Stress Management and Health Promotion in a Sample of Women With Intimate Partner Violence: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of a stress management program regarding mitigating psychological repercussions in women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV). This randomized controlled trial took place from January 2015 to June 2015, in Attica, Greece. A total of 60 women were randomly assigned into an intervention and control group, with the intervention group ( n = 30) receiving stress management and a lifestyle program. Self-reported measures were used to assess stress, depression and anxiety levels, daily routine, severity of abuse, self-esteem, health locus of control, and self-efficacy. Statistical analysis showed a significant improvement in measures of stress, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and self-efficacy in the intervention group. Daily routine and physical exercise also improved. Based on these findings, we strongly encourage health professionals to advise women experiencing current and past IPV to adopt stress management techniques to their daily program, as a further means of empowerment.

A Systematic Review of Intimate Partner Violence Interventions: State of the Field and Implications for Practitioners

“…The majority of studies were conducted within the United States ( n = 39) and the international studies varied widely with samples from Canada, China, Greece, Peru, South Africa, Israel, Spain, Sweden, and Korea (Crespo & Arinero, 2010; Cripe et al, 2010; Grip et al, 2011; S. Kim & Kim, 2001; Kokka et al, 2016; Michalopoulou, Tzamalouka, Chrousos, & Darviri, 2015; Miller, Howell, & Graham-Bermann, 2014; Peled et al, 2010; Pronyk et al, 2006; Tiwari et al, 2005, 2010).…”

“…Ten of the 19 clinically focused interventions were delivered individually (Franzblau et al, 2008; Iverson et al, 2009; Johnson & Zlotnick, 2006; Johnson et al, 2011; Kubany et al, 2003, 2004; Michalopoulou et al, 2015; Reed & Enright, 2006; Saftlas et al, 2014; Zlotnick et al, 2011), 7 were delivered in a group format (Cort et al, 2014; Crespo & Arinero, 2010; Iverson et al, 2011; Kaslow et al, 2010; S. Kim & Kim, 2001; Kokka et al, 2016; M. Sullivan et al, 2004), and 2 were a group/individual intervention (Gilbert et al, 2006; Mittal et al, 2017).…”

Developing an integrated intervention to address intimate partner violence and psychological distress in Congolese refugee women in Tanzania

“…Previous efforts to integrate survivor-focused IPV prevention and mental health treatment interventions have primarily been implemented and evaluated in high-income countries and have focused largely on addressing IPV and co-occurring substance use and post-traumatic stress symptoms or have largely focused on PTSD and depression [30–37]. These integrated interventions combined elements of safety planning and advocacy, psychoeducation, mindfulness techniques, and cognitive-behavioral therapy delivered through group and/or individual therapy sessions administered by trained healthcare professionals [30–37]. In refugee settings, IPV interventions typically fall within the mandate of protection programming, while mental health services are generally provided by healthcare agencies, with these interventions often provided in isolation.…”

Informing Human Trafficking Clinical Care Through Two Systematic Reviews on Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence

“…Constantino, Kim, & Crane, 2005), the Health, Education on Safety, and Legal Support and Resources in IPV Participant Preferred (HELPP) intervention (R. E. Constantino et al, 2015), exposure therapy (Crespo, & Arinero, 2010), empowerment sessions (Kaslow et al, 2010; Tiwari et al, 2005, 2010; Wong et al, 2013; Zhang et al, 2013), physician counseling (Hegarty et al, 2013), stress management programs (Kokka et al, 2016), forgiveness therapy (Reed, & Enright, 2006), and interpersonal psychotherapy (Zlotnick, Capezza, & Parker, 2011).…”