The impact of fatherhood on treatment response for men with co-occurring alcohol dependence and intimate partner violence

Abstract

This study examines the impact of fatherhood on treatment outcomes for men with co-occurring alcohol dependence and intimate partner violence (IPV). A secondary analysis of a randomised study compared two intervention approaches: Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence treatment (SADV) and Twelve Step Facilitation (TSF). The study involved 69 men attending a court-mandated outpatient program at Yale University. Findings revealed that fathers reported lower baseline levels of IPV than non-fathers, and while SADV was significantly more effective than TSF for reducing alcohol use and IPV perpetration among non-fathers, there was no significant difference in outcomes between treatments for fathers. The study highlights the need for interventions that integrate fatherhood-specific considerations in IPV and substance use treatment programs to improve outcomes for men, women, and children.