Effectiveness of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Guilt, Emotion Regulation, and Attachment Style in Women Victims of Domestic Violence

Background: Domestic violence represents a pervasive global public health and human rights issue, inflicting profound physical, psychological, verbal, economic, sexual, and spiritual harm upon women. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) in reducing guilt, improving emotion regulation, and modifying insecure (anxious and avoidant) attachment styles in women survivors of domestic violence. Materials & Methods: This quasi-experimental study employed a pre-test/post-test design with a control group. The statistical population comprised all women victims of domestic violence referred to the Ahvaz Welfare Center in 2024. A convenience sample of 33 participants was selected based on inclusion criteria and randomly assigned to groups. The experimental group (n=16) received 8 ninety-minute sessions of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, while the control group (n=17) received no intervention. Data were collected using the Guilt Inventory, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised. Data analysis was performed using analysis of covariance in SPSS version 27. Results: The findings showed that trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy significantly reduced feelings of guilt (F=443.33, P<0.001), enhanced emotion regulation abilities (F=130.14, P<0.001), and effectively modified anxious (F=633.98, P<0.001) and avoidant (F=239.39, P<0.001) attachment styles in women victims of domestic violence. Conclusion: This study provides robust evidence for the efficacy of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy as a crucial intervention for improving mental health and fostering secure attachment in women affected by domestic violence. These results underscore the importance of integrating trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy into therapeutic protocols for this vulnerable population, offering a pathway toward enhanced psychological well-being and healthier interpersonal relationships.