Violence Questionnaire PDF
Violence Questionnaire PDF
A questionnaire that evaluates victimization and perpetration in couples has been developed in Mexico.
the so-called Partner Violence Questionnaire (PVQ). The PVQ assesses frequency, but not intensity. The
the objective of this study was to modify the CVP to assess the frequency and damage of victimization and
perpetration, and study its psychometric properties of internal consistency, factorial structure, and invariance
factorial between sexes. The modified questionnaire, called the Questionnaire on Suffered and Exercised Violence
Couple (CVSEP) was administered to a non-probabilistic sample of 240 participants (120 women and 120
men). With the 27 items of frequency of suffered violence (α = .95), two factors were defined: violence
physical/sexual (α= .88) and psychological/economic/social (α = .94). With the 27 items of damage suffered (α = .95) it
they defined four factors: damage suffered from economic/social violence (α = .93), sexual violence/blackmail (α
(.88), physical violence (α = .86) and jealousy violence (α = .83). With the 12 items of frequency of violence
exerted (α = .84) two factors were defined: psychological violence (α = .85) and another type of violence (α = .66)
Although it is recommended to reduce this scale to a factor with 10 indicators (α = .86). With the 12 items of damage
caused (α = .89) two factors were defined: damage from psychological violence (α = .88) and another type of violence
(α = .81). Victimization and perpetration indices were created. It is concluded that the CVSEP has consistency.
internal and structural validity.
Palabras clave:violencia de pareja, violencia sufrida, violencia ejercida, daño psicológico, psicometría.
A questionnaire assessing victimization and perpetration in couples has been developed in Mexico.
and it is named the Couple Violence Questionnaire (CVQ). The CVQ evaluates frequency, but does not evaluate
intensity. The aim of this research was to modify the Couple Violence Questionnaire to assess frequency and
damage of victimization and perpetration, and study its psychometric properties of internal consistency, factor
structure and sex invariance. The modified questionnaire, named Suffered and Exerted Couple Violence
Questionnaire (SECVQ) was applied to a non-probability sample of 240 participants (120 women and 120 men).
men). Two factors were defined using the 27 items on frequency of suffered violence (α = .95): physical/sexual
violence (α = .88) and psychological/economic/social violence (α = .94). Four factors were defined using the
27 items of suffered damage (α = .95): by social/economic violence (α = .93), sexual violence/blackmail (α =
.88), physical violence (α = .86) and jealousy-related violence (α = .83). Two factors were defined using the 12
items on frequency of exerted violence (α = .84): psychological violence (α = .85) and other kind of violence
(α = 66), although it is recommended that this scale be reduced to one 10-item factor (α = .86). Two factors
were defined using the 12 items on caused damage (α = .89): by psychological violence (α = .88) and other kind
of violence (α = .81). The indexes of victimization and perpetration were created. It is concluded that the
SECVQ has internal consistency and structural validity.
Key words: Couple violence, suffered violence, exerted violence, psychological damage, psychometrics.
Introduction
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romantic cohabitation (romantic relationship between two people who live together or not)
intention to marry and that may have a legal recognition distinct from marriage
(Moral and López, 2014).
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high; that the factorial structure of the 27 items of violence suffered, both in terms of frequency
like the damage, it is of 4 correlated factors: psychological/social, physical, sexual and
economic; and the factorial structure of the 12 items of violence exerted, both those of
frequency like those of damage, be it from 2 correlated factors: psychological violence and
another type of violence (Cienfuegos and Díaz-Loving, 2010; Moral and López, 2014).
Methodology
Participants
       Half of the participants were men and the other half women. It was alternated between
a man and a woman in the app to get the same number of participants
both sexes. The percentage of participation, giving consent and responding to the
The complete questionnaire was 82% (240 out of 293). In most cases where not
consent was given and participation was not desired, the reason given was lack of time.
         The average age in the sample was 35.41 years (SD= 9.63) with a minimum of 18 years and
maximum of 57 years. Regarding education, 23 of the 240 participants (9.6%)
They indicated having primary education, 58 (24.2%) secondary education, 47 (19.6%) higher secondary education.
general, 39 (16%) technical media and 73 (30.4%) higher education. Regarding
In terms of labor activity, 45 out of the 240 participants (18.8%) reported being engaged in work related to
home, 67 (27.9%) work as office or sales employees, 54 (22.5%) work as
manual workers, 45 (18.8%) work as professionals, 14 (5.8%) have
own business, 8 (3.3%) being unemployed and 7 (2.9%) dedicating to studying. Regarding
to the self-defined socioeconomic status, 54 of the 118 participants (22.5%) defined themselves as
estatus socioeconómico bajo, 62 (25.8%) medio-bajo, 91 (37.9%) medio, 30 (12.5%) medio-
high and 3 (1.3%) high. Regarding marital status, 118 out of 240 participants (49.2%)
reported being married, 22 (9.2%) single, 44 (18.3%) divorced or separated, and 56
(23.3%) in common-law partnership. Of the 240 participants, 191 (79.6%) reported having children and 49 (20.4%)
not having. The average number of children was 2.31 (SD= 1.06), varying from 1 to 5 among those who
they did have children.
