Treating intimate partner violence within intact couple relationships: outcomes of multi-couple versus individual couple therapy

J Marital Fam Ther. 2004 Jul;30(3):305-18. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2004.tb01242.x.

Abstract

An experimental design was used to determine outcomes of a domestic violence-focused treatment program for couples that choose to stay together after mild-to-moderate violence has occurred. Forty-two couples were randomly assigned to either individual couple or multi-couple group treatment. Nine couples served as the comparison group. Male violence recidivism rates 6 months after treatment were significantly lower for the multi-couple group (25%) than for the comparison group (66%). In contrast, men in the individual couple condition were not significantly less likely to recidivate (43%) than those in the comparison group. In addition, marital satisfaction increased significantly, and both marital aggression and acceptance of wife battering decreased significantly among individuals who participated in multi-couple group therapy, but not among those who participated in individual couple therapy or the comparison group.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • District of Columbia
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Marital Therapy* / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Psychotherapy, Group* / methods
  • Risk Factors
  • Sexual Partners / psychology*
  • Spouse Abuse / psychology*
  • Spouse Abuse / rehabilitation*
  • Spouses / psychology*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Virginia