Factor Structure and Validity of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales for Spanish Women

• NCJ Number: 220362
• Journal: Violence Against Women Volume: 13 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2007 Pages: 1072-1087
• Author(s): Esther Calvete; Susana Corral; Ana Estevez
• Date Published: October 2007
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Measurement/Evaluation Device
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the factor structure of the victimization form of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2) in women and examined the psychometric characteristics of the Spanish version of the CTS2, such as internal consistency of scales and subscales, correlations between scales, and whether the scales discriminated between community women and women receiving services for victimization by severe partner violence.

Abstract

The findings of this research study supported the validity of the Spanish version of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2). Factor analysis confirmed both the five broad scales of the CTS2 and the distinction between minor and severe forms of violence. In addition, the scales exhibited strong internal consistency and discriminated between women from community contexts and women from services for victims. The high prevalence of experiences of violence among women from the community suggests that violence against women is a significant problem that often is hidden in society. Violence against women by intimate relationship partners is a significant problem in all countries and cultures. The Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS) is the most commonly used measure to assess violence in intimate partner relationships having been employed in several studies since 1972. Items of the CTS are designed to measure the concrete and specific tactics that partners in a dating, cohabiting, or marital relationship use to manage a conflict. In 1996, the CTS2 was developed to address some criticisms. The new version offers a multidimensional conceptualization of violence and conflict resolution strategies, which is assessed by five scales: Negotiation, Psychological Aggression, Physical Assault, Sexual Coercion, and Injury. This study focused on the factor structure of the victimization form of the CTS2. The study sample consisted of 1,266 women, including a subgroup of battered women. Tables, notes, and references