TREATING INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE WITHIN INTACT COUPLE RELATIONSHIPS: OUTCOMES OF MULTI‐COUPLE VERSUS INDIVIDUAL COUPLE THERAPY

TLDR

The study aimed to evaluate outcomes of a domestic‑violence‑focused treatment program for couples who remain together after mild‑to‑moderate violence. Forty‑two couples were randomized to individual couple or multi‑couple group therapy, with nine couples serving as a comparison group. Men in the multi‑couple group had significantly lower 6‑month recidivism (25% vs 66%) and improved marital satisfaction, reduced aggression, and lower acceptance of wife battering, whereas the individual couple group showed no significant reductions.

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.