Measuring psychological abuse in same-sex couples: evidence of validity of the EAPA-P in a Spanish-speaking sample

Abstract: Background: Research on psychological abuse in same-sex couples has increased in recent decades. However, the few studies that have validated standardized measures to assess this phenomenon have been conducted in English-speaking countries. The Psychological Abuse in Intimate Partner Violence Scale (EAPA-P) is a self-reported questionnaire measuring psychologically abusive behaviors experienced in intimate partner relationships. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the EAPA-P in Spanish-speaking same-sex couples. Method: 372 lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals participated in the study through an online questionnaire. Validity was tested using factor analysis and correlations with a measure on psychological distress, and the discriminatory power of the scale was examined. Internal consistency reliability was calculated with the ordinal alpha coefficient Results: The main results showed a one-dimensional factor structure explaining 52.27% of the total variance, with a reliability of .95. The discriminant analysis revealed that a score above 12, in a range from 0 to 76, was the optimal cut-off point to identify victimization. Significant correlations were found between the EAPA-P scores and depressive symptomatology. Conclusions: The EAPA-P appears to be a valid and reliable instrument to assess psychological abuse victimization in Spanish-speaking same-sex couples.