Development of the Scale of Economic Abuse

Abstract

Economic abuse is part of the pattern of behaviors used by batterers to maintain power and control over their partners. However, no measure of economic abuse exists. This study describes the development of the Scale of Economic Abuse, which was designed to fill this gap. Interviews were conducted with 103 survivors of domestic abuse, each of whom responded to measures of economic, physical, and psychological abuse as well as economic hardship. Results provide evidence for the reliability and validity of the scale. This study is an important first step toward understanding the extent and impact of economic abuse experienced by survivors.

A Multi-Systems Life Course Perspective of Economic Abuse

“…For example, we know that IPV is reported more among low-income women (Weaver, Sanders, Campbell & Schnabel, 2009); however, women from seemingly moderate-and higher-income levels can experience economic abuse by a partner (Outlaw, 2009). EA is as prevalent as physical, psychological and sexual abuse, and is used by an intimate partner to gain control of a woman's life through economic means (Adams et al, 2008;Hahn & Postmus, 2014). In a study comprised primarily of African American (48%) and White (45%) women (N=103) receiving IPV services, 99% reported experiencing some type of economic abuse (Adams et al, 2008).…”

“…While there is a paucity of scholarship on economic abuse, there has been an increase of publications on this topic since the early 2000's (see for example, Adams et al, 2008;Hahn & Postmus, 2014). For this paper, the definition of EA provided by Adams and colleagues (2008) is used: "economic abuse involves behaviors that control a woman's ability to acquire, use, and maintain economic resources, thus threatening her economic security and potential for self-sufficiency (p.…”

“…EA behaviors include preventing work outside the house, preventing ownership of personal possessions, preventing financial documents from being titled in a woman's name, preventing a woman's right to a bank account or other measures intended to prevent women from attaining monetary success (Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs, n.d.). EA may include such sabotage strategies such as physical harm, destruction of possessions or transportation, theft of keys or money, harassment at a woman's place of work, physical restraints, or other measures intended to harm a woman's chance of obtaining and/or maintaining gainful employment (Adams et al, 2008).…”

“…EA is as prevalent as physical, psychological and sexual abuse, and is used by an intimate partner to gain control of a woman's life through economic means (Adams et al, 2008;Hahn & Postmus, 2014). In a study comprised primarily of African American (48%) and White (45%) women (N=103) receiving IPV services, 99% reported experiencing some type of economic abuse (Adams et al, 2008). Similarly, Postmus and colleagues (2012) found that 94% of the 120 (55% White, 20% African American and 15% Hispanic) female survivors of IPV reported economic abuse by their partner.…”

“…It was not until 1993 that all 50 states criminalized marital rape (Bergen & Barnhill, 2006). Much less attention has been given in the literature to an examination of economic abuse (EA; Adams, Sullivan, Bybee, & Greeson, 2008;Postmus, Plummer, McMahon, Murshid & Kim, 2012). Furthermore, a 2014 national poll commissioned by the Allstate Foundation revealed that 78% of the public respondents had never heard the term economic abuse in relationship to intimate partner violence (IPV).…”