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A Preliminary Validation of the Brief Spousal Assault Form for the Evaluation of Risk (B-SAFER) in Hong Kong

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Abstract

The present study attempted a preliminary validation of the Brief Spousal Assault Form for the Evaluation of Risk (B-SAFER) in Hong Kong. In-depth assessment was conducted on 43 identified batterers and 46 control male subjects. Results suggested that the B-SAFER could correctly classify 95% of the cases. Scores relating to the current situation were found to be particularly important in predicting intimate partner violence. The concurrent validity of the B-SAFER was demonstrated by its correlation with the Conflict Tactics Scale scores. Findings were discussed in the context of developing screening tool in the community setting with the guided clinical approach.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by an Interdepartmental Competitive Research Grant of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The authors would like to express deepest gratitude to the following agencies for facilitating the process of data collection: the Social Welfare Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Harmony House, the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society, and Caritas—Hong Kong. Our special thanks to the following for helping us in the subject recruitment process: Ms Pang Kit-ling, Mr. Helios Lau, Dr. Helen Chan, and Dr. Chung-ming Chan of the Social Welfare Department; Mr. Felix Choi of the Hong Kong Family Welfare Society; Mr. Patrick Wong of Caritas—Hong Kong, and Ms. Yee-man Lai of Harmony House.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Social Science, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

    Alma Au, George Cheung, Chan Yuk-chung, Gladys L. T. Lam & Pauline Sung

  2. Forensic Psychiatric Services, Commission of British Columbia, Coquitlam, BC, Canada

    Randall Kropp

Authors
  1. Alma Au
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  2. George Cheung
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  3. Randall Kropp
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  4. Chan Yuk-chung
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  5. Gladys L. T. Lam
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  6. Pauline Sung
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alma Au.

Appendix

Appendix

The ten risk factors in the B-SAFER

  1. Section I:

    Intimate partner violence

    1. 1.

      Serious physical/ sexual violence

    2. 2.

      Serious violent threats, ideation or intent

    3. 3.

      Escalation of physical/sexual violence or threats/ ideations/ intent

    4. 4.

      Violations of criminal or civil court orders

    5. 5.

      Negative attitudes about spousal assault

  2. Section II:

    Psychosocial Adjustment

    1. 6.

      Other serious criminality

    2. 7.

      Relationship problems

    3. 8.

      Employment and or financial problems

    4. 9.

      Substance abuse

    5. 10.

      Mental disorder

Other considerations for specifying any additional factors related to the person’s history psychological and social adjustment problems.

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Au, A., Cheung, G., Kropp, R. et al. A Preliminary Validation of the Brief Spousal Assault Form for the Evaluation of Risk (B-SAFER) in Hong Kong. J Fam Viol 23, 727–735 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-008-9198-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-008-9198-z

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