Impact Of Mindfulness Based Intervention On The Mental Health & Emotion Regulation In Domestic Violence Survivors

Abstract

Aim of the study: Domestic violence is considered as a prevalent mental and physical health hazard and social problem irrespective of nationality, race and ethnicity. Irrespective of legal, medical and financial aids provided by the government it is crucial to provide them with aids to cope with mental health problems and improve their health, relations and work efficiency. The present study is aimed to develop a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) to address the mental health problems faced by domestic violence survivors. Second aim is to assess the effectiveness of this intervention on mental health, emotion regulation of the survivors.

Research Methods: The Ex-post Facto experimental study was conducted in district Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh, India. Women survivors of domestic violence (n=60) were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling. Survivors were divided into experimental (n=30) and control group (n=30). A tailormade six-week long mindfulness-based training has been developed for the survivors after analysing their major problems.

Results: The post training analysis has been performed using non-parametric Wilcoxon Sign-rank test. There is significant increase in mindfulness scores in experimental group, along with significant reductions in maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and in emotional distress.

Original value: In connection to previous researches MBIs have been effective to cater the emotional distress, emotional regulatory problems in domestic violence survivors. It may be applicable as a governmental or private sector program for holistic empowerment and enhancing work efficiency of abuse survivors.