Abstract
This article describes the development and testing of the psychometric properties of the Partner Violence Entrapment Scale (PVES), an instrument that evaluates the women’s perceived reasons for staying in violent partner relationships. After initial pilot testing, the scale was administered to 213 Spanish women who were victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). An exploratory factor analysis identified six factors: Socio-Economic Problems, Attachment and Fear of Loneliness, Blaming Oneself and Resignation, Impact on Children, Fear of Harm and Worry for the Partner, and Feelings of Confusion. Discriminant validity was established by demonstrating associations between PVES factors and socio-demographic, clinical and abuse variables. The scale appears to be a useful assessment tool for social and clinical settings. Its factor structure, reliability, and validity need to be replicated in other populations and samples.
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Acknowledgments
This study was made possible thanks to the End of Residency Training Award granted to the first author by the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, by grant 58/05 from the Ministry of Equality, Women’s Institute, Spain and by grant SGR2009/1435. The authors are grateful to all the women who participated in the study. They also thank Beatriz Gonzalez, Mar Morollón, Núria Sensat and Fabiola Gil for their support in selecting the cases.
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Torres, A., Navarro, P., Gutiérrez, F. et al. Partner Violence Entrapment Scale: Development and Psychometric Testing. J Fam Viol 31, 137–145 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-015-9751-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-015-9751-5