A Comparison of depressed and nondepressed male batterers

Abstract

This study compares two groups of self-referred and court ordered male batterers: those who are depressed (n = 39), and those who are not depressed (n = 61). These two groups are compared along the following variables: alcohol use, anger, anxiety, beliefs about wife beating, jealousy, marital satisfaction, couple differentiation, psychological violence, and physical violence. Results indicate that the depressed male batterers differ significantly from the nondepressed male batterers. Depressed batterers had higher levels of anger, more anxiety, lower levels of marital satisfaction, were more physically violent toward their partner, and were more psychologically violent toward their partner. The depressed and nondepressed male batterers did not differ significantly on level of jealousy, couple differentiation, or their beliefs about the justification of wife beating. These results have implications for further understanding and treatment of depressed male batterers.