Characteristics of the Safe At Home Instrument for Assessing Readiness to Change Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

Objective: This article describes the development, factor structure, concurrent validity, and predictive validity of the Safe At Home instrument, a 35-item self-report measure designed for social work assessment of individuals' readiness to change their intimate partner violence behaviors. Method: Multisite data (five sites, a total of 1,359 men at intake) addressed questions concerning instrument properties. Results: Initial exploratory factor analysis identified three scales that are consistent with the early stages outlined in the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change (Precontemplation, Contemplation, and Preparation/Action). Confirmatory factor analysis further supported the three-factor solution. Concurrent and predictive validity were examined on a subset of cases. Conclusions: The Safe At Home instrument has applicability for social work evaluation of batterer's treatment intervention; additional study is needed for reliable use as an individual clinical assessment tool.