4087.0: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - Board 6

Abstract #26494

Risk factors for intimate partner violence in men recovering from multiple substance abuse and their female partners

John Schafer, PhD, Patrick Dyer, BS, CCDC I, Krista Lisdahl Medina, BA, Tisha Gangopadhyay Armstrong, MA, and Julia Wernke. Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, 409E Dyer Hall, ML 376, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0376, 513-556-5527, John.Schafer@uc.edu

These results are from a six-year project funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, (1995-2001). Data were collected from 276 cohabiting or married heterosexual couples. The male partner was within his first year of recovery from abuse of, or dependence on, two or more drugs. The men were randomly selected from treatment agencies (60%) and from advertisements throughout northern California. Participants were administered neuropsychological tests as well as self-administered questionnaires, including the revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2). The cognitive battery included tests of word knowledge, sequencing, verbal and nonverbal learning and memory, ability to inhibit an overlearned response (Stroop), and conceptualization. Multiple negative binomial regression models were estimated in S-Plus using four dependent variables: men and women's reports of the 12-month frequency of male-to-female and female-to-male physical assault, injury, and sexual coercion. Independent variables consisted of separate blocks, each run separately by gender: neuropsychological test scores; DSM-IV substance dependence; and a block containing age, education, history of head injury, impulsivity, depression, and history of physical child abuse. Lower vocabulary scores for the men and women, lower Stroop scores for the men, and lower verbal learning scores for the women were all associated with significantly higher levels of reported violence. Women with cocaine or amphetamine dependence had higher reported levels of violence; women with opiate dependence had significantly lower reported rates of violence. Younger age and higher depression in the men, and less impulsivity and younger age in the women, were significantly associated with higher reported levels of violence.

Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will learn which advanced statistical models are best suited for violence data. 2. Participants will be able to identify risk factors for intimate partner violence in recovering couple dyads.

Keywords: Domestic Violence, Drug Abuse

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: NIDA grant recipient

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA