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Article
Abuse Behavior Inventory: Cutpoint, Validity, and Characterization of Discrepancies
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
  • Therese M. Zink, Wright State University - Main Campus
  • Lisa M. Klesges
  • Linda Levin
  • Frank Putnam
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2007
Abstract

This study determines a clinical cutting score for the 29-item Abuse Behavior Inventory (ABI) developed by Shepard and Campbell (1992) to measure both physical and psychological abuse experiences. The authors report on a sample of 392 White and African American women from primary care waiting rooms, who completed the ABI and the revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2). An ABI cutoff score of 10 maximizes validity and produces a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 81% compared to the CTS2. Cronbach's alpha is .92 for the entire scale, .91 for the psychological subscale, and .86 for the physical subscale. Correlation between the ABI and CTS2 is .76, with subscale correlations of .74 between ABI psychological and CTS2 verbal aggression, and .71 between ABI physical and CTS2 physical aggression, injury, and sexual coercion.

DOI
10.1177/0886260507301228
Citation Information
Therese M. Zink, Lisa M. Klesges, Linda Levin and Frank Putnam. "Abuse Behavior Inventory: Cutpoint, Validity, and Characterization of Discrepancies" Journal of Interpersonal Violence Vol. 22 Iss. 7 (2007) p. 921 - 931 ISSN: 0886-2605
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/therese_zink/99/