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Tailored motivational strategies for participants with alcohol and drug use problems: effectiveness in intimate partner violence perpetrators
Fri, September 13, 5:00 to 6:15pm, Faculty of Law, University of Bucharest, Floor: Ground floor, Amphitheater 3 „Mihail Eliescu”Abstract
The results of meta-analyses on the effectiveness of intervention programs for intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators in reducing IPV recidivism have shown small or moderate effect sizes. The main challenges are related to the high resistance of participants, high dropout rates, and the need to tailor interventions to the risk factors and needs of participants. Men with alcohol and drug use problems (ADUPs) require special attention as they are highly resistant and show a higher risk of dropout and recidivism. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of a new motivational strategy for men with ADUPs who have been convicted of IPV. Participants (n=140) were randomly assigned to one of the two conditions: 1) control group, consisting of a standard intervention with IPV perpetrators which includes the individual motivational plan (IMP), and 2) experimental group, consisting of a standard intervention with IPV perpetrators which includes the IMP adjusted to ADUPs. Data were collected pre and post intervention on proximal outcomes (i.e., active participation, stage of change) and final outocomes (i.e., risk of recidivism, alcohol, cannabis and cocaine use). The experimental group reported significantly higher rates of participation, greater progress in the stage of change, and reductions in alcohol use compared to the control group. Importantly, both groups showed a decrease in the risk of recidivism after the intervention. The results of this study suggest that addressing ADUPs in intervention programs for IPV perpetrators may help increase participants' treatment engagement and motivation to change, and reduce alcohol use. Thus, tailoring such intervention programs to address the specific needs and risk factors of highly resistant participants, such as those with ADUPs, may enhance the effectiveness of intervention programs for IPV perpetrators in reducing IPV recidivism.