Changes in Psychological Inflexibility and Intimate Partner Violence Among Men in an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Intervention Program
Understanding the mechanisms of change in batterer intervention programs (BIPs) is essential for advancing effective interventions for intimate partner violence (IPV). This study evaluates changes in psychological inflexibility and IPV behaviors among men participating in an acceptance and commitmen...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/3/317 |
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| author | Amie Zarling Meg Berta Ashlyn Miller |
| author_facet | Amie Zarling Meg Berta Ashlyn Miller |
| author_sort | Amie Zarling |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Understanding the mechanisms of change in batterer intervention programs (BIPs) is essential for advancing effective interventions for intimate partner violence (IPV). This study evaluates changes in psychological inflexibility and IPV behaviors among men participating in an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based BIP for men court-mandated to domestic violence classes. Participants (<i>N</i> = 56) were assessed across three time points using validated measures of psychological inflexibility and IPV behaviors. Findings revealed significant improvements in psychological inflexibility and corresponding reductions in IPV behaviors over the intervention period, with medium to large effect sizes. Psychological inflexibility at the final assessment predicted IPV outcomes, accounting for 15% of the variance, even after controlling for baseline IPV, age, and race. These results highlight psychological inflexibility as a potential mechanism of change in IPV interventions. Despite this study’s strengths, including its longitudinal design and rigorous analyses, limitations such as a small sample size and lack of a control group warrant further investigation. This study underscores the potential of ACT-based interventions to reduce IPV by targeting psychological inflexibility and offers insights for refining BIPs to enhance their impact. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8b7057a10dc441a681d83dcdb6869895 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-8b7057a10dc441a681d83dcdb68698952025-08-20T02:42:35ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-03-0115331710.3390/bs15030317Changes in Psychological Inflexibility and Intimate Partner Violence Among Men in an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Intervention ProgramAmie Zarling0Meg Berta1Ashlyn Miller2Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, 1358 Palmer Building, Ames, IA 50011, USADepartment of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, 1358 Palmer Building, Ames, IA 50011, USADepartment of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, 1358 Palmer Building, Ames, IA 50011, USAUnderstanding the mechanisms of change in batterer intervention programs (BIPs) is essential for advancing effective interventions for intimate partner violence (IPV). This study evaluates changes in psychological inflexibility and IPV behaviors among men participating in an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)-based BIP for men court-mandated to domestic violence classes. Participants (<i>N</i> = 56) were assessed across three time points using validated measures of psychological inflexibility and IPV behaviors. Findings revealed significant improvements in psychological inflexibility and corresponding reductions in IPV behaviors over the intervention period, with medium to large effect sizes. Psychological inflexibility at the final assessment predicted IPV outcomes, accounting for 15% of the variance, even after controlling for baseline IPV, age, and race. These results highlight psychological inflexibility as a potential mechanism of change in IPV interventions. Despite this study’s strengths, including its longitudinal design and rigorous analyses, limitations such as a small sample size and lack of a control group warrant further investigation. This study underscores the potential of ACT-based interventions to reduce IPV by targeting psychological inflexibility and offers insights for refining BIPs to enhance their impact.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/3/317domestic violenceintimate partner violencebatterer intervention programcorrectionspsychological flexibility |
| spellingShingle | Amie Zarling Meg Berta Ashlyn Miller Changes in Psychological Inflexibility and Intimate Partner Violence Among Men in an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Intervention Program Behavioral Sciences domestic violence intimate partner violence batterer intervention program corrections psychological flexibility |
| title | Changes in Psychological Inflexibility and Intimate Partner Violence Among Men in an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Intervention Program |
| title_full | Changes in Psychological Inflexibility and Intimate Partner Violence Among Men in an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Intervention Program |
| title_fullStr | Changes in Psychological Inflexibility and Intimate Partner Violence Among Men in an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Intervention Program |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in Psychological Inflexibility and Intimate Partner Violence Among Men in an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Intervention Program |
| title_short | Changes in Psychological Inflexibility and Intimate Partner Violence Among Men in an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Intervention Program |
| title_sort | changes in psychological inflexibility and intimate partner violence among men in an acceptance and commitment therapy based intervention program |
| topic | domestic violence intimate partner violence batterer intervention program corrections psychological flexibility |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/3/317 |
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