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Instrument
Statistical analysis
         The internal consistency was calculated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Some values
α ≥ .90 was considered excellent, from .80 to .89 good, from .70 to .79 acceptable, from .60 to
.69 questionable and from .50 to .59 poor and < .50 unacceptable (Cronbach and Shavelson, 2004).
The linear association was calculated using the product-moment correlation coefficient.
Pearson; values below .10 were considered trivial associations, of 10
.29 low, .30 to .49 moderate, .50 to .69 high, and .70 to .89 very high and ≥ .90 unitary
(Ellis, 2010).
       The factorial structure was determined both by exploratory factor analysis, using
Principal Components and Oblimin rotation, as per confirmatory factor analysis,
using Scale-Free Least Squares (SLS). The number of factors was determined by
the Horn criterion (95th percentile) and the expectation. The SLS method was chosen due to the
non-compliance with multivariate normality and the ordinal level of measurement of the variables
manifestations (Byrne, 2010).
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         Eight adjustment indices were considered for the confirmatory factor analysis: test
chi-square (χ)2the quotient of the chi-square statistic and its degrees of freedom (χ2/gl),
Bollen-Stine test (B-S), goodness of fit index (GFI) of Jöreskog and Sörbom and its
corrected modality (AGFI), Bentler-Bonett normalized fit index (NFI), index
relative adjustment by the Bollen rho coefficient (RFI) and the standardized squared residual
medium (SRMR). Good fit values for the indices were stipulated: pde χ2ypde
B-S > .05, χ2/gl ≤ 2, GFI ≥ .95, AGFI, NFI and RFI ≥ .90 and SRMR ≤ .05; and as values
adequate: pde χ2> .01, χ2/gl ≤ 3, SRMR ≤ .08, GFI ≥ .85 and AGFI, NFI and RFI ≥
The significance of the parameters was contrasted by the free percentile method.
bias, extracting 2,000 samples. The same number of samples was extracted for the test
the Bollen-Stine. The properties of factorial invariance between both sexes were studied by
multi-group contrast, specifying nested models in cumulative constraints. It
he considered that invariance is acceptable if the goodness of fit is good or acceptable and
statistically equivalent or next, at least, in the models without constraints and with
constraints in weight measurements (Byrne, 2010).
        To define the factorial structure, significant measurement weights were required and
saturations ≥ .30, internal consistency of the factors at least acceptable (α ≥ .70),
correlations between non-unit factors and < .80, and properties of invariance between both
acceptable sexes.
Results
        By extracting 4 components based on expectation, 62.7% of the total variance was explained.
After the oblique rotation, the first component was configured by 6 items on violence.
physical/intimidation/aggression (items 2, 11, 13, 16, and 25) and sexual violence (item 14) and had
high internal consistency (α = .89). The second component was defined by 6 items about
sexual violence (items 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 27) and had high internal consistency (α = .80).
The third component consisted of 9 items on economic violence (items 10, 20, 23,
24 and 26) and psychological violence related to role performance (items 15, 18, and 19) and
Intimidation/blackmail (item 12) had excellent internal consistency (α = .91). The fourth
component was made up of 6 items on psychological/social violence (items 6, 9, 17,
21 and 22) and intimidation (item 3) and its internal consistency was high (α = .85). The correlations
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Among the 4 components, they varied from .28 to .51 with a mean of .36 (SD=
.08).
        Confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the expected model of 4 factors.
correlated (4FC_Spa.), apart from 2 models derived from exploratory factor analysis:
of 4 and 2 correlated factors (4FC_Obs. and 2FC_Obs., respectively). Upon observing
very high correlations between the factors (from .68 to .90 in the expected 4-factor model,
from .65 to .85 in the observed of 4 factors and .82 in the observed of two factors) and when considering
the very high value of consistency among the 27 items also specified a model of a
a factor (1F) and two models of 4 hierarchically organized factors to a general one (4FJ_Sp. and 4FJ_Obs.).
