JOURNAL REVIEW - Research Paper Example

Treatments are available but this is not only a problem which can be solved by rescuing them and taking them away from the abusive husbands. The effect is said to last long after the abuse has happened. In this study, forgiveness therapy is compared with an alternative treatment for women who were psychologically abused who have been separated from their husbands for two or more years. The hypothesis is that women will show lesser degree of depression and anxiety, symptoms of post-traumatic stress and will have higher levels of self-esteem and determination, and finding meaning suffering than those who engaged in alternative treatments.

This review will attempt to support this hypothesis. In the study, randomized experimental group design was used. Surveys and intervention procedures were conducted. Participants were composed of twenty psychologically abused women, were permanently separated or divorced from their husband for a minimum of two years. They varied in ethnicity, age, educational attainment, employment, and other factors including the types of psychological abuse they have experienced. Testing procedure used different instruments to make sure all aspects and pertinent information will be covered and gathered.

The results of the study were more than they had expected and suggested continuous positive results for the forgiveness therapy participants more than those of the participants who engaged in alternative treatment. Discussion This is interesting and important because there are many cases of abuse which are happening and other alternatives for healing will be a welcome addition to those which we already know. The focus of the study was the effect of forgiveness therapy on psychologically abused women, specifically those who were separated from their husband for at least two years prior to this study.

The hypothesis was that these women will show lesser degree of depression and anxiety, symptoms of post-traumatic stress and will have a higher level of self-esteem and environmental mastery, and finding meaning in their suffering than those who engaged in alternative treatments and the results supported this. Although variation of ethnicity, age, educational attainment, employment, and other factors is a limitation, the results in terms of self-esteem, moral decisions, and environmental mastery, forgiving the abusive partner and survivor status for those who were engaged in the forgiveness therapy and the decrease in anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress and victim status for the women who participated in alternative treatment as shown in the Mean Change from pretest to posttest indicated statistical significance.

They demonstrate the benefit of FT for women who were victims of spousal psychological abuse who are separated from the abusive partner for at least 2 years. The gains made by the women who engaged in Forgiveness Therapy in the study is an indication that forgiveness has positive effects on the levels of anxiety, depression and emotional state while also increasing levels self-esteem and healthy decision making. The strengths and weaknesses of the design as established can both be used and taken into consideration in the conduct of the future studies of the same nature, involving not only psychologically abused wives but sons and daughters also.

It can be assumed from this study that forgiveness therapy can improve the behavioral and psychological well-being of abused women.