Attachment, Interpersonal Problems, and Treatment Outcome in Group Therapy for Intimate Partner Violence

This study examined several types of associations between attachment dimensions, interpersonal problems, and intimate partner violence (IPV) with 49 men who were mandated to treatment for IPV. The main purpose of the study was to examine the degree to which attachment dimensions and interpersonal problems predicted IPV posttreatment variables. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that (a) pretreatment attachment anxiety and vindictive interpersonal problems predicted posttreatment mild physical abuse and psychological abuse, (b) pretreatment intrusive interpersonal problems predicted posttreatment psychological abuse, and (c) pretreatment attachment avoidance and vindictive interpersonal problems predicted posttreatment total violence severity. Finally, simple regression analysis using preto posttreatment residualized gains scores indicated that higher attachment avoidance gain scores (i.e., increasing approaching) predicted lower total violence gain scores.