        According to Moral and López (2014), the expected model of 4 factors, whether they are
correlated (4FC_Spa.) or hierarchized (4FJ_Spa.), was defined by violence
psychological/social with 8 indicators (items 6, 9, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, and 22), violence
physical/intimidation/aggression with indicators with 7 indicators (items 2, 3, 11, 12, 13, 16 and
25), sexual violence with 7 indicators (items 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 14, and 27) and economic violence
with 5 indicators (items 10, 20, 23, 24, and 26). The internal consistency of the 4 factors varied
from acceptable (α = .71) to excellent (α = .90).
        The standardized value of Mardia's multivariate kurtosis for the 27 items was
83.73, which evidenced deviation from multivariate normality. The 6 models
specified had all their significant parameters by the free percentiles method
of bias. The adjustment indices were good, although the goodness of fit was not maintained by
the probability of Bollen-Stine, nor the probability of the chi-square statistic. The
the expected model of 4 correlated factors (4FC-Eng.) was the one that showed the best
adjustment indices (see Table 1).
        However, the correlations between the 4 expected factors were very high and the
The correlation between physical and sexual violence was one (.90). In the 4-factor model.
the hierarchical weight of the general factor was unitary on physical violence (.94) and
psychological/social (.90). These correlations or unit weights dismiss these models
expected. Furthermore, in the sample of men, sexual violence had internal consistency.
poor (α = .55) and questionable economic violence (α = .67). Also the model
four observed factors had a unitary correlation and two factors did not reach it
acceptable internal consistency in men.
women and .70 in men. In women the residues were lower, resulting in the model
more defined (see Table 1).
 Table 1
 Adjustment indices for factorial models of frequency of suffered violence
                          Uni-group (joint sample)                              Multi-group among both sexes
   IA*                                                                                       2CO
              4CE        4JE         4CO      4JO       2CO         1
                                                                              SC       PM        CE        RM
   χ2        390.7      440.7        415.9   437.6     505.7      616.9     833.3     1564.1   6549.8     7067.8
    p          **         **           **      **        **         **        **        **        **        **
  χ2/gl       1.22       1.38        1.31    1.37       1.56       1.90      1.29      2.33      9.72      10.1
  B-S          **         **           **      **        **         **        **        **        **        **
 SRMR          .07        .07         .07     .07       .08        .08       .08        .10      .34       .21
  GFI          .98        .98         .98     .98       .97        .97       .95        .91      .61       .59
 AGFI          .97        .97         .97     .97       .97        .96       .94        .90      .57       .55
  NFI          0.98       .97         .97     .97       .97        .96       .94        .89      .52       .49
  RFI          .97        .97         0.97    .97       .97        .96       .93        .88      .50       .49
 **p< .01. IA = adjustment indices. Models: Number of factors: 4, 2 or 1. C = correlated factors, J = factors
 hierarchized to a general factor, E = expected model, O = observed model from the component analysis
 main. SC = without constraints, PM = constraints in measurement weights, CE = in structural variance-covariances
 and RM = in measurement residues.
        The internal consistency of the 27 items of suffered damage was excellent (α = .95). With
Based on Horn's parallel analysis, 3 components were extracted that explained 59.5% of
the total variance. After the oblique rotation, the first component was configured by 11
ítems sobre daño por violencia económica (ítems 10, 20, 23, 24 y 26), psicológica-social
(items 15, 17, 18, 19, and 21) and verbal aggression (item 25) and had excellent internal consistency
(α = .93). The second component was defined by 8 indicators on damage from violence.
sexual (items 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 27) and intimidation/blackmail (items 3 and 12) and was consistent
high internal (α = .88). The third component was made up of 8 indicators on damage caused by
physical violence (items 2, 11, 13, 16, and 22), psychological-social violence motivated by jealousy
(items 6 and 9) and sexual (item 14) and had high internal consistency (α = .88). The 3 components
they correlated with each other with values ranging from .38 to .51.
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        When contrasting the invariance between both sexes of the observed model of 4
correlated factors (4FC_Obs.), all parameters were significant in both
samples by the unbiassed percentile method. The correlations between the factors
were less than .80 in both samples. The models without constraints and with
constriction in the weights of measurement showed good fit to the data, except for the
chi-square statistics and the Bollen-Stine repetitive sampling probability. No
however, the adjustment indices were poor as additional constraints were imposed on the
structural variances-covariances and in the measurement residuals (see Table 2). In women
the variances of the factors were greater and the residues were smaller than in men, that is,
the model proved to be more defined in women. The values of internal consistency of the 4
Factors ranged from .84 to .94 in women and from .73 to .91 in men.
