The Duluth Model and ACTV for Domestic Violence

NCT03609801 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 18-007
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 799
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this research is to compare the effectiveness of two interventions for intimate partner violence (IPV). In most states, men who are convicted of domestic assault court-mandated to complete a Batterers Intervention Program (BIP) as part of their sentencing. The most commonly used BIP is based on The Duluth Model, which has been shown to decrease the recidivism of IPV offenders, but only marginally. The Duluth Model is a group intervention based on feminist theory and cognitive behavioral therapy. A new BIP called Achieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior (ACTV) has recently been developed by the PI as an alternative to Duluth. ACTV is currently being used statewide within the Department of Corrections (DOC) in Iowa. ACTV is a group intervention that utilizes acceptance and mindfulness techniques in addition to techniques from cognitive behavior therapy. The current study will use a randomized control trial to compare Duluth and ACTV, in order to assess the interventions' relative impact reducing IPV behaviors (physical aggression, psychological aggression, stalking, harassment, etc). Data on these outcomes will be collected via official criminal justice reports (i.e., criminal charges) as well as reports from victims. Other processes and outcomes of interest (attitudes toward women, emotion regulation, parenting behaviors, etc) will be collected from offenders.

Conditions

Domestic Violence

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Domestic assault recidivism

  Domestic assault charges (per criminal justice data)

  One year time period following BIP

• Conflict Tactics Scale

  Psychological (subscale min-max= 0-48), physical (subscale min-max= 0-72), and sexual (subscale min-max= 0-42) aggression (per victim reports); higher values = greater frequency of aggressive acts

  Start and end of BIP, then one year later

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II)

  Start and end of BIP

• Male Role Norms Inventory-Revised

  Start and end of BIP

Study Arms (2)

ACTV

EXPERIMENTAL

Achieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior (ACTV) - pronounced "ACTIVE" - is a new Batterers Intervention Program (BIP) for domestic violence offenders. ACTV was developed as a collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and the criminal justice system in the state of Iowa (Zarling, Lawrence, Oregno, 2017). It is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl, \& Wilson, 1999), which is an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. ACTV is an innovative BIP in two primary ways; first, ACTV applies the ACT model to the treatment of domestic violence, and second, ACTV is specifically designed for use in the correctional setting as part of criminal justice programming.

Behavioral: ACTV

The Duluth Model

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The Duluth Model Men's Nonviolence Classes is the most widely used BIP. The Duluth Model is based on the premise that domestic abuse happens when men believe they have the right to authority over women who are their intimate partners. The Duluth Model's Men's Nonviolence Classes (The Duluth Model for short) help men stop battering and explore the consequences of the violence for themselves, their partner and their children.

Behavioral: The Duluth Model

Interventions

ACTV BEHAVIORAL

Achieving Change Through Values-Based Behavior (ACTV) - pronounced "ACTIVE" - is a new intervention program for domestic violence offenders. ACTV was developed as a collaboration between researchers, practitioners, and the criminal justice system in the state of Iowa (Zarling, Lawrence, Oregno, 2017). It is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT; Hayes, Strosahl, \& Wilson, 1999), which is an evidence-based cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. ACTV is innovative in two primary ways; first, ACTV applies the ACT model to the treatment of domestic violence, and second, ACTV is specifically designed for use in the correctional setting as part of criminal justice programming.

ACTV

The Duluth Model BEHAVIORAL

The Duluth Model is based on the premise that domestic abuse happens when men believe they have the right to authority over women who are their intimate partners. The Duluth Model Men's Nonviolence Classes help men stop battering and explore the consequences of the violence for themselves, their partner and their children.

The Duluth Model

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• English-speaking
• First time domestic assault offender
• Domestic assault must be against an intimate partner
• Must be on supervision/probation

You may not qualify if:

• Participation in any previous ACT-based or Duluth Model programming

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Iowa State University: lead

Study Sites (1)

5th Judicial District Department of Corrections

Des Moines, Iowa, 50314, United States

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Zarling A, Berta M, Weems CF. Changes in Sexist Beliefs and Psychological Flexibility Among Men Court-Mandated to Domestic Violence Programs. J Interpers Violence. 2025 Sep 24:8862605251368854. doi: 10.1177/08862605251368854. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 40990942 DERIVED

• Zarling A, Russell D. A randomized clinical trial of acceptance and commitment therapy and the Duluth Model classes for men court-mandated to a domestic violence program. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2022 Apr;90(4):326-338. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000722.

  PMID: 35446078 DERIVED

Study Officials

• Amie Zarling, Ph.D.

  Iowa State University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 25, 2018
• First Posted: August 1, 2018
• Study Start: June 29, 2018
• Primary Completion: May 31, 2022
• Study Completion: May 31, 2023
• Last Updated: December 30, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-12

Locations

US (1)