ABSTRACT
Spouse abuse is a critical social issue in the United States. However, the literature is relatively silent on actual risk assessment for abuse cases. In the study described in this report, with a sample (N = 20) composed of abuse cases referred to a local spouse treatment center, a structured interview was developed from the research literature which addresses risk factors, focussing on the woman’s perception of her mate’s personality/behavioral characteristics, her perceptions of the relationship, and other situational factors associated with risk. The various types of abuse experienced were also documented. The majority of risk factors associated with spouse abuse as reported in the literature was confirmed in the sample. Utilizing the results of the study and the available literature, a pilot risk assessment instrument is presented, along with discussion of the efficacy of a standardized risk instrument.
