Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the effects of ethnic match and length of time in treatment on anger and aggression in male batterers. Method. After controlling for the variable of client annual income, statistical analyses including Pearson correlations and multiple analyses of covariance (MANCOVAs) were performed on client-therapist ethnic match, length of time in treatment, anger, aggression, and client annual income. The participants in the study were court-mandated male batterers attending batterer intervention programs (BIPs). There were 309 participants in the study. Results. The results of this study demonstrated no differences between clients (court-mandated male batterers) who were ethnically matched (client and BIP leader) compared to those clients who were not ethnically matched on the clinical outcomes of anger and aggression. In addition the results also demonstrated no significance on the clinical outcomes of anger and aggression from those clients at the beginning of treatment (0-2 months and 3-9 months) compared to those participants at the end of treatment (10-12 months). Ethnically matched clients (court-mandated male batterers matched with BIP leaders) and length of time in treatment (0-2 months, 3-0 months, and 10-12 months) did not significantly affect the clinical outcomes of anger and aggression. Discussion. The treatment of male batterers has been controversial with mixed evidence on the success of batterer intervention programs. Similarly research on ethnic match has also yielded mixed results. Results of this study support those studies that have shown no significant affects using ethnic match or length of time in treatment on therapeutic clinical outcomes. Continued research in the field of domestic violence will help to monitor and assess whether batterer intervention treatment programs need to be changed or adjusted. Such studies provide information that can be useful in evaluating current mental health services provided, alternative ways of dealing with batterers in the judicial system, and options for fiscal funds appropriated to such programs.