Shame on Who: Understanding the Effects of Shame Proneness, Emotion Dysregulation, Language Processing Capacity and Trauma on Batterer Intervention Program Attrition

Abstract Batterer Intervention Programs experience high rates of attrition. Previous studies have examined explanatory factors including socio-demographic factors, intrapersonal and interpersonal factors, and system factors. This study examines the bivariate and multivariate effects of trauma, trauma symptomatology, shame-proneness, emotion dysregulation, language processing capacity, and substance misuse as well as demographic and systemic factors on both post-intake program enrollment and post-group start enrollment for men mandated to attend a Partner Assault Response (PAR) Program in Ontario. A convenience sample of 147 participants volunteered to participate in this observational study; 26 participants withdrew from treatment, 12 did so prior to starting group. Kaplan-Meier testing revealed the independent effects of the explanatory variables, Age Group, PTSD Likelihood and Relationship Status were all associated with attrition. Older men were more likely to complete the PAR program than younger men, while single men and men with indications of PTSD were less likely to complete. The multivariate model fitted to predict PAR program attrition (attrition post-intake) included only one variable, Age Group; when other variables in the model were controlled, younger men had 3.8 times the hazard of leaving the PAR program prematurely than older men. The multivariate model fitted to predict group attrition (attrition post-group start) included two factors: (1) Age Group and (2) PTSD Likelihood. For participants who attended group, younger men had 6 times the hazard of leaving group early than older men, and men with a higher likelihood of having a PTSD diagnosis had 3.7 times the hazard of withdrawing prematurely from the PAR program than those with a lower likelihood of having a PTSD diagnosis. Study participants reported elevated levels of shame proneness and emotion dysregulation. The study findings suggest the need for trauma-informed assessment for Batterer Intervention Programs. Service implications are discussed related to the elevated levels of shame proneness and emotion dysregulation identified in the study.Ph.D.2018-02-08 00:00:0