A Realist Evaluation of a Behavior Change Program for Domestic Abuse Perpetrators in the United Kingdom

The Behavior Change Independent Domestic Violence Advisor Program is a Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Program operating in England. This evaluation drew upon semistructured interviews with program professionals ( n = 7), perpetrators ( n = 7) and victims/survivors ( n = 5) to develop a realist model of how perpetrator behavior change is thought to be enabled through this program. Key contextual factors were identified which moderate program delivery and lead to the conditions required to initiate six mechanisms of change which could lead to outcomes of a reduction in abusive behaviors, reoffending, and harm to victims/survivors.