Cognitive-Behavioral Group Treatment for Men Voluntarily Seeking Help for Violence towards Their Intimate Partners: The Impact of Treatment Components 4 - 7 Years after Therapy
Affiliation(s)
St. Olavs Hospital, Forensic Department Brøset, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway.
St. Olavs Hospital, Forensic Department Brøset, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway.
ABSTRACT
Background: Even though domestic violence is a major problem, only a few studies have examined the long term sustainability of treatment for men who voluntarily seek help to stop their violent behavior towards intimate partners. Women are exposed to a much greater degree of serious violence and sexual abuse compared to men. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify which elements of the treatment program batterers found most useful four to seven years after program completion. Design: The participants consisted of a sample of men who had gone through anger management therapy four to seven years previously. Data on violence were collected through self-report before and four to seven years after treatment, using a modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scales. Results: The decrease in physical violence was statistically significant: t (36) = 8.43, p < 0.001 with a large effect size (eta squared = 0.66). Psychological violence also decreased significantly: t (36) = 9.21, p < 0.001 with a large effect size (eta squared = 0.7). The results indicate that the most important anger management techniques were extensively applied in former patients of the anger management treatment program. In total, about two out of three patients still used the techniques after ending treatment four to seven years earlier.
Background: Even though domestic violence is a major problem, only a few studies have examined the long term sustainability of treatment for men who voluntarily seek help to stop their violent behavior towards intimate partners. Women are exposed to a much greater degree of serious violence and sexual abuse compared to men. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify which elements of the treatment program batterers found most useful four to seven years after program completion. Design: The participants consisted of a sample of men who had gone through anger management therapy four to seven years previously. Data on violence were collected through self-report before and four to seven years after treatment, using a modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scales. Results: The decrease in physical violence was statistically significant: t (36) = 8.43, p < 0.001 with a large effect size (eta squared = 0.66). Psychological violence also decreased significantly: t (36) = 9.21, p < 0.001 with a large effect size (eta squared = 0.7). The results indicate that the most important anger management techniques were extensively applied in former patients of the anger management treatment program. In total, about two out of three patients still used the techniques after ending treatment four to seven years earlier.
Cite this paper
Jarwson, S. , Berg Nesset, M. , Palmstierna, T. , Nottestad, J. and Søndenaa, E. (2015) Cognitive-Behavioral Group Treatment for Men Voluntarily Seeking Help for Violence towards Their Intimate Partners: The Impact of Treatment Components 4 - 7 Years after Therapy. Open Journal of Nursing, 5, 836-842. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2015.59088.
Jarwson, S. , Berg Nesset, M. , Palmstierna, T. , Nottestad, J. and Søndenaa, E. (2015) Cognitive-Behavioral Group Treatment for Men Voluntarily Seeking Help for Violence towards Their Intimate Partners: The Impact of Treatment Components 4 - 7 Years after Therapy. Open Journal of Nursing, 5, 836-842. doi: 10.4236/ojn.2015.59088.
