Adaptación y validación de la Escala de Actitudes de Culpabilización de la Víctima en Casos de Violencia de Pareja contra la Mujer (VB-IPVAW) en población ecuatoriana

La violencia de pareja contra la mujer (VPM) constituye un grave problema de salud pública con importantes consecuencias para la salud física y psicológica de las mujeres. Las ac titudes de culpabilización de la víctima pueden contribuir a crear un clima de aceptación social en el que la VPM se perciba como una conducta normativa, influyendo en las respuestas de los individuos, comunidades, e instituciones frente a este problema. Ecuador es uno de los países de Latinoamérica donde la prevalencia de VPM es más alta, y las investigaciones sobre esta temática son todavía escasas. El objetivo de este estudio es adaptar y validar la Escala Española de Actitudes de Culpabilización de la Víctima (VB-IPVAW) al entorno cultural ecuatoriano. Para ello se ana lizaron las propiedades psicométricas de la escala en una muestra de 1122 ecuatorianos, así como su invarianza factorial entre hombres y mujeres con una segunda muestra de 400 estudiantes universitarios. Se examinó también el posible sesgo por deseabilidad social de los ítems de este instrumento. Los resultados mostraron que la escala VB-IPVAW tiene una excelente consistencia interna, que se relaciona con otros constructos como la gravedad percibida de la VPM y el sexis mo ambivalente, que sus ítems tienen una baja carga de deseabilidad social y que es invariante entre géneros. La adaptación de la escala VB-IPVAW al contexto cultural ecuatoriano representa un avance clave en el estudio y la comprensión de las actitudes de culpabilización a la víctima, proporcionando un instrumento fiable y válido para evaluar estas actitudes.

Intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) is a major public health problem with serious consequences for women's physical and psychological health. Victim-blaming attitudes can shape a social climate of acceptance where IPVAW can be perceived as normative, affecting the responses of individuals, communities, and institutions to this problem. Ecuador is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of IPVAW in Latin America, and research addressing this is sue is still scarce. The aim of this study is to adapt and validate the Spanish Scale of Victim-Blaming Attitudes in Cases of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women (VB-IPVAW) to the Ecuadorian cultural context. To this end, the psychometric properties of this scale were assessed in a sample of 1122 Ecuadorian participants, and also its measurement invariance across gender in a second sample of 400 college students. The potential social desirability bias of the items was also ex amined. Results showed that the VB-IPVAW scale has an excellent internal consistency, is related to other constructs, such as perceived severity of IPVAW and ambivalent sexism, their items presented low loadings of social desirability, and its invariant across gender. The adaptation of the VB-IPVAW scale to the Ecuadorian cultural context constitutes a step forward in the study and understanding of victim-blaming attitudes, providing a reliable and valid instrument to assess these attitudes.

Adaptación y validación de la Escala de Actitudes de Culpabilización de la Víctima en Casos de Violencia de Pareja contra la Mujer (VB-IPVAW) en población ecuatoriana / Adaptation and validation of the Victim-Blaming Attitudes in Cases of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women (VB-IPVAW) Scale in Ecuadorian population

Resumen La violencia de pareja contra la mujer (VPM) constituye un grave problema de salud pública con importantes consecuencias para la salud física y psicológica de las mujeres. Las ac titudes de culpabilización de la víctima pueden contribuir a crear un clima de aceptación social en el que la VPM se perciba como una conducta normativa, influyendo en las respuestas de los individuos, comunidades, e instituciones frente a este problema. Ecuador es uno de los países de Latinoamérica donde la prevalencia de VPM es más alta, y las investigaciones sobre esta temática son todavía escasas. El objetivo de este estudio es adaptar y validar la Escala Española de Actitudes de Culpabilización de la Víctima (VB-IPVAW) al entorno cultural ecuatoriano. Para ello se ana lizaron las propiedades psicométricas de la escala en una muestra de 1122 ecuatorianos, así como su invarianza factorial entre hombres y mujeres con una segunda muestra de 400 estudiantes universitarios. Se examinó también el posible sesgo por deseabilidad social de los ítems de este instrumento. Los resultados mostraron que la escala VB-IPVAW tiene una excelente consistencia interna, que se relaciona con otros constructos como la gravedad percibida de la VPM y el sexis mo ambivalente, que sus ítems tienen una baja carga de deseabilidad social y que es invariante entre géneros. La adaptación de la escala VB-IPVAW al contexto cultural ecuatoriano representa un avance clave en el estudio y la comprensión de las actitudes de culpabilización a la víctima, proporcionando un instrumento fiable y válido para evaluar estas actitudes.

