| The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of a forgiveness intervention with alcohol and other drug abusers who have been hurt in interpersonal relationships. The forgiveness intervention of this study is based on a process model developed by Enright and the Human Development Study Group. It has been shown to be effective in improving psychological health. The psychological profiles of alcohol and drug abusers indicate, among other variables, higher anger, anxiety, and depression, and lower self-esteem than the general population. Forgiveness intervention has been shown to an effective strategy to improve these psychological characteristics.This study is a first step to test the effect of a forgiveness intervention with alcohol and drug abusers. In this study, the researcher examined the relative merits of Enright's forgiveness intervention and an alternative treatment (12-steps to quitting) intervention for adults in a residential drug rehabilitation center. The researcher recruited 7 experimental and 7 alternative treatment participants, who voluntarily participated in this study. The participants were administrated these six measures at pretest, posttest, and follow-up test.The experimental group, compared to the alternative treatment group had significantly greater gains in forgiveness, and self-esteem, and greater decreases in depression, anger, anxiety, and vulnerability to drug use from pretest to posttest. Furthermore, the experimental group, compared to the alternative treatment group had significantly greater gains in forgiveness, and self-esteem, and greater decreases in depression, anxiety, and vulnerability to drug use from pretest to a 4-month follow-up. Both groups significantly decreased in anger from pretest to follow-up. The level of forgiveness was significantly negatively correlated with depression, anger, anxiety, and vulnerability to drug use, and positively correlated with self-esteem at posttest. In other words, the more a person forgave, the less depression, anger, anxiety, and vulnerability to drug use were, and more self-esteem he or she had.This study contributes to research on the effects of forgiveness intervention toward alcohol and other drug abusers. It has the potential to impact the science and practice of psychotherapy, especially therapy with alcohol and other drug abusers. |
