The Effect of Gestalt‑Based Counseling on the Level of Self‑Esteemand Intimate Partner Violence against Pregnant Women: A Randomized Control Trial

Parinaz Noormohamadi, Atefeh Ahmadi, Yunes Jahani, Katayoun Alidousti

Abstract


Background: Violence against women is a health problem that poses an additional threat to themother and fetus during pregnancy. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigatethe effect of Gestalt counseling on self‑esteem and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in pregnantwomen.

Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was carried out on 60 pregnant women whowere referred to health‑care centers in Kerman, Iran, in 2018. Simple random sampling wasperformed through lottery. The intervention group (n = 30) received counseling in eight weeklysessions of 45 min using the Gestalt approach. The control group was placed on a waiting list.There was no blinding during the study. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire,the Domestic Violence Questionnaire designed by Mohseni Tabrizi, and the Rosenberg Self‑EsteemScale before and after counseling.

Results: Differences between the groups in terms of meanscore of violence (intervention: t34 = 1.81, p = 0.08; control: t34 = 1.41, p = 0.16) and self‑esteem(intervention: t34 = 1.87, p = 0.07; control: t34 = 1, p = 0.32) in the pretest and posttest werenot significant. Analysis of covariance results showed a significant difference between theintervention 21.79 (10.62) and control groups 21.79 (10.62) in terms of mean (SD) violence(F1,67 = 1.97, p = 0.049) after the counseling sessions. It also showed a significant difference betweenthe intervention 74.47 (14.61) and control groups 66.28 (15.14) in terms of self‑esteem after theintervention (F1,67 = 5.02, p = 0.01).

Conclusions: Considering the impact of the Gestalt approachon IPV and self‑esteem, it is recommended that health‑care providers be educated about using theGestalt approach and apply it in communication with women.



Keywords


Gestalt therapy, intimate partner violence, Iran, pregnancy

Full Text:

PDF

References


Henriksen IO, Ranoyen I, Indredavik MS, Stenseng F. The role of self‑esteem in the development of psychiatric problems: A three‑year prospective study in a clinical sample of adolescents. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2017;11:68.

Edwards KM. Intimate partner violence and the rural–urban–suburban divide: Myth or reality? A critical review of the literature. Trauma Violence Abuse 2014;16:359‑73.

Kargar Jahromi M, Jamali S, Rahmanian Koshkaki A, Javadpour S. Prevalence and risk factors of domestic violence against women by their husbands in Iran. Glob J Health Sci 2015;8:175‑83.

Balali Meybodi F, Hassani M. Prevalence of violence against women by their partners in Kerman. IJPCP 2009;15:300‑7. Available from: http://ijpcp.iums.ac.ir/article-1-829-en.html. [Last accessed 2020 May 08].

Jamshidimanesh M, Soleymani M, Ebrahimi E, Hosseini F. Domestic violence against pregnant women in Iran. J Family Reprod Health 2013;7:7‑10.[persian].

Dolatian M, Gharache M, Ahmadi MA, Shams J, Alavimajd H. Relationship between partner abuse during pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes. Med J Hormozgan Univ 2010;13:260‑9. [Persian]

Najafi F, Abouzari‑Gazafroodi K, Jafarzadeh‑Kenarsari F, Rahnama P, Gholami Chaboki B. Relationship between attendance at childbirth preparation classes and fear of childbirth and type of delivery. J Hayat 2016;21:30‑40. [Persian].

Park J, Kim YH, Park SJ, Suh S, Lee HJ. The relationship between self‑esteem and overall health behaviors in Korean adolescents. Health Psychol Behav Med 2016;4:175‑85. doi: 10.1080/21642850.2016.1246971.

Bala N. The impact of domestic violence on Children’s self‑esteem. Psychology of Violence 2010;1:159‑70. doi: 10.1037/rnDV0000008.

Mwakanyamale, A.A., Yizhen, Y. Psychological maltreatment and its relationship with self-esteem and psychological stress among adolescents in Tanzania: a community based, crosssectional study. BMC Psychiatry 19, 176 (2019). https://doi. org/10.1186/s12888-019-2139-y.

Asadi S, Mohammad‑Alizadeh‑Charandabi S, Yavarikia P, Mirghafourvand M. Socio‑demographic predictors of intimate partner violence in a population sample of Iranian women. Shiraz E‑Med J 2018;20:e69735.

Mohseni Tabrizi A, Kaldi A, Javadianzadeh M. The study of domestic violence in marrid women addmitted to Yazd legal medicine organization and welfare organization. Tolooebehdasht 2013;11:11‑24. Available from: http://tbj.ssu. ac.ir/article‑1‑321‑en.html. [Last accessed 2018 Apr 03].

Masoumi SZ, Babahyidarian F, Sangestani G, Roshanaei G. Assessment of different types of domestic violence against pregnant mothers exposed to violence in Sahneh city. Pajouhan Sci J 2019;17:24‑30. Available from: http://psj.umsha.ac.ir/ article‑1‑457‑fa..html. [Last accessed 2020 Apr 21].

Parhizkar A. Study of the relationship between domestic violence and pregnancy outcomes in mothers referring to Sanandaj comprehensive health centers in 2015‑2016. Sci J Nurs Midwifery Paramed Fac 2017;2:33‑44. Available from: http://sjnmp.muk. ac.ir/article‑1‑116‑en.html. [Last accessed 2020 Apr 16].

https://wwnorton.com/college/psych/psychsci/media/rosenberg. htm. [Last accessed 2018 Feb 07].

Taghdisi MH, Latifi M, Afkari ME, Dastoorpour M, Estebsari F, Jamalzadeh F. The impact of educational intervention to increase self efficacy and awareness for the prevention of domestic violence against women. Iran J Health Educ Health Promot 2015;3:32‑8.

Naeim M, Sharif AR. The efficacy of life skills training on marital adjustment of women for the prevention of domestic violence. Shenakht J Psychol Psychiatry 2016;3:21‑32.[Persian].

Mohtashami J, Yaghmaei F, Jafari A, Alavi Majd H, Ahmadi A. Related factors to coping with domestic violence in women who refer to forensic medicine centers in Tehran. J Health Policy Manag 2014;3:54‑64. Available from: http://jhpm.ir/ article‑1‑133‑en..html. [Last accessed 2020 March 25].

Noughani F, Mohtashami J. Effect of education on prevention of domestic violence against women. Iran J Psychiatry 2011;6:80‑3.

Sodani M, Nikrou T, Hosseinpour M. The effect of group geestalt therapy on enhancement of life expectancy and self‑esteem in retired women. Couns Res Dev 2013;45:35‑51.

Saadati H, Lashani L. Effectiveness of gestalt therapy on self‑efficacy of divorced women. Procedia ‑Social Behav Sci 2013;84:1171‑4. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.06.721.

Hussain S, Anila A, Hussain M, Hussain Z. A randomized controlled intervention trial: Effect of counselling on treatment adherence and self‑esteem of women patients receiving tuberculosis treatment. Open Med J 2016;3:27‑33.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.