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This Intervention Review is primarily based on 0 systematic reviews and 12 primary studies.
The review draws on the best available impact evaluation evidence. The research was selected against set selection criteria and is based on a rigorous and comprehensive search and screening process. It does not necessarily reflect all evidence on the intervention, but further materials on this intervention are listed under Additional resources.
See the Response Evidence and Gap Map to explore similar interventions. For detail about the individual studies, see the Included studies section. For further information about the methods informing this review, please see the Intervention Review Technical Report (forthcoming).
Suggested citation: ANROWS. (2023). Parenting interventions for fathers who use violence. Evidence Portal Intervention Review. ANROWS.
InterventionParenting-based behaviour change programs for perpetrators |
PopulationAdult men who use intimate partner violence (IPV) and have children under the age of 18 who experience parental IPV |
Outcomes studiedChild outcomes, gender-based violence, health, knowledge, beliefs and attitudes, parenting, and wellbeing and emotions |
Impact of the interventionComing soon |
Australian evidence3 studies presented findings from Australia. 0 studies reported on the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people |
Risk of biasMost studies were rated as high risk of bias as determined by our Risk of Bias tool |
Parenting-based behavioural change programs for perpetrators aim to end intimate partner violence, improve parenting practices and strengthen relationships between fathers and their children who had been exposed to parental intimate partner violence.
Interventions target adult men who use intimate partner violence and have children under the age of 18 who are exposed to parental intimate partner violence.
Interventions generally follow a set program of between 12 and 24 weeks and incorporate various approaches, formats and components:
How is the intervention delivered?By mental health or child protection professionals, individual & group formats. Usually in person |
Where is the intervention set?Child protection, mental health and substance use treatment settings |
What resources and costs are involved?0 studies comment on costs associated with the intervention |
How frequently is the intervention delivered?Programs vary, but range between weekly sessions of 1-2 hours across 12-24 weeks |
How is the intervention designed or theorised to work?
The programs are generally based on cognitive behavioural therapy and motivational models of intervention.
Some studies argue that focusing on men’s roles as fathers and their relationship with their children provides motivation for men to engage with an intervention to address their violent behaviour and change dysfunctional patterns of communication and interactions in their relationships.
This review assessed the impact of the intervention on adult men who use intimate partner violence and have children under the age of 18 who are exposed to parental intimate partner violence.
Some programs target men with at least one biological child with whom they have some contact (i.e., by phone, in-person, or by letters). Attendance in the programs is voluntary for most participants but mandated for some.
This intervention is not targeted to any specific cultural or ethnic groups, or towards people with physical or mental disabilities or health conditions.
| Population | What do we know about this group? | Degree of knowledge |
|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities |
0 studies. The appropriateness of this intervention with this population has not yet been established. Therefore, we cannot confirm the applicability of this intervention to this population |
 |
| Sexuality and gender diverse / LGBTIQA+ |
0 studies. The appropriateness of this intervention with this population has not yet been established. Therefore, we cannot confirm the applicability of this intervention to this population |
|
| Specific age groups |
0 studies. The appropriateness of this intervention with this population has not yet been established. Therefore, we cannot confirm the applicability of this intervention to this population |
|
| Culturally diverse, migrant and refugee background |
0 studies. The appropriateness of this intervention with this population has not yet been established. Therefore, we cannot confirm the applicability of this intervention to this population |
|
| Disability |
0 studies. The appropriateness of this intervention with this population has not yet been established. Therefore, we cannot confirm the applicability of this intervention to this population |
|
This section summarises factors that may contribute to study results, factors that may be considered to facilitate better outcomes, and the transferability of the intervention to an Australian context.
