Effect of Facilitators’ Work Experience on Process Outcomes in an Intervention for Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators

Background/Aim: Limited research has examined the role of facilitators in the effectiveness of intervention programs for intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetrators. Nevertheless, specific facilitator characteristics, such as facilitators’ work experience, could potentially impact the intervention process, although empirical evidence supporting this relationship is scarce. In response to this gap, the present study investigated the influence of facilitators’ work experience on key process outcomes: working alliance, stage of change, motivation to change, active participation and participants’ satisfaction with the intervention. Method: The sample consisted of 428 court-mandated male IPV perpetrators and 56 group facilitators who worked in pairs. Facilitators were categorized into three experience-based groups: little-little experience, ample-little experience and ample-ample experience. Ample experience was operationalized as having facilitated at least three intervention groups. Results: The findings indicated that the participants led by the ample-ample experienced facilitators reported a stronger working alliance and higher satisfaction with the intervention. Participants led by both the ample-ample and the ample-little experienced facilitators exhibited more advanced stages of change and higher motivation to change compared to those led by the little-little experienced facilitators. Interestingly, participants led by the little-little experienced facilitators demonstrated more active participation by doing more homework than the participants led by the ample-little experienced facilitators. Conclusions: These findings have important implications for intervention practice. Engaging facilitators with substantial work experience appears to enhance the quality of the working alliance, promote motivation to change violent behavior, and improve participants’ satisfaction with the intervention. Such outcomes underscore the value of practitioners’ experience in achieving meaningful engagement and progress in IPV intervention programs.