Abstract Intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) is a major public health problem with serious consequences for women's physical and psychological health. Victim-blaming attitudes can shape a social climate of acceptance where IPVAW can be perceived as normative, affecting the responses of individuals, communities, and institutions to this problem. Ecuador is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of IPVAW in Latin America, and research addressing this is sue is still scarce. The aim of this study is to adapt and validate the Spanish Scale of Victim-Blaming Attitudes in Cases of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women (VB-IPVAW) to the Ecuadorian cultural context. To this end, the psychometric properties of this scale were assessed in a sample of 1122 Ecuadorian participants, and also its measurement invariance across gender in a second sample of 400 college students. The potential social desirability bias of the items was also ex amined. Results showed that the VB-IPVAW scale has an excellent internal consistency, is related to other constructs, such as perceived severity of IPVAW and ambivalent sexism, their items presented low loadings of social desirability, and its invariant across gender. The adaptation of the VB-IPVAW scale to the Ecuadorian cultural context constitutes a step forward in the study and understanding of victim-blaming attitudes, providing a reliable and valid instrument to assess these attitudes.

El consumo abusivo de alcohol en inmigrantes latinoamericanos participantes en programas de intervención para maltratadores: importancia de la adherencia al tratamiento / Alcohol Abuse in Latin American Immigrants Participating in Intervention Programs for Abusers: the Import ance of Adherence to Treatment

En este estudio, se analizan las tasas de abandono del tratamiento en hombres inmigrantes latinoamericanos con problemas de consumo de alcohol (PCA) derivados a programas de intervención con maltratadores, y se explora si aquellos que consiguen finalizar la intervención se diferencian de los que no tienen PCA en variables resultado de la intervención. La muestra la componen 107 hombres latinoamericanos condenados por violencia contra la mujer. Al contrario de lo esperado, no se confirman mayores tasas de abandono entre los participantes con PCA. Independientemente de tener o no PCA, los participantes que finalizaron el programa mostraron mejoría en todas las variables objetivo de la intervención analizadas, incluida la reducción del consumo de alcohol entre aquellos participantes con PCA.

This study analyzes dropout rates among Latin-American immigrants with alcohol abuse problems (AAP) participating in a batterer intervention program, and whether those perpetrators who finalize the intervention benefit the same as those participants without AAP in a number of program outcomes. The sample was 107 Latin-American immigrants convicted for intimate partner violence perpetration. Contrary to what was expected, there were not higher dropout rates among participants with AAP. Participants who finalized the intervention program, however, showed improvements in all outcomes variables explored regardless of whether they had AAP, including a reduction of alcohol abuse among participants with AAP.

Asunción de responsabilidad en hombres maltratadores: influencia de la autoestima, la personalidad narcisista y la personalidad antisocial / Responsibility assumption among male batterers: self-esteem, narcissistic and antisocial personality influence

El principal objetivo de este estudio es analizar la relación entre la asunción de responsabilidad de hombres condenados por violencia doméstica contra la mujer, la autoestima, la personalidad narcisista y la personalidad antisocial. Los participantes en este estudio fueron 177 hombres que participaban en un programa de intervención con maltratadores en medio abierto al que acudían por orden judicial. Se realizaron tres MANCOVAS para comprobar si existían diferencias en atribución de responsabilidad (culpabilización de la víctima, defensa propia y autoatribución de culpa), y minimización de los hechos, en función de la presencia de rasgos de personalidad narcisista y antisocial, y de la autoestima. En todos los casos se controló por la variable deseabilidad social. Únicamente se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los grupos de baja y alta autoestima en minimización. Los sujetos con baja autoestima tendían a minimizar en mayor medida los hechos por los que habían sido condenados. Se discuten los resultados relativos a la relación entre las dos variables de personalidad evaluadas y la atribución de responsabilidad y sus implicaciones para la intervención con maltratadores.

The main aim of this study was to analyze the relation between responsibility assumption among men convicted for domestic violence against women and self-esteem, narcissistic personality and antisocial personality. Participants in the study were 177 men participating in a court-ordered batterer intervention program in the community. Three MANCOVAS were performed to analyze differences in responsibility attributions (victim-blaming, self-defense, and self-attribution), and minimization as a function of narcissistic and antisocial personality traits presence, and levels of self-esteem. All analysis controlled for social desirability. Significant differences were found only between groups of low and high self-esteem in minimization. Subjects with low self-esteem showed higher levels of minimization of the violence for which they were convicted. These results implications of for batterers intervention programs are discussed.

Los profesionales de la salud y la prevención de la violencia doméstica contra la mujer / Role of health professionals in the prevention of domestic violence against women

Domestic violence against women is an important public health problem that cannot be ignored. Health professionals need to take part in the prevention, detection and treatment processes, acting in a coordinate way with other professionals and institutions. This paper analyzes the consequences of domestic violence against women, and underscores the fact that health professionals are part of the social circle surrounding the victims, playing an important role in its detection and prevention. Several response strategies from the health services are examined and, finally, the paper considers screening as a mechanism for early detection of domestic violence, paying special attention to the important controversies that surround this issue.

