The Severity of Recurrent Violence During and Following Couples\' Participation in Domestic Violence-Focused Couple Therapy

This study explores the severity of psychological and physical aggression that recurred during and following couples' participation in Domestic Violence-Focused Couple Therapy. The overall recurrence of violence was found to be quite high. Chi Square tests revealed a difference in severity of violence during the time couples (N=41) were participating in the program in that more couples reported minor only violence at post-test than at pre-test and fewer couples reported severe violence at post-test than at pre-test for both psychological and physical aggression. Also, more couple reported no physical aggression at post-test than at pre-test and fewer couples reported severe physical aggression at post-test than at pre-test. It was also found that much of the violence that recurred during and following participation in the program was coded in the same category of severity at pre-test and post-test and at post-test and follow-up and few couples reported an increase in the severity of the violence they experienced. Implications for treating couples experiencing interpersonal violence and suggestions for further research are discussed.