ERIC Number: EJ746552
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Oct
Pages: 10
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-006X
EISSN: N/A
The Effects of Forgiveness Therapy on Depression, Anxiety, and Posttraumatic Stress for Women after Spousal Emotional Abuse
Reed, Gayle L.; Enright, Robert D.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, v74 n5 p920-929 Oct 2006
Emotionally abused women experience negative psychological outcomes long after the abusive spousal relationship has ended. This study compares forgiveness therapy (FT) with an alternative treatment (AT; anger validation, assertiveness, interpersonal skill building) for emotionally abused women who had been permanently separated for 2 or more years (M = 5.00 years, SD = 2.61; n = 10 per group). Participants, who were matched, yoked, and randomized to treatment group, met individually with the intervener. Mean intervention time was 7.95 months (SD = 2.61). The relative efficacy of FT and AT was assessed at p less than 0.05. Participants in FT experienced significantly greater improvement than AT participants in depression, trait anxiety, posttraumatic stress symptoms, self-esteem, forgiveness, environmental mastery, and finding meaning in suffering, with gains maintained at follow-up (M = 8.35 months, SD = 1.53). FT has implications for the long-term recovery of postrelationship emotionally abused women.
Descriptors: Depression (Psychology), Anxiety, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Females, Self Esteem, Assertiveness, Comparative Analysis, Therapy, Counseling Techniques, Interpersonal Relationship, Interpersonal Competence, Counseling Effectiveness, Intervention, Outcomes of Treatment
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/publications.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A