The Effectiveness of Imago Therapy on Resilience and Difficulty in Emotion Regulation in Women Victims of Domestic Violence

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Imago Therapy on resilience and difficulties in emotion regulation, including its sub-components, among women who are victims of domestic violence.

Methods and Materials: The study employed a semi-experimental pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with a control group. Thirty women victims of domestic violence were selected using purposive sampling from counseling centers in Isfahan, Iran. They were randomly assigned to experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups. The experimental group received 10 weekly 90-minute sessions of Imago Therapy, while the control group was placed on a waiting list. The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) were administered at three time points (pre-test, post-test, and follow-up). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests.

Findings: The inferential analysis using repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant effects of the intervention on both resilience and difficulties in emotion regulation, as well as all its sub-components. Bonferroni post-hoc tests confirmed that these improvements from pre-test to post-test were maintained at follow-up.

Conclusion: Imago Therapy was found to be effective in enhancing resilience and improving emotional regulation among women victims of domestic violence. The therapy offers a promising intervention for addressing the emotional and psychological needs of this vulnerable population, fostering long-term emotional stability and well-being.