Examining Therapeutic Change Mechanisms in an Affect Regulation, Father-Focused Intervention for Reducing Family Violence and Associated Symptoms in Children
Yale University
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to test the efficacy of Fathers for Change (F4C) compared to standard Batterer Intervention for fathers with a history of Intimate Partner Violence. The main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: 1. Is F4C more efficacious than standard BIP in reducing family violence and child mental health impairment? 2. What are the trajectories of therapeutic change targets across interventions? 3. Does father's emotion regulation and reflective functioning mediate the relationship between the two interventions and child-related outcomes? Participants will be randomized to either Fathers for Change on Batterer Intervention.
Description
Children's exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), often perpetrated by fathers, has been described as a gateway to other adversity, with more than a 50% co-occurrence of direct forms of child maltreatment (CM). IPV exposure can wreak havoc on children, with risk for psychosocial impairments, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), that can emerge early and cascade across development. Lacking are interventions that adequately address the complex nature of IPV in families, including fatherhood and coparenting. This gap reflects a bias towards excluding offending fathers from child-…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * have at least one 6 month to 12-year-old biological child with whom they have contact; * had an incident of IPV within the last 12 months prior to screening with their child's mother (based on court/police records, coparent or self-report); * have a currently open or recently investigated (in the last 6 months) case with CT DCF * are able to complete assessments in English or Spanish; * agree to have their female coparents (mother of target child) contacted as collateral informants and for consent for participation of their child. If a participant has more than one child…
Interventions
- BehavioralFathers for Change
18 week individual therapy focused on fathers' emotion regulation, reflective functioning and family communication.
- BehavioralDuluth BIP
18 week individually delivered psychoeducation and CBT focused program focused on intimate partner violence
Locations (2)
- YaleNew Haven, Connecticut
- UCONN Health CenterWest Hartford, Connecticut