ERIC Number: EJ807251
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1049-7315
EISSN: N/A
Postabortion Grief: Evaluating the Possible Efficacy of a Spiritual Group Intervention
Layer, Susan Dyer; Roberts, Cleora; Wild, Kelli; Walters, Jan
Research on Social Work Practice, v14 n5 p344-350 2004
Objective: Although not every woman is negatively affected by an abortion, researchers have identified a subgroup of women susceptible to grief and trauma. The primary providers for postabortion grief (PAG) groups are community faith-based agencies. Principle features of PAG are shame and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Method: This study measured the efficacy of a spiritually based grief group intervention for women grieving an abortion. Thirty-five women completed the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and the Internalized Shame Scale (ISS) pre- and postintervention along with posttest open-ended questions. Results: Postintervention measures indicated significant decrease in shame (p less than 0.000) and PTSD symptoms (p less than 0.002). More than 80% reported their religious beliefs and the spiritual intervention played a strong to very strong role in the group. Conclusion: Social workers need to screen for PAG with a postabortive woman and when appropriate refer her to agencies offering such groups.
Descriptors: Grief, Intervention, Females, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Pregnancy, Measures (Individuals), Social Work, Religion, Religious Factors, Coping, Stress Management, Psychological Patterns, Program Effectiveness, Christianity, Symptoms (Individual Disorders)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Impact of Event Scale
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A