 Table 2
 Adjustment indices for factorial models of damage suffered
                                                        Multi-group between both sexes
                          Uni-group
   IA*                                                            (4FC_Obs)
           4FC_Sp.        4FC_Obs       3FC_Obs       SC        PM       CE        RM
    χ 2       469.1         406.4          453       664      1150.7    3757      4064
     p          **             **            **        **        **        **       **
    2
   χ /gl      1.48           1.28          1.41      1.04      1.75      5.62     10.03
   B-S          **             **            **        **        **        **       **
  SRMS         .07            .07           .07       .07       .09       .25      .13
   GFI         .98            .98           .98       .96       .94       .80      .78
  AGFI         .97            .98           .98       .96       .93       .77      .76
   NFI         .97            .98           .98       .96       .93       .76      .74
   RFI         .97            .97           .97       0.95      .92       .74      .73
 Notes. **p< .01. IA = adjustment indices. Models: Number of factors: 4 or 3. C = correlated factors,
 expected model
 measure, CE = in structural variance-covariances and RM = in measurement residuals.
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        The internal consistency of the 12 items of frequency of violence exercised was high (α
If item 34 were to be eliminated, it would increase to .85. The correlation of item 34 with the
the rest of the scale was .23. Based on Horn's parallel analysis, 1 component was extracted
which explained 38.70% of the total variance. All saturations were ≥ .30.
       By extracting 2 components based on expectation, 48.8% of the total variance was explained.
After the oblique rotation, the first one was configured by the 5 items on violence.
psychological (items 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32) and two about aggression (items 33 and 36) and had
high internal consistency (α = .86). The second was composed of 5 items about violence.
economic (items 37 and 38), social (item 35) and sexual (items 34 and 39) and had consistency
internal consistency (α = .55), which would increase if item 34 were removed (α = .57).
The correlation between components was moderate (r= .44, p< .01).
       Three models were contrasted by confirmatory factor analysis. Two models were
of two correlated factors. A bifactor model was specified from the expectation,
according to Moral and López (2014): psychological violence with 5 indicators (items from 28
to 32) and another type of violence different from psychological with 7 indicators (items from 33 to
39). In the present sample, the first factor showed high internal consistency (α = .85) and
the second questionable (α = .66). The other bifactor model was specified from the result
from exploratory factor analysis; in this second model items 33 and 36 were
indicators of the first factor of psychological violence-aggression and the second factor of another
the type of violence remained with 5 indicators (2FC_Obs.). The third model was of a factor
general, supported by the parallel analysis of Horn (1F_Obs).
        When contrasting the invariance of the observed model of two correlated factors
between men and women (2FC_Obs.), all parameters were significant by the
bias-free percentile method, except for the weight of the factor of another type of violence on
item 8 in women. The correlation between the two factors was .60 in women and .75 in
men. The unconstrained model showed good fit values across all indices.
The goodness of fit of the model with constraints on the weights remained with a p> .01
by the chi-square test and Bollen-Stine and the remaining indices showed values of
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 Table 3
 Adjustment indices for factorial models of the frequency of violence exerted
                         Uni-group                            Multi-group between both sexes
             2FC-       2FC-                              2FC-Obs                           1F-10
   IA*                          1F-12 1F-10
              Esp       Obs                       SC   PM       CE      RM       SC     PM      CE      RM
    χ2       71.9       62.2     80.9      53.9    93  146      665     750      74     119     586     669
     P        .04        .18      .01       .02   .82   .03     **       **     .34      **     **       **
   χ2/gl     1.36       1.17     1.50      1.54   0.9   1.3     5.6      5.7    1.1     1.5     7.3     7.4
   B-S        **        >.01       **       .01   .08   .03     **        **    .04     0.02 **          **
  SRMR        .06        .06      .07       .06   .07   .10     .15      .14    .08     .11     .17     .15
   GFI        .98        .98      .97       .98   .97   .96     .81      .78    .98     .96     .80     .78
  AGFI        .97        .97      .96       .97   .96   .94     0.75 .74        .96     .94     .73     .73
   NFI        .96        .97      .96       .97   .95   .92     .67      .62    .96     .93     .67     .63
   RFI        0.95       .96      .95       .96   .93   .91     .63      .62    .94     .92     .63     .63
 Notes. **p< .01. IA = adjustment indices. Models: Number of factors: 2 or 1. C = correlated factors,
 expected model
 of measurement, CE = in structural variances-covariances and RM = in measurement residues.
       The internal consistency of the 12 items of damage caused was high (α = .89).
The correlation of item 34 with the rest of the scale was .38. Based on the parallel analysis.
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From the Horn, 1 component was extracted that explained 46.5% of the total variance. The saturations
were ≥ .45. Item 34 was the lowest.
        By extracting 2 components based on expectation, 57.3% of the total variance was explained.
