The Measurement and Operationalization of Psychological Abuse Using the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey

• In Event: Advances in Violence Against Women and Intimates

Abstract

The following research examines the measurement and operationalization of psychological abuse. This project attempts to identify whether psychological aggression and coercive control should remain as two separate types of victimization experiences, or whether psychological abuse in general should be measured in a different way. Utilizing the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 2010 (NISVS), factor analyses were conducted with both the psychological aggression and coercive control behaviorally specific questions from the NISVS survey to determine whether the factors match the way these categories are operationalized in the NISVS survey. Given the NISVS survey is the most recent national survey that measures intimate partner violence and sexual assault, many current studies utilize similar questions. The results revealed that that two different factors emerged for operationalizing psychological abuse, and these factors did not match the operationalization of psychological violence as it is currently measured in the NISVS data. A discussion of the results is included.

Authors

• Lindsey Blumenstein, University of Kentucky

• Emily Bonistall Postel, University of Kentucky