VALIDATION OF THE INDEX OF SPOUSE ABUSE IN WOMEN FROM EL SALVADOR

Structural validity of the Index of Spouse Abuse (ISA) is examined by assessing the adjustment of five factorial models proposed from previous research. The ISA, together with the Double Standard Scale, the Social Skills Scale and the NEO-FFI, were applied to a sample made up 640 Salvadorian women whose age ranged between 16 and 50 years and who bad had a partner. Among the five proposed models, the one with 19 reactivos clustered into two oblique factors shows the best fit. These two factors show satisfactory reliability coefficients. Sexual double standard and social skills are two of the most important explanatory factors of non-physical and physical abuse. Responsibility and neuroticism personality traits play a lower role in explaining abuse.