Outcome expectancies of partner abuse: Assessing perpetrators' expectancies and their associations with readiness to change, abuse, and relevant problems

Concerns about low motivation to change among perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) have heightened interest employing behavior change models with this population. In the present investigation, a new scale was developed, the Outcome Expectancies for Partner Abuse (OEPA) Scale, assessing the negative and positive outcome expectancies of partner abuse. Items were generated from statements made by IPV offenders during videotaped group therapy sessions. Among a clinical sample of 130 IPV perpetrators, item psychometric properties, factor structure, and subscale validity were examined. Results indicated generally good psychometric properties and a 2-factor solution, with the exception of 4 items subsequently removed from the negative expectancies scale. Significant associations were demonstrated between instrument subscales, readiness to change, and self-reported abusive behavior. Additionally, positive expectancy scores correlated with anger problems and relationship adjustment whereas negative expectancy scores correlated with partner-reported IPV. Potential uses of the OEPA and future directions for psychometric research are discussed.