What is Fathers for Change studying for intimate partner violence?

Fathers for Change is being studied to see if it is more effective than standard Batterer Intervention Programs in reducing family violence and improving children's mental health. Researchers want to understand how fathers' emotion regulation and reflective functioning affect these outcomes. Yale University is leading this research to help families affected by intimate partner violence.

Who may be eligible for this intimate partner violence clinical trial?

Adults aged 18 years or older who have at least one biological child aged 6 months to 12 years and have had an incident of intimate partner violence with the child's mother within the last year may be eligible. Both male and female participants are included. Participants must also be able to complete assessments in English or Spanish. Please review eligibility criteria for more details.

Is there any cost to participate in this intimate partner violence clinical trial?

Study-related care, including the study therapy and all trial visits, is provided at no cost. However, personal travel expenses to attend study visits may vary and are typically not covered. Participants can expect to receive the study treatments without having to pay for them directly.

Actively Recruiting

Phase Not Applicable

Age: 18Years +

All Genders

Healthy Volunteers

ID06074068

Examining Therapeutic Change Mechanisms in an Affect Regulation, Father-Focused Intervention for Reducing Family Violence and Associated Symptoms in Children

Led by Yale University · Updated on 2026-04-15

1080

Participants Needed

Research Sites

17 weeks

Total Duration

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Fathers for Change F4C, a father-focused intervention, compared to a standard Batterer Intervention Program BIP in reducing family violence and child mental health issues. The study focuses on fathers with a history of Intimate Partner Violence IPV and examines how fathers emotion regulation and reflective functioning may influence outcomes for both the family and children. It addresses the gap in current interventions by specifically involving fathers and targeting the roots of offending behaviors. Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups Fathers for Change or the Duluth Model BIP. Fathers for Change involves 18 weekly individual sessions of 60 minutes each, focusing on emotion regulation, reflective functioning, and improving family communication. The Duluth BIP also consists of 18 weekly individual sessions of 60 minutes, focusing on psychoeducation about the impact of violence, power and control tactics, and anger management skills through didactics and role plays. Throughout the study, participants and their families undergo assessments at baseline, 19 weeks, 43 weeks, and 70 weeks to measure changes in physical and verbal IPV, child maltreatment, and child mental health symptoms such as posttraumatic stress, anxiety, depression, and aggression. Father-child interactions and coercive controlling IPV are also evaluated. Data collection includes observational coding during sessions and weekly self-ratings. The study aims to understand the mechanisms of change and improve interventions for families affected by IPV and child maltreatment.

CONDITIONS

Brief Title

Father-Focused Intervention for Reducing Family Violence and Symptoms in Children

Who Can Participate

Age: 18Years +

All Genders

Healthy Volunteers

Eligibility Criteria

You may qualify if you...

Have at least one biological child aged 6 months to 12 years with whom they have contact
Had an incident of intimate partner violence within the last 12 months with their child's mother
Have a currently open or recently investigated case with CT DCF
Able to complete assessments in English or Spanish
Agree to have female coparents contacted as collateral informants and for child participation consent
Female coparents consent to provide parent-report on child or opt out of child participation while allowing father participation

You will not qualify if you...

Have an active full or no contact protective order pertaining to their child
Have physiological addiction requiring detoxification without successful completion and clean urine screen
Have cognitive impairment preventing understanding of study interventions (Mini Mental State score <25)
Have a current untreated psychotic disorder
Have current suicidal or homicidal ideation based on screening
Previously participated in Fathers for Change or a Batterer Intervention Program

Research Team

Carla S Stover, PhD

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