Rechazo parental y ajuste psicológico y social de los hijos

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Abstract: Intercultural research indicates that two dimensions of parental behavior can be identified in human societies: acceptance and rejection. According to Rohner, parental behavior can be defined as a continuum. In one end of the continuum we could find parents that manifest love and affection towards their children, both verbally and physically. In the other, we could find parents with aversive feelings towards their children, who use severe and abusive practices. Parental rejection is, according to Rhoner, the absence or the significant withdrawal of warmth, affection or love from parents toward their children. Rohner's framework proposes three dimensions of parental rejection: a) hostility and aggression; b) indifference and negligence and, c) indifferenciated rejection. A long research tradition has demonstrated that parental styles characterized by anger, aggressiveness, and rejection, are related with children's mental health problems. Normally, this field of research has analyzed the relationship between parents and children without differentiating the father from the mother. However, recent research suggests that fathers and mothers, behaviors can have differential effects on the psychological adjustment of their children. Also, research on parents-children relationships, has traditionally used perceptions or observations of either parents or children. The definition of a parent as hostile or as rejecting or affectionate and warm can not be made only by observing parents' behavior, since acceptance and rejection are not fixed qualities of behavior. From this point of view the effects of parental behavior on their children depends not only from objective elements but also from children's perceptual and inferential processes. Parents and children do not necessarily perceive in the same fashion parental acceptance, demands or punishments. These caveats underlie the importance of analyzing parental behavior both from parents' and children's perspectives. On behalf of these ideas, the aim of this paper is to analyze the relationships between parental and maternal rejection and the psychological and social adjustment of their children. In order to do so, this study will use both children and parents perceptions. That is, this study will observe the children's perceptions of their mothers and fathers behaviors towards them, as well as the perception of their own psychological adjustment. Also, this study will examine parents perceptions of their parental practices as well as parents perceptions of their childrens' psychological and social adjustment. Participants in this study are a total of 444 families distributed into two groups (risk and comparison groups). The first group (risk group) consists of 100 families in which parent-child relationships were considered as disfunctional or not adecuate. The second group of families (comparison group) consists of 344 families in which parent-child realtionships were considered as adecuate. The group of families considered at risk were identified by school teachers in public schools (Valencian Community, Spain). Children ranged in age from 7 to 13 years. Of the children 54% were male and 46% female. All the children were atttending school at the time of the research. Teachers had also to contact parents to obtain their agreement to collaborate in the study. Of the parents' questionnaires, 77% were completed by mothers and 23% by fathers. Measures were the following: Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ). This self-report questionnaire (Rohner et al.) measures perceptions of parental treatment of the child in terms of four dimensions, a) parental warmth and affection, b) parental hostility and aggression, c) parental indiference and neglect, and c) parental undifferentiated rejection. The two forms used in this study allowed us to obtain three measures of parental acceptance-rejection: parents perceptions of their treatment of their children, and children's perceptions of the way they are treated by both their mothers and fathers. Personality Assesment Questionnaire (PAQ). This self-report questionnaire (Rohner et al.) asseses the way in which children perceive their own personality and behavioral dispositions. The following scales constitute the child PAQ: a) hostility/aggression, b) dependence, c) negative self-esteem, d) negative self-adequacy, e) emotional irresponsiveness, f) emotional uncertainty, and g) negative world view. Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). This cheklist (Achenbach & Edelbrock) evaluates the behavior problems and social competencies of children as reported by their parents. The behavior problems measure used in this study is composed of two broad dimensions: internalizing and externalizing. Internalizing includes anxious, obsessive, somatic complaints, schizoid behavior, depressed withdrawal, being immature, and being uncommuni-cative. Externalizing includes being delinquent, aggressive, cruel, or hyperactive. Results show that rejected children are psychologically and socially different from those children who have adequate relationships with their parents (characterized by parental acceptance). Rejected children, when compared to children in the comparison group, manifested significantly more problems. The personality of these children was characterized by dependency, low self-esteem and self-adjustment, emotional instability, and a negative world view. Because an alternative explanation is that those children with psychological and social problems could bias their perception of their parents behavior as rejecting, this study included also an analysis of parents perceptions of their treatment of their children, as well as their perceptions of their children behavior. By including both perceptions (parents and children) in the study design, the parent-child interaction can be better defined (in terms of acceptance and rejection), and possible biases in the definition of parental behavior can be avoided. These analyses showed that parents from the risk group, when compared to the comparison group, perceive their children as having more behavior problems expressed both in an externalizing fashion (i.e., being aggressive, hyperactive, disobedient, overactive, and destructive), and in an internalizing fashion (i.e., being anxious, uncommunicative, immature, submissive, and withdrawn). The results obtained in this study show clearly that rejected children are "different", in both psychological and social dimensions, from other childrens whose parent-child relationships are characterized by parental acceptance. These findings would be consistent with Rohner's parental acceptance-rejection theory according to which these characteristics are manifested by children who experience rejection. Children in the risk group perceive less warmth and affection (expressed psysically or verbally), and more rejection (manifested by hostility and agression, indifference and neglect, and undiferentiated rejection) in the way they were treated by their parents. Also it is interesting to note that these results hold, independently from who is reportimg parental behavior (parents or children). This study has shown that childrens perceived rejection, either from the mother or the father has a negative outcome for their psychological and social adjustment.