Effects Of Positive And Group Psychotherapies On Domestic Violence Among Married Pentecostal Women In The Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Domestic violence is a deeply rooted social and psychological problem that cuts across cultures, religions, and social classes. In Nigeria, women remain the most vulnerable victims of domestic violence, with many suffering in silence due to cultural norms, financial dependence, and religious doctrines that discourage divorce or public disclosure of marital problems. Despite numerous pastoral interventions, domestic violence persists, underscoring the need for structured psychological interventions that address the emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components of abuse. This study, therefore, investigated the comparative effects of positive and group psychotherapies on domestic violence among married Pentecostal women in Ibadan Metropolis. It also examined whether locus of control and socio-economic status moderated the outcomes. The study was rooted on Social exchange Theory, while pretest-posttest quasi experimental design with a 3×3×2 factorial matrix was adopted. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used. The selected local government were then allocated into three groups for the study: Positive Psychotherapy (33), Group Psychotherapy (26), and a control group (15). The instruments used for data collection included the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale =.89, Socio-Economic Status scale =.73, locus of control Scale =.90 and intervention guide. Data analysis was conducted using ANCOVA and Bonferonn Pairwise Post-hoc analysis test at 0.05 level of significance. The results showed a significant main effect of treatments on domestic violence (F2; 63 = 74.025, p < 0.05, η 2 = 0.701), with both positive and group psychotherapies decrease domestic violence compared to the control group. The mean scores were 129.09 for Positive Psychotherapy, 141.53 for Group Psychotherapy, and 34.93 for the Control Group. However, there was no significant main effect of Socio-Economic Status and locus of control on domestic violence. Additionally, there were no significant interaction effects between treatments, Socio-Economic Status, and locus of control on domestic violence. The positive and group psychotherapies were effective in reducing domestic violence among Married Pentecostal women in Ibadan metropolis, but socio-economic status and locus of control do not have a significant impact. Counselling psychologist should adopt this intervention for the reduction of domestic violence of married Pentecostal women.

Gbemisola Omolabake Lai-folorunsho & Rotimi Adebayo Animashaun Lai-folorunsho Gbemisola Omolabake. Effects Of Positive And Group Psychotherapies On Domestic Violence Among Married Pentecostal Women In The Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria. Ibadan Journal of Educational Studies, 23(2), 105-119.