Publications [#319623] of Miriam K Ehrensaft

Journal Articles

1. Heyman, RE; Feldbau-Kohn, SR; Ehrensaft, MK; Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J; O'Leary, KD (2001). Can questionnaire reports correctly classify relationship distress and partner physical abuse?. Journal of Family Psychology : Jfp : Journal of the Division of Family Psychology of the American Psychological Association (Division 43), 15(2), 334-346. [doi]
   (last updated on 2024/01/01)

   Abstract:
   Relationship adjustment (e.g., Dyadic Adjustment Scale; DAS) and physical aggression (e.g., Conflict Tactics Scale) measures are used both as screening tools and as the sole criterion for classification. This study created face valid diagnostic interviews for relationship distress and physical abuse, through which one could compare preliminarily the classification properties of questionnaire reports. The DAS (and a global measure of relationship satisfaction) had modest agreement with a structured diagnostic interview; both questionnaires tended to overdiagnose distress compared with the interview. Results for partner abuse reiterated the need to go beyond occurrence of aggression as the sole diagnostic criterion, because men's aggression was more likely than women's to rise to the level of "abuse" when diagnostic criteria (injury or substantial fear) were applied.