship issues. Knowledge of the structure ...

The purpose of this nursing research was to describe the trauma experience of sheltered battered women. Trauma history was operationalized as the participant's experience with traumatic life events in general (Trauma History Questionnaire [B. L. Green, 1995]) and with battering specifically (Conflict Tactics Scale, including a Physical Injury Severity scale). A convenience sample of 50 ethnically diverse women in the San Francisco Bay area was obtained from those residing in 2 shelters. Participants had experienced an average of 8.1 +/- 4.6 traumatic events (battering and nonbattering) over the course of their lives. Analysis of relationships between selected biopsychosocial and trauma history variables revealed the importance and beneficial effects of spiritual beliefs to many sheltered battered women.

This study describes and compares health, developmental, and behavioral manifestations of witnessing domestic violence in a health department population of preschool children (n = 15) of women detected to be battered (Conflict Tactics Scale [CTS], Straus, 1979). Comparisons included a community sample of the preschool children of nonbattered women (n = 62) to study the effect of mothers being battered, and a shelter sample of the preschool children of battered women (n = 53) to study the effect of "sheltering" on children's characteristics. Instrumentation included behavioral subscales, physical assessment, Denver II Developmental Screening, hemoglobin and lead levels, immunization, and nonmotor vehicle accident histories. Results showed more similarities between children of community (nonsheltered), battered and nonbattered women, but showed more differences between the children of community (nonsheltered) battered women and the children of sheltered, battered women. Battering intensity of the women was more severe in the shelter sample according to the CTS (p < .001), and more abnormal findings in their children were detected than in the community sample. When children of community (nonsheltered), battered women (n = 15) and children of sheltered, battered women (n = 53) were included in discriminant analysis of demographic characteristics, health status, and psychosocial variables, 87% of each group was classified correctly.

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study by Schumm et al. was to evaluate the three aspects (physical violence, verbal aggression, reasoning scales) of Straus's Conflict Tactics Scale. METHODOLOGY: This study combined a quasi-experimental cross-sectional design with a probability sample of randomly selected adolescents from a rural southeastern Kansas community and from the city of Wichita, Kansas. The rural group included 47 males and 36 females, average age 15.1 years. The urban group included 53 males and 45 females average age 15.8 years. Primary data collection for each group contained 3 principal components; the physical violence scale, verbal aggression scale and reasoning scale. This was analyzed through principal components analysis with varimax rotation using an SPSS routine. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: Straus's Conflict Tactics Scales factor structures were confirmed, with strongest support for the physical violence scale. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - Help Seeking Behavior KW - Kansas KW - Domestic Violence Perceptions KW - Juvenile Perceptions KW - Family Conflict KW - Child Abuse Perceptions KW - Verbal Aggression KW - Survey Instrument Language: en