Date of Award
Summer 2019
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology
First Advisor
Melchert, Timothy
Second Advisor
Edwards, Lisa
Third Advisor
Babins-Wagner, Robbie
Abstract
Although a number of treatment approaches are available to psychotherapists who work with men who abuse women, we still know very little about how to effectively treat these men (Smedslund, Dalsbø, Steiro, Winsvold, & Clench-Aas, 2011). This study set out to test the efficacy of a process group for partner violent men, a group that was guided largely by a narrative-feminist philosophy developed by Australian psychologist Alan Jenkins (Jenkins, 1990). A secondary analysis of data was conducted on a sample of 821 partner violent men who were self- or court-referred to a non-profit community counseling agency in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Demographic data were obtained and self-report measures were administered at two time-points, pre- and post-treatment. A cross-lagged panel model was specified to evaluate the longitudinal effects of the group. Results found no change over time in men’s severity of abuse perpetration, psychological experience (depression and stress), self-esteem, and relationship functioning. Results showed that following treatment, men’s self-esteem decreased when they experienced greater psychological distress at the beginning of treatment. An unexpected finding in this study was the meaning of affective expression appeared to change for men from pre- to post-treatment. Findings are examined in light of the available literature, considering study limitations and directions for future scholarship.