TREAD: A Promising Change-Target for Partner Abuse Prevention with Adolescents

Abstract

There is consensus in the partner abuse prevention education literature that a skills-focus is needed. However, appropriate instruments for evaluating the effectiveness of skills-focused programs do not exist. Against this background, and based on the dyadic slippery slope model of partner abuse, the Tendency to Resist or End Abusive Dynamics (TREAD) scale was developed. TREAD is defined as one's tendency to respond assertively or protectively in situations involving warning-sign (potentially hurtful or controlling) behaviors by a partner. The scale's development drew on the input of three Australian samples: mixed-gender adolescent focus groups, 426 young female respondents to an online survey, and 152 adolescent girls participating in a school-based program trial. When tested with the 152 adolescent girls, the TREAD scale had acceptable internal consistency and high inter-rater reliability. Principal components analysis identified three interrelated TREAD subscales (i.e., ConflictRetaliation TREAD, Denigration TREAD, and DominancePossessiveness TREAD) all of which were negatively associated with frequency of exposure to warning-sign behaviors. This paper charts the preliminary development of the TREAD scale, presenting evidence supporting its validity as a changetarget for partner abuse prevention education with adolescent girls and, potentially, boys.

The Recognition of Emotional Abuse: Adolescents’ Responses to Warning Signs in Romantic Relationships

“…A 20 item questionnaire was developed for the purpose of the study, guided by research into emotional abuse. 1 The questionnaire and scales developed by Jacobson and Gottman (1998), Murphy and Smith (2010) and Murphy, Smith and Xenos (2012) were looked at most closely when generating and choosing individual warning sign behaviours and their domains. The behaviours included were based upon observations during therapeutic work with young women conducted by Murphy, and each behaviour used in the current study is one that she found to occur in abusive adolescent relationships, but that is not necessarily viewed as harmful by adolescents.…”

Warning Signs of Partner Abuse in Intimate Relationships: Gender Differences in Young Adults’ Perceptions of Seriousness

“…A program of research conducted by K. A. Murphy and colleagues in Victoria, Australia, stands out as unique in its consideration of the subtle behavioral signs of partner abuse that are defined by young people and could be used in prevention programs. These authors take a dyadic view of the development of harmful dynamics in intimate relationships and define the early warning signs of abuse (warning sign behaviors [WSBs]) as “partner behaviours that have the potential to trigger dynamics characterized by secrecy, overdependence, anger or power imbalance” (K. A. Murphy, Smith & Xenos 2012, p. 352).They theorize that a “slippery slope” of seemingly innocent boundary transgressions may set a foundation for greater violations and potential later abuse (K.…”

“…To measure the effectiveness of IPA prevention interventions with young people in high school settings, K. A. Murphy, Smith and Xenos (2012) developed and validated the Tendency to Resist or End Abusive Dynamics (TREAD) scale which assesses respondents’ perceptions of partner WSB and their proposed responses to it.…”

“…A. Murphy, Smith and Xenos (2012) developed and validated the Tendency to Resist or End Abusive Dynamics (TREAD) scale which assesses respondents’ perceptions of partner WSB and their proposed responses to it. The TREAD scale is a gender-inclusive measure that demonstrated sound content, construct, and criterion validity in an Australian sample of 152 adolescent girls and has the potential for use with young adult females and males (K. A. Murphy et al, 2012).…”

“…The TREAD posits a list of hypothetical partner WSBs for respondents to consider. These WSBs were identified through focus groups with more than 300 Australian high school students (K. A. Murphy et al, 2012).…”