What do we know about the intervention in Australia?
| Study and location | Design | Intervention | Sample | Outcome categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broady (2017) Australia | Qualitative | Taking Responsibility, group parenting and therapy Duration and format: 18 weeks Setting: Community services | N=21 Men who had used intimate partner violence |
Gender-based violence, parenting and parent-child or/infant interaction |
| Diemer (2020) Australia | Single group pre-post study Qualitative data: Yes |
Caring Dads, group parenting Duration and format: 17 weekly sessions Setting: Child protection services |
N=174 Men who had used intimate partner violence |
Gender-based violence, health, knowledge, beliefs and attitudes, parenting and parent-child or/infant interaction, social and material support, wellbeing and emotions |
| Hine et al. (2022) Australia | Single group pre-post study Qualitative data: No |
Caring Dads, group parenting Duration and format: 16x2-hour weekly group sessions and 1 individual session Setting: Child protection services |
N=57 Men who had used intimate partner violence |
Detection of violence, screening and support, gender-based violence, parenting and parent-child or/infant |
| McCracken & Deave (2012) United Kingdom | Single group pre-post study Qualitative data: Yes |
Caring Dads Cymru, group parenting Duration and format: 22 weekly sessions Setting: Not reported |
N=26 Men who had used intimate partner violence, mean age 37 |
Gender-based violence, knowledge, beliefs and attitudes and parenting and parent-child or/infant interaction |
| McConnell et al. (2017) United Kingdom | Single group pre-post study Qualitative data: No |
Caring Dads, group parenting Duration and format: 17 weekly sessions Setting: Child protection services |
N=98 Men who had used intimate partner violence |
Gender-based violence, parenting and parent-child or/infant interaction, wellbeing and emotions |
| Scott et al. (2021) Canada | Non-randomised controlled trial Comparison: Waitlist Qualitative data: No |
Caring Dads, group parenting Duration and format: Not reported Setting: Child protection services |
N=185 Men who had used intimate partner violence |
Detection of violence, screening and support, gender-based violence, parenting and parent-child or/infant interaction |
| Stover (2011) United States | Randomised controlled trial Comparison: Another active intervention Qualitative data: No |
Substance abuse and domestic violence treatment program, group therapy Duration and format: 12x90-minute weekly sessions Setting: Drug and alcohol service |
N=69 Men who had used intimate partner violence |
Gender-based violence, health |
| Stover (2015) United States | Randomised controlled trial Comparison: Another active intervention Qualitative data: No |
Fathers for Change, individual therapy Duration and format: 4 months Setting: Child protection services |
N=19 Men who had used intimate partner violence |
Gender-based violence, health, parenting and parent-child or/infant interaction |
| Stover et al. (2017) United States | Single group pre-post study Qualitative data: Yes |
Fathers for Change, individual therapy Duration and format: 16x1-hour sessions Setting: Drug and alcohol services |
N=44 Men who had used intimate partner violence, mean age 30 |
Wellbeing and emotions |
| Stover et al. (2019) United States | Randomised controlled trial Comparison: Another active intervention Qualitative data: No |
Fathers for Change, individual therapy Duration and format: 12x1-hour weekly sessions, with 4 voluntary booster sessions Setting: Drug and alcohol services |
N=504 Men who had used intimate partner violence, mean age 33.5 | Gender-based violence, health, parenting and parent-child or/infant interaction, wellbeing and emotions |
| Stover et al. (2020) United States | Single group pre-post study Qualitative data: No |
Fathers for Change, individual therapy Duration and format: 18x1-hour group sessions over 18-24 weeks Setting: Mental health service |
N=504 Men who had used intimate partner violence, mean age 33.5 |
Gender-based violence, health, parenting and parent-child or/infant interaction, wellbeing and emotions |
This Intervention Review was created by drawing on the following included studies:
Quantitative impact evaluations
This list contains other evidence that was not eligible for the Intervention Review based on our selection criteria but may provide further information regarding the intervention.
ANROWS acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land across Australia on which we live and work. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present. We value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and knowledge. We are committed to standing and working with First Nations peoples, honouring the truths set out in the Warawarni-gu Guma Statement.
This material was produced with funding from the Australian Government Department of Social Services. ANROWS gratefully acknowledges the financial and other support it has received from the government, without which this work would not have been possible. The findings and views included in the Evidence Portal are those of the authors and cannot be attributed to the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
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