(PS13-C62) Examining the Factor Structure of the Psychological Maltreatment of women Inventory-sf

Intimate partner violence (IPV), comprised of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, is a pervasive issue and is associated with numerous psychological health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychological IPV (P-IPV) is the most frequently reported form of IPV and has received increased interest recently. The Psychological Maltreatment of Women Inventory Short Form (PMWI-SF) is one  of the most widely used measures of P-IPV and consists of two, 7-item subscales (emotional/verbal abuse and dominance/isolation). Since its conception, two language validation studies have replicated the 2-factor structure of the PMWI-SF via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). As noted in the literature, continued psychometric validation of instruments is necessary over time. Given the ubiquity of P-IPV and wide use of the PMWI-SF, the current study examined its factor structure in a sample of women who sought help following IPV exposure. It was hypothesized that the 2-factor structure would evidence good model fit.

The sample included 302 women who experienced IPV. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 75 years (M = 37.39, SD = 12.56) and were racially diverse (23.1% identified as Black; 56.6% identified as white; 4% identified as Hispanic; 1.3% identified as Asian; and 5.3% identified as other).

A CFA was conducted in Mplus. A 1-factor model evidenced poor model fit. The theoretically driven 2-factor solution was examined. Model fit improved relative to the 1-factor model but was still poor. Modification indices were examined, and seven sets of item residuals were allowed to correlate in the 2-factor model, based on theory. The modified 2-factor model evidenced good model fit and was retained as the final model (RMSEA = .08; CFI = .96, CI = [.06, .08]; SRMR = .04; Model X²_D = 140.50, p < .001). Standardized factor loadings for both factors were > .50 (p’s < .001).

Results of the current study converge with previous research and available psychometric validation studies, such that the 2-factor model demonstrated a good fit for the data. Similar to previous studies, some item residuals were allowed to correlate within their respective factor. Given that adding modifications to the model is exploratory, these patterns of correlated residuals should be examined in other studies. Future research should consider how the PMWI-SF generalizes or can be modified to other populations, given that the PMWI-SF is gender specific.