title: Reducing situational violence in low-income couples by fostering healthy relationships.
abstract: This work evaluated a psycho-educational intervention designed to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) in low-income situationally violent couples. The primary objective was to evaluate the mechanism through which violence was reduced. It was hypothesized that IPV would be reduced via use of therapeutic skills taught during the intervention (i.e., friendship, sex/romance/passion, shared meaning, and conflict management skills). One-hundred-fifteen couples were randomly assigned to a treatment or no-treatment control group. Couples self-reported attitudes reflecting healthy relationship skills and IPV at multiple time points (baseline, post-intervention, and long-term post-intervention). Results support the notion that violence was reduced via an increase in intervention-based skills. Findings suggest that IPV can be safely reduced in low-income situationally violent couples via conjoint treatment focused on building healthy relationship skills.
authors: The University of Georgia, Family and Consumer Sciences, Department of Child and Family Development, 114 Dawson Hall, Athens, GA 30602, USA. renayb@uga.edu
authors: Renay P
authors: RP
authors: Cleary Bradley
authors: John M
authors: JM
authors: Gottman
mesh_terms: D019546:Couples Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology