Çocuk ve Ergenlere Yönelik Affetme Müdahaleleri: Sistematik Gözden Geçirme
Esra AsıcıForgiveness Interventions for Children and Adolescents: Systematic Review
Esra AsıcıIn current study, it was aimed to systematically review studies examining the effectiveness of forgiveness interventions for children and adolescents.
Method
This study was a systematic review. The literature review was conducted for 2010-2019 years, in the databases of Wiley Online Library, Taylor and Francis, Springer Link, Scopus, Science Direct, Sage Journals, EBSCOhost and TR Index, between November 2018 and March 2019. The terms of “forgiveness intervention”, “forgiveness group”, “forgiveness therapy”, “forgiveness education” and “forgiveness program” were used for the search. The following selection criteria were identified: (a) studies involving forgiveness group intervention for children and adolescents, (b) studies involving information about the content of intervention programs, (c) studies showing the effects of applied programs by using statistical data. The exclusion criteria were as follows: (a) studies not writing in Turkish or English, (b) studies with only an abstract, (c) studies not using group intervention, (d) review studies, and (e) descriptive studies. A total of 529 research articles were reached and 6 articles have been selected for inclusion within the scope of the study.
Results
In terms of research group and study design, obtained results are following: Park, et al. (2013) conducted the study with female adolescents (N = 48, Mage = 15.79). This study was based on 3 (pre-test, post-test, follow up test) x 3 (experimental, control, and placebo group) mixed design. Enright, et al. (2014) conducted the study with 8th grade students (N = 132, Mage = 13.48). This study was based on 3 (experimental group) x 2 (pre-test, post-test) mixed design. Taysi and Vural (2016) carried out their study with 4th grade students (N = 122, Mage = 10.00). Their study was based on 3 (pre-test, post-test, follow up test) x 2 (experimental and control group) mixed design. In the study of Vassilopoulos, et.al (2018), the participants were 6th grade students (N = 42, Mage = 11.14). This study was based on mixed design including qualitative and quantitative methods. Quantitative dimension was based on 2 (pre-test and post-test) x 2 (experimental and control group) mixed design. Freedman (2018) conducted the study with high school students (N = 21, Mage = 17.3). Research design was mixed design including qualitative and quantitative methods. Quantitative dimension was based on 2 (pre- and post-test) x 2 (experimental and control group) mixed design. Finally, Rahman, et al. (2018) conducted the study with female early adolescents (N = 8, age range: 11-12). Research design was 3 (pre-test, post-test, follow up test) x 2 (experimental and control group) mixed design.
When the studies examined in terms of features of applied programs, following results were obtained. Park et al. (2013) applied “Forgiveness Program for Aggressive Victims”. Enright et al. (2014) applied a class guidance program based on process model. Program focuses importance of forgiveness, aims to gain forgiveness understanding and decrease anger. Taysi and Vural (2016) applied a class guidance program based on process model. Program is “Joyful Forgiveness” for 9-11 age children. Vassilopoulos et al. (2018) applied a class guidance program. Program includes recognition and expression of emotions, relations among emotions, thoughts and behaviors, value of love, forgiveness, developing an act plan for applying forgiveness. Freedman (2018) applied a small group guidance program based on process model. Program includes offence, anger, commitment to forgive, reframing, empathy, compassion and absorption of pain. Rahman et al. (2018) applied forgiveness therapy based on process model. The first 16 sessions were applied as individual therapy; the latter 16 sessions were applied as group therapy.
When the studies examined in terms of results, following results were obtained. In the study of Park et al. (2013), after intervention forgiveness, empathy and grades increased, anger, hostile attribution, aggression and delinquency decreased in experimental group. In the study of Enright et al. (2014); after intervention, forgiveness, and willingness to forgive increased, and prejudice decreased in all groups. In the study of Taysi and Vural (2016), forgiveness and hope scores of experimental group increased at post-test. Anger scores of experimental group increased at follow up test. In the study of Vassilopoulos et al. (2018), at post-test, forgiveness and life satisfaction increased, anger decreased in favor of experimental group. In the study of Freedman (2018), a significant difference in favor of experimental group was found in terms of forgiveness, anxiety, depression and hope; however, there wasn’t significant difference between groups in terms of self-esteem. In the study of Rahman et al. (2018), after intervention, forgiveness increased and anger decreased in experimental group.
Discussion
According to obtained results, forgiveness group interventions for children and adolescents are effective on enhancing of information and skills about forgiveness and development of positive attitudes towards forgiveness. Besides, forgiveness interventions help children and adolescents to cope anger, to decrease depression and to increase hope, and so positively affect mental health.