The Duluth Model and ACTV for Domestic Violence

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this research is to compare the effectiveness of two interventions for intimate partner violence (IPV). In most states, men who are convicted of domestic assault court-mandated to complete a Batterers Intervention Program (BIP) as part of their sentencing. The most commonly used BIP is based on The Duluth Model, which has been shown to decrease the recidivism of IPV offenders, but only marginally. The Duluth Model is a group intervention based on feminist theory and cognitive behavioral therapy. A new BIP called Achieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior (ACTV) has recently been developed by the PI as an alternative to Duluth. ACTV is currently being used statewide within the Department of Corrections (DOC) in Iowa. ACTV is a group intervention that utilizes acceptance and mindfulness techniques in addition to techniques from cognitive behavior therapy. The current study will use a randomized control trial to compare Duluth and ACTV, in order to assess the interventions' relative impact reducing IPV behaviors (physical aggression, psychological aggression, stalking, harassment, etc). Data on these outcomes will be collected via official criminal justice reports (i.e., criminal charges) as well as reports from victims. Other processes and outcomes of interest (attitudes toward women, emotion regulation, parenting behaviors, etc) will be collected from offenders.

Official Title
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A Randomized Trial of the Duluth Model and ACTV for Domestic Violence

Conditions
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Domestic Violence

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: ACTV
* Behavioral: The Duluth Model


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: English-speaking First time domestic assault offender Domestic assault must be against an intimate partner Must be on supervision/probation Exclusion Criteria: Participation in any previous ACT-based or Duluth Model programming

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: ACTV<br>Achieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior (ACTV) - pronounced ACTIVE - is a new Batterers Intervention Program (BIP) for domestic violence offenders. ACTV was developed as a collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and the criminal justice system in the state of Iowa (Zarling, Lawrence, Oregno, 2017). It is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 1999), which is an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. ACTV is an innovative BIP in two primary ways; first, ACTV applies the ACT model to the treatment of domestic violence, and second, ACTV is specifically designed for use in the correctional setting as part of criminal justice programming. | Behavioral: ACTV<br>* Achieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior (ACTV) - pronounced ACTIVE - is a new intervention program for domestic violence offenders. ACTV was developed as a collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and the criminal justice system in the state of Iowa (Zarling, Lawrence, Oregno, 2017). It is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl, & Wilson, 1999), which is an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. ACTV is innovative in two primary ways; first, ACTV applies the ACT model to the treatment of domestic violence, and second, ACTV is specifically designed for use in the correctional setting as part of criminal justice programming.<br>|
| Active Comparator: The Duluth Model<br>The Duluth Model Men's Nonviolence Classes is the most widely used BIP. The Duluth Model is based on the premise that domestic abuse happens when men believe they have the right to authority over women who are their intimate partners. The Duluth Model's Men's Nonviolence Classes (The Duluth Model for short) help men stop battering and explore the consequences of the violence for themselves, their partner and their children. | Behavioral: The Duluth Model<br>* The Duluth Model is based on the premise that domestic abuse happens when men believe they have the right to authority over women who are their intimate partners. The Duluth Model Men's Nonviolence Classes help men stop battering and explore the consequences of the violence for themselves, their partner and their children.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Domestic assault recidivism | Domestic assault charges (per criminal justice data) | One year time period following BIP | 
| Conflict Tactics Scale | Psychological (subscale min-max= 0-48), physical (subscale min-max= 0-72), and sexual (subscale min-max= 0-42) aggression (per victim reports); higher values = greater frequency of aggressive acts | Start and end of BIP, then one year later | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II) | Experiential avoidance (per offender self-report); min-max = 7-49; higher scores = greater experiential avoidance | Start and end of BIP | 
| Male Role Norms Inventory-Revised | Sexist beliefs and attitudes; min-max = 21-147; higher scores = greater agreement with traditional gender roles and sexist beliefs | Start and end of BIP |