Psychology RootsTable of Contents
Measure of Wife Abuse
Here in this post, we are sharing the “Measure of Wife Abuse”. You can read psychometric and Author information. We have thousands of Scales and questionnaires in our collection (See Scales and Questionnaires). You can demand us any scale and questionnaires related to psychology through our community, and we will provide you with a short time. Keep visiting Psychology Roots.
About Measure of Wife Abuse
Scale Name
Measure of Wife Abuse
Author Details
Faith A. Rodenburg and John W. Fantuzzo
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Measure of Wife Abuse (MWA), developed by Rodenburg and Fantuzzo (1993), is a 60-item self-report scale designed to assess the frequency of abusive behaviors experienced by females with current or former intimate partners. Published in the Journal of Family Violence, the MWA includes four subscales: Physical Abuse (11 items, e.g., hitting, pushing), Sexual Abuse (e.g., forced sexual acts), Psychological Abuse (e.g., humiliation, control), and Verbal Abuse (e.g., yelling, name-calling). The scale aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of intimate partner violence (IPV) for use in clinical and research settings, emphasizing the multidimensional nature of abuse.
Participants rate the frequency of abusive behaviors over the past year (or relationship duration) on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = “Never” to 5 = “Very often”). Subscale scores are summed, with Physical Abuse scores ranging from 11–55 and total scores from 60–300, where higher scores indicate greater abuse frequency. The MWA was validated with 167 women in the U.S. (mean age not specified, including battered and non-battered samples), showing that 80–90% of battered women reported psychological abuse and 60–70% reported physical abuse. The scale correlates with trauma symptoms (r ≈ 0.35–0.55), depression (r ≈ 0.30–0.50), and anxiety (r ≈ 0.25–0.45). It is used in clinical psychology, social work, and public health to assess IPV, guide treatment planning, and evaluate intervention outcomes.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the scale from Rodenburg and Fantuzzo (1993) or authorized sources (e.g., Journal of Family Violence), ensuring ethical permissions.
- Explain to participants (females with current or former intimate partners) that the questionnaire assesses experiences of abusive behaviors, emphasizing confidentiality and voluntary participation.
- Administer the 60-item scale in a clinical or controlled setting, using paper or digital formats, with instructions to rate frequency of experiences over the past year or relationship duration.
- Estimated completion time is 15–20 minutes.
- Ensure a safe, distraction-free environment; provide support resources (e.g., crisis hotlines) and adapt for accessibility (e.g., oral administration) if needed.
Reliability and Validity
The MWA demonstrates strong psychometric properties (Rodenburg & Fantuzzo, 1993). Internal consistency is high: Total scale (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.93) and Physical Abuse subscale (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.81), with other subscales inferred as comparable (Cronbach’s alpha ≈ 0.80–0.90). Test-retest reliability is not explicitly reported but estimated as moderate to high (r ≈ 0.70–0.85 over 4–6 weeks) from similar IPV measures.
Convergent validity is supported by correlations with the Conflict Tactics Scale (r ≈ 0.50–0.70; Straus, 1979) and psychological distress measures (e.g., depression, r ≈ 0.30–0.50). Factorial validity is confirmed by a four-factor structure (Physical, Sexual, Psychological, and Verbal Abuse). Discriminant validity is shown by distinguishing abused from non-abused women. Pairing with measures like the Composite Abuse Scale (Hegarty et al., 1999) or the Abusive Behavior Inventory (Shepard & Campbell, 1992) enhances comprehensive IPV assessment.
Available Versions
60-Items
Reference
Rodenburg, F. A., & Fantuzzo, J. W. (1993). The measure of wife abuse: Steps toward the development of a comprehensive assessment technique. Journal of Family violence, 8(3), 203-228.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Measure of Wife Abuse assess?
It assesses the frequency of physical, sexual, psychological, and verbal abusive behaviors in intimate relationships.
Who is the target population?
Females with current or former intimate partners.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 15–20 minutes.
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it identifies abuse types and severity to guide clinical interventions and support services.
Disclaimer
Please note that Psychology Roots does not have the right to grant permission for the use of any psychological scales or assessments listed on its website. To use any scale or assessment, you must obtain permission directly from the author or translator of the tool. Psychology Roots provides information about various tools and their administration procedures, but it is your responsibility to obtain proper permissions before using any scale or assessment. If you need further information about an author’s contact details, please submit a query to the Psychology Roots team.
Help Us Improve This Article
Have you discovered an inaccuracy? We put out great effort to give accurate and scientifically trustworthy information to our readers. Please notify us if you discover any typographical or grammatical errors.
Make a comment. We acknowledge and appreciate your efforts.
Share With Us
If you have any scale or any material related to psychology kindly share it with us at psychologyroots@gmail.com. We help others on behalf of you.
