An Examination of the Individual Constructs of Interpersonal Dependency in Male Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence Court Ordered to Treatment

Purpose: the purpose of this study was to extend the work on interpersonal dependency and intimate partner violence (IPV) among men who abuse their partners, by exploring the individual constructs of interpersonal dependency (Emotional reliance on another person, Lack of social self-confidence, Assertion of autonomy), as measured by the Interpersonal Dependency Inventory (IDI). Much of the literature on interpersonal dependency and IPV has used the IDI total score, and has shown abusive men to be overly dependent on their partners. However, examining individual constructs of interdependency can provide additional insight into differences in one area of dependency over another, which has implications for treatment appropriateness. If different scores are found in dependency to a single other person versus dependency to people in general, questions are raised regarding the utility of uniform treatment. To this end, the objectives of the study were: (a) to determine if there were any associations between the individual interpersonal dependency constructs and violence; and (b) to evaluate the treatment effect of a batterers intervention program (BIP) in altering levels of interpersonal dependency, using the IDI subscale scores, among treatment completers.

Method: A secondary analysis of data was utilized. The sample consisted of 114 heterosexual men (50.9% African American, 46.4% White, and 2.7% Hispanic), where 56 were treatment completers, and 58 dropouts. Within this sample, 87% were referred following an arrest for physical violence and 13% for verbal harassment. Prior to the program, participants completed a demographic questionnaire, the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales, and IDI; post-treatment data on the IDI was obtained.

Results: To determine potential linear relationships between violence (CTS2) and interpersonal dependency (IDI), a Pearson product-moment correlation procedure was conducted. Statistically significant associations were found between the use of negotiation tactics, psychological aggression, and injury with several of the IDI subscales. More specifically, the use of negotiation tactics and the use of psychological aggression were significantly associated with the Emotional reliance on another person subscale. Additionally, the level of injury inflicted on a partner was found to be significantly associated with Lack of social self-confidence and Assertion of autonomy. Finally, a dependent t-test procedure indicated that there was no change in the level of interpersonal dependency at the conclusion of the program for treatment completers.

Implications: The study's findings point to the need for BIPs to specifically address the constructs of interpersonal dependency as they relate to negotiation tactics, psychological aggression, and injury. Issues of interpersonal dependency, specifically issues related to dependency on a single other person along with the conflicting desire to be independent, and their effect on how men see themselves and how they relate to their partners, should be included in BIP's curriculum, and deserves further study. Research suggesting a link between the use of violence and insecure attachment provides an opportunity for treatment intervention different from anger management and ownership/responsibility and may prove to be more effective in enabling client treatment matching and perhaps sustained change in the reduction of violence as a solution to conflict.