Evaluating the Effectiveness of Forgiveness Therapy with Abused Children of Pakistan

Objectives: The present study evaluated the effectiveness of forgiveness therapy on abused children. Method: The sample consisted of 8 abused girls with the age of 11-12 years old and were living in Child Protection and... [ view full abstract ]

Objectives: The present study evaluated the effectiveness of forgiveness therapy on abused children.

Method: The sample consisted of 8 abused girls with the age of 11-12 years old and were living in Child Protection and Welfare Bureau Lahore, Pakistan. A randomized Experimental and Control group design was used. The participants were screened after which they were matched with their experimental counterpart. They were then randomly assigned to the experimental and control group. Intervention was conducted in groups twice a week. The length of the intervention was for 3 months. The process model of forgiveness was used in the intervention.

Results: The post intervention mean scores showed that the participants had increase scores on forgiveness scale and hope scale. They also experienced less anger after the intervention was over.

Conclusion: The results of this study are encouraging as forgiveness is psychologically healthy however in future this intervention can be used as treatment for acid burn victims, marital conflicts, parental maltreatment, Bullying, children and adults with psychopathologies etc.