After the oblique rotation, the first was configured with 6 items about damage caused to
the couple for another type of violence different from psychological violence (items 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, and 39) and
it had high internal consistency (α = .79). The second consisted of 6 items about damage
caused to the couple by psychological violence (items 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32) and physical violence
(item 36) and had high internal consistency (α = .87). The correlation between components was high
(r= .55, p< .01).
        Three models were tested through confirmatory factor analysis. Two models were
of two correlated factors. A bifactor model was specified from the expectation
(Moral and López, 2014): psychological violence with 5 indicators (items 28 to 32) and another
type of violence different from psychological with 7 indicators (items 33 to 39) (2FC-Sp.)
In the present sample, the first factor showed high internal consistency (α = .88) and
also the second (α = .81). The other bifactor model was specified from the result of
exploratory analysis (2FC-Obs.). The third model was of one factor, supported by the analysis.
Horn parallel (1F_Obs).
        When contrasting the invariance of the expected model of two correlated factors between
men and women (2FC_Esp.), all parameters were significant by the method of
bias-free percentiles. The correlation between the two factors was .71 in women and .76
in men. The unconstrained model showed good fit values in all the
indices, good according to SRMR and bad according to the Bollen-Stine probability. The goodness
The model adjustment with constraints on the weights was poor for 3 indices and good for the rest.
5 remaining. In models with additional constraints on the variances-covariances
structural and measurement residues, the fit was worse (see Table 4). In men, there were
greater the variances of the factors and lower the residues than in women, that is,
the model was more defined in men. The internal consistency of the damage factor
caused by psychological violence was excellent in men (α = .92) and good in women
(α = .81). The internal consistency of the damage factor from other types of violence was good.
men (α = .85) and acceptable in women (α = .72).
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 Table 4
 Adjustment indices for factor models of damage caused by exercised violence
                                                      Multigroup between both sexes
                         Uni-group
   IA*                                                         (2FC_Spa.)
           2FC_Sp.        2FC_Obs.     1F_Obs.      SC       PM         CE       RM
    χ 2      64.39          67.24       115.40    97.99 219.28        544.65   625.66
     P         .14            .09        < .01     .70      < .01      < .01    < .01
    2
  χ /gl       1.21           1.27         2.14     0.92     1.89       4.58     4.78
   B-S        < .01         < .01        < .01    < .01     < .01      < .01    < .01
 SRMR          .06            .06          0.08     .06      .11        .12      .10
   GFI         .99            .98          .97      .98      .95        .87      .85
  AGFI         .98            .98          .96      .97      .93        .83      .82
   NFI         .98            .98          .96      .96      .92        .81      .78
   RFI         .97            .97          0.95     .96      .91        .78      .77
 Notas. *IA = índices de ajuste. Modelos: Número de factores: 2 ó 1. C = factores correlacionados, Esp =
 expected model, Obs = observed model. SC = without constraints, PM = constraints in weights of
 measure, CE = in structural variance-covariances and RM = in measurement residues.
 Table 5
 Correlations between suffered and inflicted violence (frequency and damage)
   Vio-              Joint                              Women                  Men
  lencia      FVS      DVS        FVE         FVS        DVS        FVE FVS      DVS                FVE
   DVS       .92***                          .94***                    .87 ***
 Notes. N= 240, ***p< .001. FVS = sum of the 27 items of frequency of violence endured, DVS = sum
 of the 27 items of harm suffered from partner violence, FVE = sum of 12 items of frequency of violence
 exercised against the partner, DVE = sum of the 12 items of damage caused by violence exercised against the
 couple.
Based on Horn's parallel analysis, 2 components were extracted that explained 93.1%.
of the total variance. After the oblique rotation of the components matrix, the first was
suffered violence (frequency and damage); and the second component was violence exerted
(damage and frequency). The correlation between both components was moderate (r= .40, p<
.01). In women, the number of components was also 2 according to Horn's parallel analysis. To
extracting these two components explained 91.1% of the total variance. After rotation
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oblique, also the first component was suffered violence and the second of violence
exerted. The correlation between both components was moderate (r= .30, p< .01). In
men the number of components was 1 by Horn's parallel analysis: The single component
it explained 82.8% of the total variance (see Table 6)
 Table 6
 Configuration matrices
                Sub-scales                                     Joint                 Women            Men
                of violence                                   C1        C2         C1     C2            C1
       Frequency of violence suffered                         .99      -.06        .99   -.06           .91
                    Damage suffered                           .95       0.08       .96    .07           .92
              Damage caused                                  -.01       .95       -0.01 .92             .91
        Frequency of violence exercised                       .01       .94        .01    .92           .89
 Note: Extraction method: Principal components. Rotation: Oblimin.
