Abstract

MATUD, Pilar; FORTES, Demelza  and  MEDINA, Lorena. Efficacy of an individual psychological treatment for battered women. Psychosocial Intervention [online]. 2014, vol.23, n.3, pp.199-207. ISSN 2173-4712.  https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psi.2014.06.001.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of an individual psychological treatment for battered women. The sample comprises a total of 128 women battered by their partners, users of public services, aged between 18 and 67 years (M = 38.49, SD = 9.20), and with different marital status and educational and occupational levels. Ninety-six of them participated in the protocol-centered intervention program assessed in the present study, whereas 32 were not involved and were considered as control group. Results show a statistically significant reduction of posttraumatic, depressive, and anxiety symptoms as well as of self-insecurity in women who received psychological intervention. In addition, whereas the latter experienced an increase of self-esteem and self-confidence, women who did not participate in the program did not observe such changes. Moreover, these changes remained constant in the follow-up. The improvement of women's mental health was also significant at the clinical level. We thus conclude that these findings prove the efficacy of this psychological intervention program.

Keywords : Psychological treatment; Efficacy; Battered women; Posttraumatic stress; Depression.

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