The effectiveness of mindfulness training on psychological distress and pessimism in girls with previous child abuse experience

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness training on reducing psychological distress and pessimism in girls who have abuse experience in childhood.Methods: The study was a semi-experimental and a pretest-posttest method with a control group. The present study population included all senior high school girls at the ۸th district of Tehran with the child abuse experience. A total of ۳۰ participants were selected using available sampling method and randomly assigned in experimental and control groups. Among the girls who participated and volunteered, those who had a high harassment score (scores above ۷۵), were selected as the sample group. Kessler Life Orientation and Psychological Distress Questionnaires were performed as a pre-test and the experimental group received mindfulness treatment in ۸ sessions ۶۰ minutes each, then the questionnaires mentioned as post-test in both groups performed. Data were analyzed by analysis of covariance.Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between psychological distress and pessimism in the experimental group and the control group.Conclusion: The results also showed the effect of mindfulness training as one of the supportive methods in reducing psychological distress and pessimism of girls with child abuse experience

Keywords:

mindfulness , psychological distress , Pessimism , child abuse , counseling