Discussion
         Regarding the new item introduced in the CVSEP, it can be stated that the result
a good indicator of frequency and harm from other types of violence exercised different from the
psychological. Item 34, which was intended to be replaced, was the weakest item in both scales.
of exercised violence. It should be noted that item 7, which was used as a model for drafting
the new item turned out to be one of the best indicators of frequency and damage suffered by
sexual violence, as in previous studies (Cienfuegos and Díaz-Loving, 2010; Moral and López,
2014).
       In the tetrafactorial model, the correlations were very high especially between
physical and sexual violence and between psychological/social and economic violence. Precisely, for
the parallel analysis of Horn, the number of substantive factors not attributable to errors of
sampling and method were 2, resulting in a factor of sexual/physical violence and another type of
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violence. These two factors did have high internal consistency in both sexes when not
it was so in the 4-factor model. Except for the global chi-square fit indices and the
Bollen-Stine probability that reflected poor fit in all models, the remaining 6
adjustment indices were virtually equivalent between the 4-factor and 2-factor models, 5 of
they reflected a good fit and one showed an adequate fit. Also the differences in the
The invariance properties of the 4-factor and 2-factor models were minimal.
       Summarizing the arguments made up to this point, the two-factor model of violence
physical-sexual and other types of violence is more substantive and appropriate for the 27 items of
frequency of violence suffered. The FVS scale could be reduced to the frequency factor of
physical or psychological violence. One might ask why sexual and physical violence
they are grouped into the same factor compared to other forms of violence. As has already been mentioned.
the correlations between these two factors were very high in the 4-factor model
in the joint sample as in the samples of both sexes; and in men it reached the value
unitary. It is mainly men who report suffering from a very high
correspondence between sexual violence (sexual rejection) and physical violence (assaults). This
combination, which is also present in women, could reflect an evolution towards
a worse dynamic or a worse state within marital conflicts. From this
interpretation, the dominance of the factor of psychological, economic, and social violence over the
The factor of physical-sexual violence would represent a state of lesser deterioration of the relationship or
the marital conflict. Against this interpretation, the average of physical/sexual violence was
statistically equivalent to the mean of another type of violence in both sexes and in the
joint sample. Furthermore, if there were two sequential stages, the correlation should be
smaller. Such high correlations reflect that they are rather simultaneous aspects of the
violence, that is, they coexist at the moment when the report is made. It can be stated
that the self-report of the frequency with which violence is received from the partner is
little nuanced in the physical, psychological/social, economic, and sexual aspects by the
data on internal consistency and factorial structure.
          Regarding the damage scale suffered (DVS), despite the internal consistency
it was very high among its 27 items, possibly indicating unidimensionality (Streiner, 2003), it
achieved a model with factors with more unit variance than with the 27 frequency items
of suffered violence. The expected model was not reproduced exactly. A factor was set up
of damage from economic/social violence, another factor of damage from violence
sexual/intimidation/blackmail, a third factor of harm from physical violence and a fourth factor
of damage due to social violence motivated by jealousy. The model of 4 correlated factors.
derived from the exploratory factor analysis showed the best fit indices to the data and
the best properties of invariance between sexes; also the correlations between their
factors were less than .80, whereas in the other models they reached higher values
that .80, including the 3-factor model, suggested by Horn's parallel analysis. These 4
factors had high internal consistency in both men and women, from which it is considered that
it is the factorial model that best represents the present data. However, it should be emphasized
that the very high internal consistency and the high correlations between the factors (from .68 to .77
in the joint sample) highlight the significance of the total score and the blurred nature of the
different facets of violence or harm suffered.
          Regarding the scale of frequency of exercised violence (FVE), item 34 of
sexual violence showed low internal consistency, as already observed in Moral's study.
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and López (2014). Initially, it was retained and in the exploratory factor analysis it did not have
factorial definition problems; it remained in the expected factor of another type of violence
different from the psychological/verbal with a load greater than .50. Item 33 of verbal aggression
("when he doesn't attend to the children the way I believe, I verbally attack him") and item 36 of
physical violence ("I have ended up physically hurting my partner") did not have problems with
internal consistency, but rather of factorial definition; remained in the unexpected factor of
psychological violence, which was renamed psychological violence/aggression. Although
the observed model (specified from the exploratory factor analysis) had good fit
to the data and better properties of invariance between the sexes than the expected model and the
from a factor with 12 indicators, the factor of another type of violence exercised had consistency
unacceptable internal and a non-significant indicator in the sample of women. The model of
a factor with 10 indicators (excluding items 34 and 35) would be the best option based on the
parallel Horn analysis (a substantive factor), a good adjustment in the joint sample and
equivalent to the observed two-factor correlated model, better properties of
invariance between both sexes that the observed model of two correlated factors,
internal consistency from acceptable to excellent and all its significant parameters in the
joint sample, of women and men. Again, the nuances about types of
violence exercised against the partner is poorly differentiated.
