Journal of Education and Psychology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether: (1) after group intervention, there were significant differences between the non-treatment control group and the experiment group of sex offenders in any of the following domains: cognition, emotion, denial, and interpersonal relationship; (2) there were any changes in the group climate or therapeutic factors during the different phases of group intervention.

In this study, a five-month group therapy program, mainly focusing on relapse prevention, was held by various therapists for sex offenders in the prison system and in the community treatment programs. The research sample included 94 sex offenders in the experimental group, and 91 sex offenders in the control group. In addition to the demographic data, other data were collected from five measurements, including: Static-99, Attitudes toward Sex, Emotion Evaluation questionnaire, Group climate questionnaire, and Yalom’s therapeutic factors measurement. The data was analyzed by the MANCOVA, ANCOVA and paired t-test. The results indicated: First, there were significant changes in the emotion domain after group intervention for the experimental group. Second, compared with high and low risk groups of sex offenders, the apparent change was primary seen in the middle risk group. Third, the group climate and the therapeutic factors, in particular engagement and conflict, were changed in different phases of group therapy. Moreover, as time passed, group engagement showed a continuous increase. In general, this study provides some support for the present practices in group therapy and also points to possible areas of improvement. With training and support, therapists can become more effective agents of change for the sex offender.

_{[Chinese Version | Index | Journal of Education and Psychology | Other Journals | Subscription form | Enquiry ]}

Mail any comments and suggestions to hkier-journal@cuhk.edu.hk .