Construction and Validation of the Attitude Toward Returning to an Ex-Partner Scale

María Agustina Vázquez, Miguel Mora-Pelegrín, María Aranda () and Beatriz Montes-Berges
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María Agustina Vázquez: Instituto Andaluz de la Mujer, 23001 Jaén, Spain
Miguel Mora-Pelegrín: Jaén Penitentiary Center, 23009 Jaén, Spain
María Aranda: Area of Social Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Beatriz Montes-Berges: Area of Social Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain

Social Sciences, 2025, vol. 14, issue 9, 1-17

Abstract: Background/Objectives: When a relationship ends due to abuse, a favorable attitude toward reconciliation may become a risk factor. The objective of this study was to develop and validate an instrument to measure the attitude toward returning to an ex-partner. Methods: A pilot study was conducted to evaluate the dimensionality and psychometric quality of the items. The main study involved 55 women who had been victims of gender violence. Results: Following item analysis and assessments of reliability (α = 0.93) and validity, a unidimensional 16-item scale was developed. The instrument, named the “Attitude Toward Returning to an Ex-partner Scale” (ATRES), allows for the identification of predispositions to return to a relationship in which serious abuse has occurred. Moreover, the findings revealed that a heightened perception of danger, along with forgiveness directed toward oneself, the other person, and the situation, was associated with a less favorable attitude toward reconciliation. Conversely, high religiosity predisposed individuals to rekindle the relationship. Conclusions: The scale could serve to facilitate interventions, mainly in situations where restoring the relationship can be a risk. The assessment of the predisposition to forgive the ex-partner—namely, the individual who perpetrated the abuse—as well as the victim’s attitude toward re-engaging in the relationship, constitute important considerations for preventing revictimization. The ATRES is the first self-report measure designed to assist researchers and professionals in the precise assessment of specific beliefs and myths underlying the reinstatement of a relationship.

Keywords: attitude; forgiveness; return; ex-partner; validation; gender violence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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