Development and validation of the Moral Outcomes of Relationship Aggression Scale: A measure of moral distress following intimate partner violence perpetration

Abstract

Research with military veterans has established that distress may arise in response to perpetrating violent behaviors that violate individuals' moral beliefs. To date, no studies have similarly examined morally‐related cognitive and emotional responses specifically among intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators. However, research on moral cognitions and emotions in response to IPV perpetration may inform understanding of the behavior and potential mechanisms for intervention. In the current series of four studies, we used classical test theory to develop a measure of moral distress following IPV perpetration that focuses on thoughts about the actions (assimilated cognitions), thoughts about the self due to one's actions (accommodated cognitions), and emotions experienced due to one's actions (moral emotions). Items were developed and tested among two samples of undergraduate students, and psychometric properties of the final measure were confirmed among two community samples. The final measure consists of three subscales consisting of five items each. Results demonstrate support for internal consistency and test–retest reliability, convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity, and factor structure. This measure can be used in future research designed to examine how individuals respond to their IPV perpetration, and to study the implications this may have for long‐term outcomes and behavioral change.

Positive associations between potentially morally injurious experiences and alcohol outcomes in college students: Results from a dominance analysis.

“…Spanish nursing students also described moral injury stemming from failure to help COVID-19 patients during the pandemic (Roca et al, 2021). In a sample of adults who reported engaging in intimate partner violence, moral distress was associated with higher levels of PTS, depression, and anxiety (Taverna & Marshall, 2023). Similarly, a study with undergraduate students found positive associations between PMIEs and mental health outcomes (Chaplo et al, 2019).…”

“…Research suggests that PMIEs may be a risk factor for alcohol use; increased exposure to PMIEs was associated with increased alcohol outcomes among military members (Battles et al, 2018; Braitman et al, 2018; Currier et al, 2018). Additionally, college students are an understudied population in the context of PMIEs as only two studies to date quantitatively examine undergraduate samples (Chaplo et al, 2019; Taverna & Marshall, 2023). Civilians may experience PMIEs to a different degree than military samples, as war and conflict yield more PMIEs than the average civilian’s daily activities.…”