Exploring the relevance of interpersonal dependency as a treatment issue in batterer intervention

Objective: The purpose of the study was to (a) investigate the pretreatment levels of interpersonal dependency and violence among men entering a 16-week, court-mandated, batterer intervention program (BIP) and determine if there were any associations between interpersonal dependency and violence and (b) evaluate the treatment effect of a standard BIP in altering levels of interpersonal dependency among treatment completers. Method: The study employed a secondary analysis of 114 men, 56 treatment completers and 58 dropouts. Results: Analysis indicated that men who assault women and are court ordered into treatment are excessively dependent on their intimate partners prior to beginning treatment, that level of interpersonal dependency is unrelated to a multidimensional conceptualization of domestic violence (i.e., psychological aggression, physical assault, sexual coercion and injury), and that the BIP did not alter the level of interpersonal dependency among treatment completers. Conclusion: Implications of the findings for social workers were explored and discussed.