Development of the Scale of Economic Abuse

• NCJ Number: 222817
• Journal: Violence Against Women Volume: 14 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2008 Pages: 563-588
• Author(s): Adrienne E. Adams; Chris M. Sullivan; Deborah Bybee; Megan R. Greeson
• Date Published: May 2008
• Length: 26 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study discusses the development of the Scale of Economic Abuse (SEA) to detect economic abuse by batterers to maintain power and control over their partners.

Abstract

Findings provide evidence for the reliability and validity of the SEA as an instrument to measure economic abuse as a distinct form of abuse. This scale is unique in that it is the first to tap into a range of economically abusive tactics as a means of assessing the degree of economic abuse experienced in an abusive relationship. Whereas previous measures of abuse included a limited number of items tapping economic abuse or focus on 1 form of economic abuse, the SEA includes 20 items, 17 of which capture behaviors that control a woman's access to and use of resources, and 11 that capture economically exploitive behaviors. These two dimensions, economic control and economic exploitation, have been shown to be meaningfully distinct and useful for predicting the degree of economic hardship experienced by women with abusive partners. The SEA will be useful for gaining a complete picture of the ways in which economic abuse affects women's lives. Such information is needed to inform the development of interventions tailored to meet the unique needs of women affected by economic abuse. At the individual level, advocates can help women understand the impact of the abuse on their financial standing and work to garner resources and restore their economic health. At the community level, practitioners can act on behalf of women whose financial help has been compromised by abusive partners, for example, by intervening with employers, utility companies, landlords, community organizations, and financial institutions in an effort to improve how the system responds to women with economically abusive partners. Data were collected from 103 women ranged in age from 18 years to 85 who were survivors of domestic abuse. Tables, appendix, and references