Predictors of underreporting of male violence by batterer program participants and their partners

Self-reports on domestic violence inventories remain the basis of court and clinical decision-making and program outcome evaluations, but previous res earch questions their reliability and validity. Accurate prediction of unde rreporting would help practitioners and researchers adjust batterer and vic tim self-reports. We develop prediction equations of underreporting on the Conflict Tactics Scale, using a multi-site database of men admitted to batt erer programs and their female partners (n = 840). First we use variables m easured at program intake to predict female and male underreporting of male violence at program intake. Second, we use variables measured at program i ntake, as well as measures of program participation, to predict male-female disagreement (male underreporting) at 12-month follow-up. Several variable s were predictive of underreporting, both at intake and follow-up, but over all prediction was marginally better than chance. The findings suggest that men and women underreport based on situational factors (such as relationsh ip characteristics) and rational reasons, rather than based on personality traits or social desirability. However the ability to predict underreportin g is too weak for adjustment of self-reports by clinicians and program eval uators.