Report on the Development of Risk Assessment Tools for Spouse Battering and Child Abuse in Hong Kong Chinese Families

Abstract

This study validated three risk assessment tools for spouse battering or child abuse in Hong Kong. The questionnaire, containing a comprehensive profile of risk factors and the measurement of violence against partner and child, was developed and administered during the period from December 2003 to August 2004 in a household survey. A total of 5,049 and 2,062 respondents were successfully interviewed using respectively the adult and child questionnaires. The overall response rate achieved was 71%. Logistic regression analysis was first performed to identify risk factors that are significantly correlated with the presence of spousal battering (including physical assault, sexual coercion or injury, as measured by the CTS2) and child physical maltreatment (including severe or very severe levels of physical assault, as measured by CTSPC). Stepwise logistic regression was further performed to select the higher loading risk factors to be included in the model of risk assessment tools. Three sets of risk assessment tools (Form A for perpetrator of spouse battering, Form B for victim of spouse battering and Form C for perpetrator of child abuse) were validated with satisfactory psychometric properties. The tools were further field-tested to ascertain the clinical validity of the risk assessment tools when being applied to clinical samples in welfare settings and to operationalize the administration of the tools. A total of 162, 174 and 161 subjects successfully completed the Forms A, B and C respectively. Results showed that the tools demonstrated satisfactory validity testing. The social workers involving in the field test generally appreciate the functions of the tools which can provide scientific data to facilitate clinical judgment of risk assessment. The three Risk Assessment Tools were developed and validated with satisfactory psychometric properties. In view of the complexity of the tools, systematic training, monitoring and support is highly recommended before widely application of the tools.

這項研究主要驗證三套有關配偶虐待及虐兒的危機評估工具。是項家庭調查於 2003 年 12 月至 2004 年 8 月間進行，問卷設計共分成人及兒童版本，包括配偶虐待及 虐兒危機因素，成功訪問並取得 5,049 成人及 2,062 子女對問卷的回應，回應率達七成。

有關統計分析，首先運用邏輯迴歸分析（Logistic regression）鑒別出與配偶暴力 （包括 CTS2 量度的身體虐打、強迫性行為或傷害）及身體虐兒（包括 CTSPC 量度的 嚴重及非常嚴重的身體虐打）有明顯關係的危機因素。然後運用分階邏輯迴歸分析 （Stepwise logistic regression）篩選出較強的危機因素，列入危機評估工具內。經過心 理測量屬性驗證，最後三套危機評估工具完成（甲表格：配偶施虐者填寫；乙表格：被 虐配偶填寫；及丙表格：兒童施虐者填寫）。

這三套危機評估工具進一步讓社福界工作者於輔導個案中使用，作臨床驗證。最 後甲、乙及丙表格各自成功取得 162, 174 及 161 個回應，結果顯示評估工具驗證滿意。 參與使用評估工具的社工欣賞這工具能夠提供科學化的統計數據，以協助危機評估的臨 床判斷。

這三套家庭暴力危機評估工具的建立經過滿意的心理測量屬性驗證。基於工具的 複雜性，我們建議於廣泛使用前，先進行系統性訓練、監察及支援的部署。