In the early 1970s, Researches found that spouse abuse has affected women in various ways. Many studies related to the problem have been developed, especially in western countries. General trends and development of services in Korea has been influen...
In the early 1970s, Researches found that spouse abuse has affected women in various ways. Many studies related to the problem have been developed, especially in western countries. General trends and development of services in Korea has been influenced by American models. Yet, there has been little professional research regarding direct intervention programs for people who are involved in spouse abuse situation in Korea. A few programs in Korea have provided for women in chronic abuse situation. These programs have focused on victims under a patriarchal system. This kind of intervention overlooks two important factors: spouse abuse occurs from an interaction process between couples, and most women actually want to stay the marriage after resolution of the abuse problem. Therefore, this study was undertaken for the purpose of developing a group program for couples in Korea. After a survey on western treatment programs, mostly from U.S. and Canada, the Domestic Conflict Containment program developed in 1984 by Peter H. Neidig was selected and the program was modified to Korean couples. The program was implemented from the middle of September, 1995 to the end of November, 1995. The sample size for the study was 11. Among the 11 samples, 4 were paired 2 couples and the rest of the 7 were females who participated without their spouses. All of the group members were voluntary participants.
The purpose of this study was first to define the concept of spouse abuse and introduce the theoritical background regarding the causes of spouse abuse. The study hypothesis, the frame of study and scales are introduces at Chapter 3. Chapter 4 included with the description of the program including program content, process and evaluation of the participant’s changed process by narrative summary. Finally, statistical datas for the effectiveness of the program was processed by SPSS/PC+, using statistical methods such as mean frequency, t-test. The findings are as follow,
1. Changes in program participants for the variables of conflict tactic behaviors; All conflict tactic behaviors had significantly improved after program. The largest improvement was in the variable measurely violent behavior, and verbal aggression showed the second largest improvement. The last behavior change was reasoning and these were not significant. This study proceeded to compare the change of females who participated with their spouses and the females who participated alone. The resulting findings were the group of the females who participated with their spouses to the females who participated without their spouse.
2. Changes in conflict tactic behaviors; The Participants evaluated change of their spouses who were not participated to the program. The data showed the changes were not significant. This result clearly shows that effectiveness of the program without both spouses participating can not eliminate violence in married couples.
3. Changes in the depression factor; The factor did not significantly changed. A detailed evaluation was done to trace the reason. The effort showed that all couples participated significaly improved from the level fo borderline climical depression to normal using the Beck depression scales, yet depression of the females who participated alone increased after the completion of program.
4. Change in the self-esteem factor: This factor was improved significanly after the program. The female participants who participated with tieir spouses imporved much more than tge females who participated alone.
These results reveal that program participation as couple is very imprtant factor for successful resulution of abuse issue.
The findings of this study support a number of important implications. Further development and implement of similar programs with the social work field and as public policy ti help deter spouse abuse problem in Korea.
This study verified that designed programs can be in developing the social awearness and usefull in reducing violece between the couple in Korea. Development of further studies on people who are resistant to help the effectiveness of this study.
Next, The results show clearly that participation as couple is one of the most important factors for the effectiveness of the program. These results revealed that an integrated intervention plan can not be made without working with couple at the same time. Golden and Walker argue that we can nor expect desirable effectiveness unless working with both partners at the same time, restructuring their relationship.
Finally, this group treatment for couples along with other types of professional programs for individuals, children and family as whole should be developed. It is strongly argue that multi-disciplinary systems in Korea should be established for assessment, intervention and treatment for victims of spouse abuse.