Congratulations to Dr. Amie Zarling, 2022 Early Career Research Paper Awardee! The Early Career Research Paper Award program recognizes a rising star researcher presenting a study at the conference that we think will make an important impact both within our ACBS community and well beyond.
Dr. Zarling is an Associate Professor at Iowa State University. Her research is the first randomized controlled trial to compare Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with the Duluth Model curriculum, which took place in community-based corrections for the treatment of men convicted of domestic violence. Outcomes included criminal justice data (domestic violence charges, other violent charges, and non-violent charges) incurred during the one year following program drop-out or completion, and victim reports of intimate partner violence (IPV; aggression, controlling behaviors, and stalking/harassment). Results showed in intent-to-treat comparisons to Duluth, ACT participants did not show a difference in domestic assault charges at one year post-treatment (p = .44). ACT participants acquired significantly fewer violent charges (p = .04) and non-violent charges (p = .02) compared to Duluth participants. Data from victims indicated that victims of ACT participants reported significantly fewer IPV behaviors than victims of Duluth participants on the Conflict Tactics Scale (d = .78), the Controlling Behaviors Scale (d = .66) and the Stalking Behavior Checklist (d = .71) at one year post-treatment. Conclusions indicated an ACT-based group intervention delivered in community corrections reduced violent and non-violent criminal charges compared to the Duluth intervention. Domestic violence charges did not differ between groups but victim reports indicated that ACT participants engaged in fewer IPV behaviors.