The Abusive Behavior Inventory: A Measure of Psychological and Physical Abuse

Researchers have identified the need to develop instruments to measure domestic violence that include both physical and psychological abuse. Drawing from feminist theory, the Abusive Behavior Inventory (ABI) was developed to address a range of abusive behaviors. A validation study included a sample of 100 men and 78 women divided into groups of abusers/abused and nonabusers/nonabused. The study included the evaluation of three types of validity: criterion related, construct, and factorial. Significant differences in scores on the ABI were found between the abuser and nonabuser groups. These differences provide evidence to support the scale's validity in each of these areas.