The Effect of Forgiveness-based Group Counseling on Adjustment and Quality of Life in Women Referring to Counseling Centers in Najafabad Town

Subject Areas : Educational

لیلا  شیاسی ¹ (کارشناس ارشد روان‌شناسی عمومی دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی اصفهان (خوراسگان))
Felor  Khayatan ² (عضو هیأت علمی دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی اصفهان (خوراسگان))

Received: 2017-10-17 Accepted : 2017-10-17 Published : 2017-10-17

Keywords: quality of life, forgiveness-based group counseling, Women, adjustment,

Abstract :

The present study aimed to examine the effect of forgiveness-based group counseling on adjustment and quality of life in women referring to counseling centers in Najafabad town. The research was semi-empirical with pretest-posttest and control group design. Statistical population included women with marital problems who were referred to counseling centers in Najafabad town in the Spring of 2014. At first, 3 out of 5 counseling centers in Najafabad were selected through simple sampling method. Then, 36 persons were selected through convenience sampling method as the sample and were randomly assigned into one experimental and one control group (each group, 18 persons). After administering pretest to both experimental and control groups by Social Adjustment Questionnaire (Bell, 1961) and Quality of life Scale (World Health Organization, 1996), the experimental group received 8 weekly sessions of forgiveness-based counseling training. Finally, posttest was administered by the same measures to both groups. The results of multivariate analysis of covariance showed that forgiveness-based counseling had a significant effect on quality of life (P≤0.05). Also, the training had a significant effect on improving womens’s adjustment (P≤0.01). The results of the study may be used to improve women’s adjustment and quality of life.

References:

Braithwaite, S.R; Selby, E.A; & Fincham, F.D. (2011). Forgiveness and relationship satisfaction: mediating mechanisms. Journal of Family Psychology, 25(4): 551-559.
Burrell, N; Allen, M; Gayle, B.M; & Preiss, R.W. (2014). Managing interpersonal conflict: advances through meta analysis. Routledge Press.
Chan, D.W. (2013). Subjective well-being of Hong Kong Chinese teachers: the contribution of gratitude, forgiveness and the orientations to happiness, Teaching and Teacher Education, 32: 22-30.
Decaporale, L.N; Steffen, A.M; Marwit, S; & Meuser, T.M. (2013). Extension of Enright forgiveness inventory to middle-aged and older wives. Journal of Religion, Spirituality and Aging, 25(4): 344-357.
Enright, R.D. & Fitzbons, R.P. (2000). Forgiveness, an Empricial Guide for Resolving Anger and Restoring Hope, American Psychological Association.
Enright, R.D. (2002). Intervention studies on forgiveness: A metanalysis, Journal of Counseling and Development, 84, 12-79.
Fairclough, D.L. )2012(. Design and analysis of quality of life studies in clinical trial. CRC press.
Faircloth, WB; Schermerhorn, A.C; Mitchell, P.M; Cummings, J.S; & Cummings Em. (2011). Testing the long term efficacy of a prevention program for improving marital conflict in community families. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 32(4): 189-197.
Fincham, F., Beach, S. & Davila, J. (2004). Forgiveness and conflict resolution inmarriage. Journal of Family Psychology, 18, 72-81.
Gordon, K.C. & Baucam, D.H. (2003). Forgiveness and marriage: Preliminary support for a measure based on a model of recovery from a marital betrayal, The American Journal of Family Therapy, 31, 179-199.
Hargrave, T. )2012). Families and forgiveness: healing wounds in the intergener. Routledge press
Hill, E. (2001). Undrestanding forgiveness as discovery: implications for marital and family therapy. contemporary Family Therapy,23,4.
Kalantarkoushesh, SM; & Hassan, SA. (2010). Function of life meaning and marital communication among Iranian spouses in University Putra Malaysia. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 30(1): 1646-1649.
Kouros, C.D. & Cummings, M. (2011). Transactional relations between marital functioning and depresiive symptoms. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 18(1): 128-138.
Lambert, N; Fincham, F.D; Dewall, N.C; Pond, R; & Beach, S.R. (2013). Shifting toward cooperative tendencies and forgiveness: how partner focused prayer transforms motivation. Personal Relationships, 20(1): 184-197.
Mc Cullough, M; & Root, L.M. (2005). Forgiveness as change. In: E.L. Worthington Jr., Editor, Handbook of forgiveness, Brunner-Routledge, New York, pp. 207–226.
Skevington, S.M. (1999). Measuring quality of life in Britain: introducing the WHOQOL-100.47:449-59.
Taniguchi, S.T; Freeman, P.A; Taylor, S; & Malcarne, B. (2006). A study of married couples’ perceptions of marital satisfaction in outdoor recreation. Journal of Experiential Education, 28(3):253-256.
Walker, S. (2012). Freedom through forgiveness: the power of forgiveness can change your life. Sandy Walker Press.
Webb, J.R; Hirsch, J.K; Visser, P.L. & Brewer, KG. (2013). Forgiveness and health: assessing the mediating effect of health behavior, social support and interpersonal functioning. The Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied, 147(5): 391-414.
Webb, J.R; Hirsh, J.K. & Toussain, L. (2011). Forgiveness and alcohol problems: a review of the literature and a call for intervention based research. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 29(3): 245-273.
Worthington, E.L; Johnson, E; Hook, JN; & Aten JD. (2013). Evidence based practices for Christian counseling and psychotherapy. Intervarsity Press.
Worthington, E.L. (2005). Handbook of forgiveness. New York: Brunner
Zuccurini, D; Johnson, S.M; Dalgleish, T.L; & Makinen, J.A. (2012). forgiveness and reconciliation in emotionally focused therapy for couples: the client change and therapist intervention. Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 39(2): 148-162.