Abstract

Background: the purpose of the present study is to examine the effectiveness of psycho-social empowerment based on choice theory on reducing depression and aggression of women with husbands in prison.  

Methods: The present research is a quasi- experimental with pre-test and post-test method with control group. The statistical population consists of women with their husbands in prison who suffer from depression and conferred to the base of social health of Astanmehr Mashhad. 20 patients had been selected by available sampling and replaced in two groups of experimental and Control. For collecting the required data، the Beck Depression and Buss and Perry Aggression questionnaires have been used. At the beginning of the treatment they answered to the questionnaires and after 8 sessions of individual participation، psycho-social empowerment based on the choice theory (the approach of the reality of the treatment) the scales had been completed again for experimental group.

Findings: The results showed that the based on choice theory Psycho- Social empowerment could reduce the level of depression (F (2&17) =16/1, P&lsaquo. /.5) ، general aggression and physical aggression of experimental group in comparison with control group (T (18) = -2/87, P&lsaquo0/05). Furthermore, the results demonstrate that treatment had a significant effect in reducing physical aggression of individuals (T (18) = -2/532, P&lsaquo0/05).

Conclusions: Based on choice theory psycho- social empowerment could reduce their depression and aggression by encouraging people to choose more effective and take more responsibility.