Citation

Walker K. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2016; 36(1): 134-142.

Affiliation

Faculty Research Centre in Psychology, Behaviour and Achievement, Coventry University, Coventry, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/dar.12445

PMID

27349349

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Although researchers have examined the relationship between alcohol and perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV), little research has examined the role of alcohol within the process of desistance from IPV, which was the aim of this study. DESIGN AND METHODS: A mixed-methods approach was taken as both psychometric test and interview data were analysed. Scores on the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III alcohol dependence subscale of 37 men deemed to have desisted from IPV, 50 deemed to be persisting with IPV and 49 non-violent controls were compared. In addition, data about alcohol use from interviews with 13 desisters, 9 persisters, 9 IPV intervention facilitators and 7 female survivors were analysed using thematic analysis to understand the role of alcohol in IPV desistance and persistence.

RESULTS: No differences were found between the groups' self-reported alcohol dependence based on their Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III scores. However, analysis of the interview data revealed that compared with persisters, desisters reported having changed their attitudes towards alcohol and their consumption of it in order to facilitate their cessation of violence.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Static measures of alcohol dependence need to be used with caution if looking to identify progress with desistance from IPV. For individuals for whom alcohol played a role in their IPV, changing attitudes and their use of alcohol were described as being important in the process of desistance. Self-reported attitudes and alcohol use could therefore be used to identify men who are making progress in the process of desistance from IPV. [Walker K. The role of alcohol as men desist from physical intimate partner violence. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;00-000].

© 2016 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.

Language: en