Comparison of Fear of Compassion, Experiential Avoidance and Forgiveness in Girl Victims of Sexual Maltreatment and without Sexual Maltreatment in Childhood

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Assistant Professor., Department of Psychology, Ardakan University, Ardakan, Iran. l.shameli@ardakan.ac.ir. (Corresponding Author)

Abstract

The study aimed to compare girls who were victims of childhood sexual maltreatment with girls without a history of childhood sexual maltreatment in terms of fear of compassion, experiential avoidance, and forgiveness. The method of this research was descriptive causal-comparative. The sample consisted of 232 girl students of the Salman Farsi University of Kazerun who were selected in an available sampling and by sending the questionnaire link to the social channels of the students of the university in line with the virtual education condition of the Coronavirus pandemic. In this way, 116 girl students with a history of childhood sexual maltreatment, with an age range of 18 to 40 years and the exclusion criteria of a history of addiction were as a victim group. Together with 116 girl students who had no history of childhood sexual maltreatment and were matched with the first group in terms of age and level of education, they completed the Fear of Compassion Scales (FCS), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), and Inter-Personal Forgiveness Inventory (IFI). Data analysis was performed using multivariate analysis of variance in SPSS-26 software. Findings showed that there was a significant difference between victims of sexual maltreatment and the group without a history of it in terms of fear of compassion, experiential avoidance, and forgiveness. Results for psychologists to hold training courses and interventions for reducing fear of compassion, experiential avoidance, and promoting forgiveness in these girls be useful.
 
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Fear of Compassion, Experiential Avoidance, Forgiveness, Sexual Maltreatment, Girls.
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‌Introduction
Childhood maltreatment is a general issue with serious consequences for people’s lives. Sexual maltreatment Unlike physical maltreatment, which has an obvious symbolism, it often remains a hidden secret between the abused (child) and the abuser. Studies have shown that victims of sexual abuse show less compassion than those without a history of abuse (Miron, & et al. 2016). Children who have been maltreated as children develop active inner models of themselves as unlovable beings, worried about being rejected by others, and believing that compassion is a sign of weakness. Hence, receiving compassion from oneself or others targets a threatening and frightening response that victims have a limited capacity for self-regulation. This conditional response from fear of kindness to oneself or others is called fear of compassion (Gilbert, 2014).
 
Methodology
The present study was a descriptive causal-comparative study. The statistical population included all students of the Salman Farsi University of Kazerun. The study sample consisted of 232 girl students who were selected in an available sampling by sending a questionnaire link to the social channels related students; Initially, 116 girl students met the inclusion criteria to declare a history of child sexual maltreatment and also agreed with all 5 items related to the sexual maltreatment subscale of the Child Abuse Self-Reporting Scale (CASRS) and the age range of 18 to 40 years and the exclusion criteria for a history of drug addiction were considered as the victim group, along with 116 other girl students with no history of sexual maltreatment and They did not in all 5 items of the sexual maltreatment subscale of the child abuse self-report scale, they obtained a score of zero and were matched with the first group in terms of age and level of education, They competed the Fear of Compassion Scales (FCS), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), and Inter-Personal Forgiveness Inventory (IFI). Data analysis was performed using multivariate analysis of variance in SPSS-26 software.
 
Findings
The results showed that girls with a history of childhood sexual maltreatment had higher scores on fear of compassion, fear of self-compassion, fear of receiving compassion for others, experiential avoidance, and lower scores on forgiveness than girls without a history of sexual maltreatment during childhood.
 
Result
Overall, the current study confirms little previous research conducted abroad on the negative and long-term psychological consequences of experiencing childhood sexual maltreatment in Iranian girls. The results show that the impact of such bitter experiences is such that young girls, for years, suffer from fear of compassion for themselves, for those around them, and even for receiving compassion from others, and perhaps if no intervention is made, the possibility It is also affecting their quality of married life. Also, choosing an inconsistent strategy of experiential avoidance and little use of interpersonal forgiveness will exacerbate the above consequences. Therefore, the present study doubles the need for education and intervention programs to reduce the negative effects of childhood sexual maltreatment experienced in the early stages of child development and before the formation and persistence of psychological trauma.

Keywords

References

 
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Women's Studies Sociological and Psychological
Volume 20, Issue 3 - Serial Number 72
November 2022
Pages 166-189

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