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.

Expanding Knowledge Concerning the Safe at Home Instrument for Assessing Readiness to Change Among Individuals in Batterer Treatment

“…This cross-sectional study engaged 246 participants from 6 IPV batterer treatment programs. Analyses consisted of computing scale totals and means for 5 scales (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation/action, maintenance, and overall readiness), comparing scores for men and women, and drawing comparisons with reports at treatment intake only (Begun et al, 2008;Begun et al, 2003). Findings indicated similar scores on precontemplation and contemplation but significantly higher scores on preparation/action, maintenance, and overall readiness compared to the previous study.…”

“…Motivational interviewing used during intake or as a pretreatment for perpetrators of IPV has been shown to increase readiness to change and to promote batterer engagement in the treatment process (Eckhardt, Murphy, Black, & Suhr, 2006;Kistenmacher & Weiss, 2008;Musser, Semiatin, Taft, & Murphy, 2008). Motivational interviewing and readiness to change measurements may work in tandem for establishing therapeutic alliance and helping to match clients with appropriate levels of treatment (Begun et al, 2008;Begun et al, 2003;Murphy & Maiuro, 2009). The link between motivational interviewing and the Revised Safe at Home instrument may help to refine IPV intervention methods (Murphy & Maiuro, 2009).…”

The Intersection of Therapy Constructs: The Relationship Between Motivation to Change, Distress, Referral Source, and Pressure to Attend

“…While such a distinction appears to neatly separate clients, the motivational levels of mandated clients have fluctuated in various studies (Begun et al, 2003;De Leon, Melnick, & Tims, 2001). Further, motivation level is clearly associated with therapy mandates.…”

“…Mandated clients often experience stressful and pressured referrals into therapy (Chamberlain et al, 1984), resulting in low levels of motivation (Begun et al, 2003) and lower levels of engagement and alliance formation (Conners et al, 2000;Rempel & Destefano, 2001). The clients preceding experience with their referral source may leave them on the offensive when they enter therapy, at which point they struggle to connect with their therapist and find motivation to change, resulting in premature termination of services (Begun et al, 2003;Chamberlain et al, 1984;Knerr et al, 2009). Dissimilarly, voluntary clients experience some intrinsic desire or awareness of a need for treatment (O'Hare, 1996;Prochaska, Johnson, & Lee, 2008), may have sought out a referral or utilized a referring agency to connect them to support services.…”

Resistance, Reluctance, and Readiness in Perpetrators of Abuse Against Women and Children

“…Items on the contemplation scale assess client motivation to change ways of dealing with anger and conflict, and items on the preparation/action subscale assess clients' use of a variety of change strategies. Safe at Home items are published in Begun et al (2003).…”