References
[1] Gondolf, E.W. and Jones, A.S. (2001) The Program Effect of Batterer Programs in Three Cities. Violence and Victims, 16, 693-704. [2] Smedslund, G., et al. (2007) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Men Who Physically Abuse Their Female Partner. The Cochrane Library, JohnWiley & Sons, Ltd., Hoboken. [3] Beck, R. and Fernandez, E. (1998) Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of Anger: A Meta-Analysis. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 22, 63-74.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1018763902991 [4] Palmstierna, T., et al. (2012) Cognitive-Behavior Group Therapy for Men Voluntary Seeking Help for Intimate Partner Violence. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 66, 360-365.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/08039488.2012.665080 [5] Beck, A.T. (1999) Prisoners of Hate: The Cognitive Basis of Anger, Hostility, and Violence. Harper Collins Publishers, New York. [6] Haugan, G. and Jarwson, S. (2005) Kognitiv terapi ved vold og aggresjon [Cognitive Therapy of Violence and Aggression]. Tidsskrift for kognitiv terapi, 6, 1-10. [7] Jarwson, S. and Haugan, G. (2008) Violence and Anger: A Treatment Manual in Anger. In: Berge, T. and Repål, A., Eds., Håndbok i kognitiv terapi, Gyldendal Norsk forlag, Oslo, 349-378. [8] Straus, M.A. (1979) Measuring Intrafamily Conflict and Violence: The Conflict Tactics (CT) Scales. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 41, 75-88.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/351733 [9] Jarwson, S. (2010) Effekten av manualisert kognitiv gruppeterapi for menn som frivillig søker hjelp mot vold i nære relasjoner: Effekten av kognitiv gruppeterapi etter deltakelse i Sinnemestring Brøsetmodellen 4-7 år etter avsluttet terapi. [10] Daly, J.E., Power, T.G. and Gondolf, E.W. (2001) Predictors of Batterer Program Attendance. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 16, 971-991.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/088626001016010001 [11] Gerlock, A.A. (2001) A Profile of Who Completes and Who Drops Out of Domestic Violence Rehabilitation. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 22, 379-400.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01612840116997 [12] Dutton, D.G. and Corvo, K. (2006) Transforming a Flawed Policy: A Call to Revive Psychology and Science in Domestic Violence Research and Practice. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11, 457-483.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2006.01.007 [13] Beck, A.T. (1979) Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders. International Universities Press, New York. [14] Young, J.E., Klosko, J.S. and Weishaar, M.E. (2003) Schema Therapy: A Practitioner’s Guide. Guilford Press, New York.
[1] Gondolf, E.W. and Jones, A.S. (2001) The Program Effect of Batterer Programs in Three Cities. Violence and Victims, 16, 693-704. [2] Smedslund, G., et al. (2007) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Men Who Physically Abuse Their Female Partner. The Cochrane Library, JohnWiley & Sons, Ltd., Hoboken. [3] Beck, R. and Fernandez, E. (1998) Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in the Treatment of Anger: A Meta-Analysis. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 22, 63-74.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1018763902991 [4] Palmstierna, T., et al. (2012) Cognitive-Behavior Group Therapy for Men Voluntary Seeking Help for Intimate Partner Violence. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry, 66, 360-365.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/08039488.2012.665080 [5] Beck, A.T. (1999) Prisoners of Hate: The Cognitive Basis of Anger, Hostility, and Violence. Harper Collins Publishers, New York. [6] Haugan, G. and Jarwson, S. (2005) Kognitiv terapi ved vold og aggresjon [Cognitive Therapy of Violence and Aggression]. Tidsskrift for kognitiv terapi, 6, 1-10. [7] Jarwson, S. and Haugan, G. (2008) Violence and Anger: A Treatment Manual in Anger. In: Berge, T. and Repål, A., Eds., Håndbok i kognitiv terapi, Gyldendal Norsk forlag, Oslo, 349-378. [8] Straus, M.A. (1979) Measuring Intrafamily Conflict and Violence: The Conflict Tactics (CT) Scales. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 41, 75-88.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/351733 [9] Jarwson, S. (2010) Effekten av manualisert kognitiv gruppeterapi for menn som frivillig søker hjelp mot vold i nære relasjoner: Effekten av kognitiv gruppeterapi etter deltakelse i Sinnemestring Brøsetmodellen 4-7 år etter avsluttet terapi. [10] Daly, J.E., Power, T.G. and Gondolf, E.W. (2001) Predictors of Batterer Program Attendance. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 16, 971-991.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/088626001016010001 [11] Gerlock, A.A. (2001) A Profile of Who Completes and Who Drops Out of Domestic Violence Rehabilitation. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 22, 379-400.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01612840116997 [12] Dutton, D.G. and Corvo, K. (2006) Transforming a Flawed Policy: A Call to Revive Psychology and Science in Domestic Violence Research and Practice. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 11, 457-483.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2006.01.007 [13] Beck, A.T. (1979) Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders. International Universities Press, New York. [14] Young, J.E., Klosko, J.S. and Weishaar, M.E. (2003) Schema Therapy: A Practitioner’s Guide. Guilford Press, New York.