The composite abuse scale: further development and assessment of reliability and validity of a multidimensional partner abuse measure in clinical settings

Violence Vict. 2005 Oct;20(5):529-47.

Abstract

Absence of a well-validated comprehensive partner abuse questionnaire has been a major methodological issue in domestic violence research. A new multidimensional measure of partner abuse, the Composite Abuse Scale (CAS), has four dimensions: Severe Combined Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Physical Abuse, and Harassment. A general practice patient sample (N = 1,836) has been used in the development and testing of CAS. Factor analyses in this current study confirmed the four dimensions from a preliminary nurses sample study and resulted in a final scale of 30 items consisting of acts of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. These four factors exhibited good internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha > 0.85) and the corrected item-total correlations were high (> 0.5). Evidence of criterion and construct validity is presented.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Evidence-Based Medicine / standards
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Family Practice / standards*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Middle Aged
  • Qualitative Research
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Spouse Abuse / diagnosis*
  • Spouse Abuse / prevention & control
  • Surveys and Questionnaires / standards*