        Regarding the scale of damage due to violence exercised (DVE), item 34 of violence
sexual was the one that showed the least internal consistency and the lowest weight in its factor, but these
Values are finally acceptable and their elimination is not recommended. Repeatedly this
the item is the weakest. It could be that ignoring the sexual needs of the partner is not
motivated not exclusively by rejection or passive aggression, but by lack of ability or desire
sexual, hence it is a weak indicator of violence exercised.
       The exploratory factor analysis almost reproduces the expected model with the 12 items.
from the DVS, except for item 36. Item 36 ('I have physically harmed my partner')
in the exploratory analysis, it saturated with very similar loadings in both factors and the analysis
the internal consistency showed that it contributes to both factors. This problem appeared
with item 36 on the frequency scale of violence exercised, although with a greater difference in
loads between both factors. It could be that item 36 is interpreted in terms of possible
damage to health, that is, physical damage understood in a broad sense and independent of type
of violence (jealousy, verbal, psychological, physical), hence its ambiguity within the structure
factorial.
        The expected model of two correlated factors is the best option for the 12.
items from the DVS scale. It fits the data well in the combined sample, better
invariance properties between both sexes that the other models, the correlations between
the factors are less than .80 in the joint and for both sexes, the factors have
internal consistency from acceptable to excellent and all its significant indicators in the
joint sample, of men and women. As in the model of the 12 items of FVE, the
Horn's parallel analysis indicated a unidimensional model and high correlations between the
Two factors were high (> .70). Although the one-factor model was the one with the worst fit,
it should be given importance for these two arguments, along with the high consistency of
set of 12 items in the three samples, especially in the men's one. Again the
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nuances about the types of violence exerted against a partner are poorly differentiated, such as
in the report of the damage inflicted on the couple.
       Due to the lack of normative data, the scores can be interpreted in the 4
scales with the 5 discrete response values for the items. When each scale is divided by the
the number of items summed achieves a continuous and homogeneous range from 1 to 5. To establish
the correspondence with the 5 discrete values of response to the item can be divided
continuous range in 5 intervals of constant amplitude. This amplitude is 0.80 and is obtained
by dividing the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value by the number of intervals
(5 - 1)/5. In this way, the values from 1 to 1.80 correspond to the discrete value 1 ('never')
or "nothing") and can be interpreted as non-violence situations, the values of 1.81 to
2.60 corresponded to the discrete value 2 ("sometimes" or "very little") and can be
to interpret as situations of low violence, the values of 2.61 to 3.40 corresponded to the
discrete value 3 (“quite” or “little”) and can be interpreted as quite situations
violence, the values from 3.41 to 4.20 corresponded to the discrete value 4 ('with a lot of
"frequency" or "quite a bit") and can be interpreted as situations of high violence, and the
Values from 4.21 to 5 correspond to the discrete value of 5 ('always' or 'much') and can be
interpret as situations of extreme violence.
        It is proposed to calculate two indices of violence, one of violence suffered or of
victimization and another of violence exerted or perpetration, multiplying the scores
total frequency (F) by damage (D). These total scores, beforehand,
they can be divided by the number of items summed so that they have a continuous range and
homogeneous from 1 to 5 (f = F/27 and d = D/27 for victimization and f = F/10 and d = D/12 for
perpetration). In order for the index value to have a range from 0 to 100, to the product of the
frequency by damage (f*d) is subtracted by its minimum value (1), then it is divided by the
difference between the maximum and minimum value of the product (25 - 1 = 24) and finally we
multiply by 100, that is, index = [(f*d) - 1/24] * 100). In this way, a range is achieved
0 to 100.
        The high correlations between frequency and harm within the violence suffered or of the
violence exercised, even when lower cross correlations exist, indicates that
there is a clear relationship in partner violence between the frequency of violent acts and the
damage, which justifies the creation of a product index (frequency x damage) to assess
a more comprehensive form of the violence suffered and the violence exercised. It should be noted that they are
the women who determine in the joint sample that the cross relationship is moderate
when in men it is high. The justification for the 2 indices is also given by the two
components with moderate correlation that explain the interrelation between the 4 scales.
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Conclusions
        The 27 items of frequency of violence experienced and the 27 of harm suffered can be
retained based on their internal consistency properties and factorial configuration,
giving rise to 2 scales and 6 factors (2 of frequency and 4 of damage) with internal consistency of
acceptable to excellent in the joint sample and in both sexes. The different types of
expected violence suffered (physical, psychological/social, economic, and sexual violence)
they live together in women and men, the phenomenon being essentially of nature
unidimensional in frequency and damage. The differentiation of factors is possible, but forced.
