The Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy on Resilience and Emotion Regulation in Women Experiencing Domestic Violence

Abstract

Background and Objective: The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy on resilience and emotion regulation in women experiencing domestic violence in Tehran.
 
Methods and Materials: This semi-experimental study employed a pre-test and post-test design with experimental and control groups and follow-up. The statistical population comprised all women victims of domestic violence in Tehran who visited psychological clinics in the first half of 2023. Participants were selected voluntarily through convenience sampling and divided into two groups: an experimental group (15 individuals) and a control group (15 individuals). The experimental group received 12 sessions of 90-minute group emotion-focused psychotherapy, while the control group remained on a waiting list. The measurement tools used in the study were the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (2003) and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (Garnefski & Kraaij, 2006). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23 in both descriptive and inferential sections (mixed ANOVA).
 
Findings: The results indicated that emotion-focused therapy increased resilience in women experiencing domestic violence. Additionally, the findings showed that emotion-focused therapy enhanced emotion regulation in these women.
 
Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that group emotion-focused psychotherapy is an effective method for improving resilience and emotion regulation in women experiencing domestic violence.