Are interventions with batterers effective? A meta-analytical review

  1. Ramón Arce 1
  2. Esther Arias 1
  3. Mercedes Novo 1
  4. Francisca Fariña 1
  1. 1 Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Revista:
Psychosocial Intervention

ISSN: 1132-0559

Ano de publicación: 2020

Volume: 29

Número: 3

Páxinas: 153-164

Tipo: Artigo

DOI: 10.5093/PI2020A11 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openAcceso aberto editor

Outras publicacións en: Psychosocial Intervention

Obxectivos de Desenvolvemento Sustentable

Resumo

The inconsistency in the results both internally and between of previous meta-analyses on batterer intervention program efficacy, and the publication of new batterer interventions underscored the need for an up-to-date meta-analyticalreview. A total of 25 primary studies were found from literature search, obtaining 62 effect sizes, and a total sample of 20,860 intervened batterers. The results of a global meta-analysis showed a positive, significant, and of a mediummagnitude effect size for batterer interventions, but not generalizable. Nevertheless, the results exhibited a significantly higher rate of recidivism measured in couple reports (CRs) than in official records (ORs). As a consequence, intervention efficacy measuring in CRs was null, whilst in ORs was positive and significant. As for the intervention model, positive andsignificant effects were observed under the Duluth Model and cognitive-behavioural treatment programs (CBTPs), but a higher effect size was obtained with CBTPs in comparison to the Duluth Model (under this model, interventions may have negative effects, i.e., an increase in recidivism rate). In relation to intervention length, short interventions failed to reduce recidivism in ORs and may have negative effects, while long interventions were effective in reducing recidivism rate in ORs without negative effects. Efficacy evaluations in short follow-ups were invalid as artificially boosted recidivismreduction rate. Limitations of ORs and short follow-ups as measures of the intervention efficacy and implications of results for batterer intervention are discussed.

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Información de financiamento

This research has been sponsored by a grant of the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (PSI2017-87278-R).

Financiadores

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