In the frequency of violence experienced, one could distinguish physical/sexual violence and another.
psychological/economic/social. In the suffered harm, one could distinguish between physical violence,
economic/social, sexual and psychosocial motivated by jealousy. These two models are not
strictly invariant between both sexes, being more defined in women. Ten of the
12 items of frequency of violence exercised and the 12 items of damage caused can be
retained based on their properties of internal consistency and factorial configuration,
giving rise to two scales and three factors (1 of frequency and 2 of damage) with internal consistency
from acceptable to excellent. In the frequency of violence exerted, the model would be unidimensional.
With 10 indicators and the damage caused, it would be possible to distinguish damage inflicted by violence.
psychological and damage inflicted by another type of violence, although the correlation between both
the factors of damage inflicted would be very high. These two models are not strictly
invariants between both sexes, being more defined in men.
Recommendations
         The importance of considering the rates of violence suffered and inflicted is emphasized.
for a more accurate measurement of the phenomenon. The analysis between damage and frequency of the
violence suffered and exercised made evident that there is a strong relationship between the
frequency of violent acts and the damage. Furthermore, the present data shows that the
the distinction between the types of violence is forced, which could be expressing that when
if you are immersed in a violent partner relationship, it is difficult to establish these nuances
women being more capable of differentiating nuances in suffered violence and men in
exercised violence. These differential nuances are consistent with the expectation of
genre that positions the woman as a victim and the man as the perpetrator, which appears
in the study of the social representation of violence in couples in Latin countries (Ariza,
2013) and in the approach to research on partner violence in very
various countries (Straus, 2007). It is suggested to investigate whether they correspond to a relational reality,
as suggested by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA, 2009), or are they remnants of a bias
cultural, as suggested by Dutton and Nicholls (2005).
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Annex
 Instructions: Indicate on a scale from 1 to 5 how often the following situations occur in your
 couple relationship. Also indicate on a scale of 1 to 5 how much you feel harmed or attacked by
 these situations.
                              Frequency                                                               Damage
    1            2               3              4                 5            1           2          3         4            5
              Some                          With a lot                                   Very
 Never                       Quite                            Always         Nothing                Little   Quite         Much
               times                        frequency                                    a little
                                         Situations                                                                  Frequent.Damage
 My partner has told me that my personal grooming is unpleasant.
 My partner has pushed me hard.
 3. My partner gets angry with me if I don't do what he/she wants.
 4. My partner criticizes me as a lover.
 My partner rejects me when I want to have sexual relations with him/her.
 My partner watches everything I do.
 My partner has said that I am ugly or not very attractive.
 My partner does not take my sexual needs into account.
 9. My partner prohibits me from hanging out or gathering with friends.
 10. My partner uses money to control me.
 11. My partner has hit or kicked the wall, the door, or some piece of furniture to
 to scare me
 My partner has threatened to leave me.
 I have been afraid of my partner.
 My partner has forced me to have sexual intercourse when I am
 sick or my health is at risk or I feel bad.
 15. My partner gets upset with my successes and achievements.
 My partner has hit me.
 17. My partner forbids me to work or continue studying.
 18. My partner verbally assaults me if I do not attend to my children like he/she does.
 think that it should be.
 19. My partner gets angry if I don't take care of my children the way he/she thinks I should.
 it should be.
 20. My partner gets upset when I tell them that the money they give me is not enough.
 I win.
 My partner gets angry if the food or work is not done when he/she is.
 I believe I should be.
 My partner gets jealous and suspects my friends.
 My partner manages the money without taking me into account.
 24. My partner blackmails me with their money.
 My partner has insulted me.
 My partner limits me financially to keep me at home.
 He/She gets angry when I don't contribute or give the expense that he/she thinks it should be.
 27. My partner has mocked some part of my body.
 I told him he is guilty of our problems.
 I have reached the point of yelling at my partner.
 I get angry when he contradicts me or disagrees with me.
 I have resorted to insulting my partner.
 I have threatened my partner to leave him/her.
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       Daena: International Journal of Good Conscience
Faculty of Psychology, Autonomous University of Nuevo León. c/Dr. Carlos Canseco 110. Col. Mitras
Centro. Monterrey, NL, Mexico.
emailjose_moral@hotmail.com
Academic Unit of Psychology, Autonomous University of Zacatecas. Av. Preparatoria No. 301. Col
Agronomic. C.P. 98060. Zacatecas, Zac., Mexico. Phone and Fax (492) 92 41934.
espera_sa@yahoo.com
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