Divorce and separation : group interventions that attempt to heal the pain
Date
1995
Authors
Pickard, Jody John Alexander
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Abstract
This study examined the effects of a group intervention on the lives of adults recently experiencing separation or divorce. Forty-three adults participated in one of two treatment groups offered at the Divorce Lifeline, a divorce counselling agency located in Victoria, British Columbia. Eighteen men and women participated in the regular group program provided by the agency. The remaining twenty-five individuals were given the added opportunity to complete self-esteem exercises throughout the duration of the eight week program. A control group was established by enlisting he participation of ten individuals from the community. The control group members had been managing the rigours of divorce or separation without any treatment intervention. All clients completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Scale, the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, and the Personal Orientation Inventory. These tests were administered at the beginning and end of the eight-week study and measured depression, anxiety, time competence, self-esteem and locus of control. No significant differences were found on any of the variables across the three groups. However, post-hoc analysis revealed that participating members of the Self-Esteem Group (SEG) (ie. those who had completed at least four self-esteem exercises), made significant improvements on locus of control, time competence, and anxiety. The percentage of improvement across all dependent variables was greatest for the Self-Esteem Group (SEG), followed by the Regular Divorce Lifeline Group (RDLG), followed by the Control Group (CG).