What is Known about the Intervention with Gender Abusers? A Meta-analysis on Intervention Effectiveness

Abstract

In this research, a meta-analytic study is proposed with the aim of determining the state of the art of the efficacy of treatment programs for gender aggressors across different variables. Doing so is relevant in view of the inconsistency in the results of previous meta-analyses and the proliferation of new intervention programs for gender aggressors. The results of general meta-analysis show a positive, though not significant, effect of the intervention. The analysis of moderating variables shows a positive, significant, and close-to-moderate effect size for interventions lasting fewer than 16 weeks/sessions (δw = .39) and follow-up periods greater than or equal to 12 months (δw = .38), and a positive, significant and moderate size for interventions using cognitive-behavioral therapy (δw = .57). However, along the same lines, as previous meta-analyses, no definite conclusions can be drawn about the effectiveness of this type of program.

Keywords

• effectiveness
• gender abuser
• gender violence
• intervention programs
• recidivism