The Abusive Behavior Inventory

TLDR

There is a recognized need for instruments that assess both physical and psychological aspects of domestic violence. The study aimed to develop the Abusive Behavior Inventory (ABI) to evaluate a range of abusive behaviors. The ABI was validated with 178 participants (100 men, 78 women) across abuser/abused and nonabuser/nonabused groups, assessing criterion‑related, construct, and factorial validity. ABI scores differed significantly between abusers and nonabusers, supporting its validity across the examined domains.

Abstract

Researchers have identified the need to develop instruments to measure domestic violence that include both physical and psychological abuse. Drawing from feminist theory, the Abusive Behavior Inventory (ABI) was developed to address a range of abusive behaviors. A validation study included a sample of 100 men and 78 women divided into groups of abusers/abused and nonabusers/nonabused. The study included the evaluation of three types of validity: criterion related, construct, and factorial. Significant differences in scores on the ABI were found between the abuser and nonabuser groups. These differences provide evidence to support the scale's validity in each of these areas.