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The Treatment Needs of Substance Abusing Batterers: A Comparison of Men Who Batter Their Female Partners

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Abstract

Though the co-occurrence rate of intimate partner violence (IPV) and problems with alcohol and other drugs (AOD) is 50 % or higher among men in clinical samples, little attention has been given to examining the characteristics of batterers with AOD problems (AOD batterers). We compared 274 AOD batterers and 524 non-AOD Batterers (batterers who do not have AOD problems). Results indicated AOD batterers were more violent, and were more likely to perpetrate violence that is severe in nature. They also reported higher levels of anger and trauma, had a greater proclivity toward a borderline personality orientation, and were much more likely to use AOD during an incident of violence at least half of the time (41 % versus 9 %). Results underscore the need for screening of batterers for AOD problems and substance abusers for IPV, and suggest that AOD problems might serve as an important indicator to help identify particularly complex cases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indiana University Northwest, Indiana University School of Social Work, 3400 Broadway, Dunes MPB 3183, Gary, IN, 46408, USA

    Mark D. Thomas

  2. University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, USA

    Larry W. Bennett

  3. Dominican University, River Forest, USA

    Charles Stoops

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  1. Mark D. Thomas
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  2. Larry W. Bennett
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  3. Charles Stoops
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Correspondence to Mark D. Thomas.

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Thomas, M.D., Bennett, L.W. & Stoops, C. The Treatment Needs of Substance Abusing Batterers: A Comparison of Men Who Batter Their Female Partners. J Fam Viol 28, 121–129 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-012-9479-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-012-9479-4

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