NCJ Number
100828
Date Published
1986
Length
31 pages
Annotation
Albee's model showing the multiple forces that influence the likelihood of family violence provides a useful basis for designing effective prevention programs.
Abstract
The model goes beyond the simple public health model. It uses a systems approach to form an equation that consists of five critical variables relating to family violence: stress, risk factors, social supports, coping skills, and self-esteem. Developing prevention strategies based on this model requires two tasks. The first task is to identify specific stresses and risks associated with family violence and to design interventions to reduce or eliminate these factors in targeted families. The second task is to identify the specific types of supportive networks, coping skills, and level of self-esteem associated with healthy family functioning and to develop interventions to increase these in targeted families. Many prevention programs use elements of both tasks. Programs exist to deal with the stresses of unemployment, the onset of parenting, social isolation, low socioeconomic status, and certain cultural norms. Other efforts focus on specific risk factors such as exposure to abuse in childhood. Programs to support parent-infant bonding and to pass appropriate legislation are examples of efforts to improve positive supports for families. 117 references.