The effect of forgiveness intervention program on substance dependence

• Main Author: Sumbayak, Jaharianson Saraigh
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2003
• Subjects: Forgiveness; Operant behavior; Drug abuse; Substance abuse; Narcotic habit; Therapeutics; Suggestive; Counseling Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/931
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study looks into the effectiveness of Forgiveness Intervention Program (FIP) in reducing anger, depression, and in enhancing meaning in life and forgiveness of drug dependents. This is an outcome research which made use of pretest/posttest, and posttest/delayed post- test control group design. To gather data, the researcher used the following instruments: State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Purpose In Life (PIL), and Enright Forgiveness Inventory (EFI). The 30 males who participated in the study were randomly assigned to either the experimental or the control group. Twenty three participants stayed up to posttest and 21 up to delayed posttest. The treatment lasted for 12 meetings, twice a week with one and a half hour for each session, except for the first and last sessions. Statistical tools used were Two-Way Repeated Measures Design and ANCOVA with the pretest a covariance at .05 significant level. The results of the FIP group revealed that there was a significant difference between the pretest and posttest on the level of anger, depression, meaning in life and forgiveness. The ANCOVA revealed that there was a significant difference statistically between the FIP and the control groups in anger, depression, meaning in life, and forgiveness in favor of the FIP Group. On delayed posttest the results were stable across both groups, except for the depression of the FIP in favor of the delayed posttest. The significant changes mentioned above were reflected in the personal experiences of the subjects. Based on the findings of the study, the Forgiveness Intervention Program was effective in reducing anger and depression, and in enhancing meaning in life and forgiveness.