Risk and Protective Factors for Batterer Intervention Treatment Program Attrition: How Completers Are Distinct From...

The current study assessed attrition in batterer intervention treatment programs (BIPs). The influence of 25 risk and protective factors on treatment "no shows," "dropouts," and "completers" were examined for a large sample of male and female intimate partner violence offenders (n = 1,553). Multinomial regression analysis demonstrated that the relationship between risk/protective factors and treatment engagement was different across most factors: No shows were less likely to have a high school diploma/general educational development (GED), be employed, or to be on probation, and more likely to report a mental health problem, or have a history of drug crimes than completers (but not dropouts), while dropouts were more likely to have a history of general violence or property crimes than completers (but not no-shows). These distinctions can inform efforts to improve intake procedures and engagement strategies, and enhance recognition of "red flags" for early treatment disengagement.