title: Personality, interpersonal, and motivational predictors of the working alliance in group cognitive-behavioral therapy for partner violent men.
abstract: Recent studies have demonstrated that the working alliance predicts treatment outcome for partner violent men. This study examined the influence of personality and interpersonal characteristics, motivational readiness to change, and demographic factors on working alliance formation among a sample of men (N = 107) participating in a cognitive-behavioral group treatment program for partner violence. Motivational readiness to change was the strongest predictor of the working alliance. Psychopathic personality characteristics also emerged as a strong (negative) predictor of the working alliance. Lower levels of borderline personality characteristics and interpersonal problems, self-referred status, married status, and higher age and income predicted higher working alliance ratings. The results support recent clinical efforts to address motivational readiness in programs for partner violent men.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Boston Healthcare System, and Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02130, USA. casey.taft@med.va.gov
authors.forename: Casey T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Taft
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Musser
authors.forename: Nancy A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Remington
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010551:Personality; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control*