Risk and Protective Factors for Batterer Intervention Treatment Program Attrition: How Completers Are Distinct From Dropouts and No-Shows.

The current study assessed attrition in batterer intervention treatment programs (BIPs). The influence of 25 risk and protective factors on treatment "no shows," "dropouts," and "completers" were examined for a large sample of male and female intimate partner violence offenders (n = 1,553). Multinomial regression analysis demonstrated that the relationship between risk/protective factors and treatment engagement was different across most factors: No shows were less likely to have a high school diploma/general educational development (GED), be employed, or to be on probation, and more likely to report a mental health problem, or have a history of drug crimes than completers (but not dropouts), while dropouts were more likely to have a history of general violence or property crimes than completers (but not no-shows). These distinctions can inform efforts to improve intake procedures and engagement strategies, and enhance recognition of "red flags" for early treatment disengagement.