Using Relationship-Focused Group Therapy to Target Insecure Attachment as a Barrier to Sex Offense-Specific Treatment: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Given the high rates of insecure attachment and adverse childhood experiences in men who sexually abuse, this pilot study examined whether an eight-month course of relationship-focused group therapy could make a positive impact on insecure attachment as a barrier to treatment engagement. Fifty subjects were identified by treatment teams as failing to make progress and/or engage meaningfully in a facility-based, sex offense-specific treatment program for civilly committed men who sexually offend. The subjects were assigned to five simultaneous new "motivational" groups that applied interpersonal-focused group therapy that emphasized interpersonal relating rather than criminogenic offense behavior. Participants showed significant improvement on the Secure Attachment subscale and three Secure items of the Relationship Styles Questionnaire (RSQ), suggesting that group-centered group promoted positive gains in interpersonal attachment, particularly in terms of reduced loneliness, reduced fear of acceptance, and greater comfort in depending on others. Participants assessed as having made good progress in the pilot treatment also showed significant improvement on a fourth Secure subscale item pertaining to greater ease with emotional closeness. Results further suggested that groups with better overall ratings of therapeutic climate using the Group Climate Questionnaire (GCQ) generally showed more movement toward secure attachment.

Changes in the Risk of Sexual Reoffending: The Role and Relevance of Perceived Self-Efficacy and Adult Attachment Styles in Correctional Treatment

“…With regard to the inconsistent findings of former researchers, future studies should also investigate as to whether or not it is actually appropriate to increase perceived self-efficacy and “normalize” attachment-related anxiety and avoidance (in the sense of bringing it to an average level) in order to enhance treatment motivation and commitment to finally achieving the treatment goals in forensic settings (Bandura, 2012; Bennett et al, 2011; Marshall et al, 2018; Smith et al, 2010; Vancouver & Purl, 2017). A recent pilot-study on 50 men convicted of sexual offenses found that relationship-focused group therapy can have a significant positive impact on insecure attachment as a barrier to engage in correctional treatment (Jennings et al, 2021). Furthermore, responsivity factors were found to have a cumulative effect: The more responsivity issues clients show, the less likely they are to benefit from treatment (Hubbard & Pealer, 2009; O’Brien & Daffern, 2016).…”

“…A meta-analysis involving three studies which compared attachment styles across different types of sexual offences found that men convicted of child sexual abuse were more anxious in their attachment style, while men convicted of rape were more avoidant (Ogilvie et al, 2014). Therefore, adult attachment styles should be considered more with regard to group treatment programmes, given that such groups often include members with various attachment styles, and therefore a range of potential attachment difficulties (Jennings et al, 2021;McKillop et al, 2016;Ogilvie et al, 2014).…”

“…As previous research emphasizes, the attachment patterns can vary greatly depending on the reference person (Asendorpf, 2018;Caron et al, 2012). Additionally, the clients' attachment styles not only influence the relationship to the therapist but also to the other members of the therapeutic group (Jennings et al, 2021;McKillop et al, 2016;Rom & Mikulincer, 2003;Sonkin & Dutton, 2003). Nevertheless, it is still open to question whether or not the use of the ECR-R is appropriate to capture the relationship to the therapist and other members of the therapeutic group in forensic settings.…”

“…Being avoidant or unable to trust others affects treatment engagement in a negative way, whereas being able to build a therapeutic relationship facilitates treatment engagement (Tetley et al, 2012). Especially in group therapies, which are a common treatment form in correctional facilities, the attachment style determines not only the relationship to the therapist but also to the other group members (Jennings et al, 2021; Sonkin & Dutton, 2003). The higher the attachment-related anxiety, the more negative the assessment of one’s own person; the higher the attachment-related avoidance, the more negative the assessment of the other participants (Rom & Mikulincer, 2003).…”