The present study evaluated the effectiveness of forgiveness therapy with abused early adolescent females in Pakistan. Eight female victims of child abuse between the ages of 11-12 years living in the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau in Lahore, Pakistan were randomly assigned into either an experimental or control group. The experimental group received forgiveness therapy twice a week for 4 months while the control group received treatment-as-usual for the span of 4 months. All participants were measured on the levels of forgiveness (Enright Forgiveness Inventory), anger (Anger Scale), and hope (Hope Scale) at pretest, posttest, and 1-year follow-up where each testing consisted of 4 consecutive assessments with a 1-week interval. At the 1-year follow-up, the experimental group, when compared with the control group, showed statistically higher levels of forgiveness and hope and a significantly lower level of anger. Findings in this study are promising, showing preliminary support of forgiveness therapy as a new treatment tool for early adolescent victims of abuse and in a culture in which forgiveness therapy never has been examined to date.

Despite the traumatic effects of acid violence on its victims, treatment options are very limited. The present study was aimed at examining the efficacy of a forgiveness intervention with female survivors of acid attack violence in Pakistan. Female acid attack victims in Pakistan were randomized to either a forgiveness group (n = 8) or a treatment‐as‐usual (TAU; n = 8) control group. The forgiveness group received twice‐a‐week forgiveness sessions for 4 months, whereas the TAU group either received typical psychological treatment sessions for acid attack victims or no treatment. All participants were assessed on their levels of forgiveness, anger, anxiety, depression, and hope four times prior to the 4‐month intervention period, twice after the intervention period, and once at the 1‐year follow‐up. Posttreatment, the forgiveness intervention group showed greater improvement in hope, anger, anxiety, and depression when compared with the TAU group. Upon further examinations, both groups improved on forgiveness from pretreatment to posttreatment, but the forgiveness group had a higher baseline. From pretreatment to the 12‐month follow‐up, the forgiveness group, when compared with the TAU group, showed greater improvement in all areas except for depression. This is the first study that examined the effects of a forgiveness intervention for acid attack victims in Pakistan. Results showing the improvement posttreatment as well as over a 1‐year period posttreatment are encouraging.

Lahore has undergone rapid urbanization in recent decades. Population growth has far exceeded carrying capacity of municipal infrastructure, causing stress. We conducted a survey to assess citizens' responses to urban annoyances and prevalence of depression, loss of self‐esteem, and loss of resilience. An 84‐item questionnaire was used to interview a sample of 370 respondents. Statistical analyses included correlations, ANOVA, factor analysis, and Multiple Regression Analysis. Results showed that respondents were disturbed by urban annoyances. Those disturbed were also depressed, had low self‐esteem, low resilience, and an external locus of control. Depression was strongly affected by education, population density, and household congestion. We concluded that a degraded urban environment has caused psychological stress among citizens as reflected in the prevalence of depression, loss of self‐esteem, and low resilience. There is an urgent need for strategic planning aimed at checking unbridled urban growth, improving civic services, and ensuring better mental health of citizens.

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Background Rape myths are marked for being false beliefs about sexual assault. With the problem being quite prevalent around the world, research has shown that numerous factors such as rape proclivity and perpetuation of rape myths are critical. The present study assesses the role of rape myths acceptance, rape victim empathy, and causal attributions towards rape victims as significantly predicting attitudes towards rape victims among the general population of Pakistan. Rape myths acceptance and causal attributions would significantly and positively predict negative attitudes towards rape victims. Method A cross-sectional research design was used for the study. The online survey questionnaire was filled by 573 participants including 275 males and 298 females who were selected through purposive sampling from the general population of Pakistan. The sample size was estimated using G*Power analysis with 95% confidence intervals. Data collection was done using Illinois rape myths, attitudes towards rape victim’s scale, rape victim empathy, and causal attributions scale were used. Data analysis was done using Pearson product-moment correlation, hierarchical regression, MANOVA, and mediation analysis via AMOS, all of which were executed using SPSS 21.0. Results The findings showed that higher levels of rape myths acceptance, low empathy towards rape victims, and victim blaming are significantly associated with negative attitudes towards rape victims. There were no gender differences among the participants. However, rape victim empathy significantly mediated the association between rape myths acceptance and rape victim empathy. It was also found that rape myths acceptance, rape victim empathy, and causal attributions significantly predicted attitudes towards rape victims. Another core finding was that there were no gender differences among participants with regard to rape myths acceptance, rape victim empathy, causal attributions, and attitudes towards rape victims. Conclusions Therefore, the findings contribute towards a better understanding of the rape myths in the general population of Pakistan and how the prevalence of such myths may contribute towards social, cultural, and legal problems of rape myths. The study also provides policy implications for a region where rape victims experience higher levels of blame and limited legal backing and support.