Emotion-focused Approach Research Articles

Coping strategies of internally displaced persons and the host community in a region of armed conflict: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundConflict leads to the displacement of people, making it more difficult for them to cope with increasing stress. In war-affected regions, people use different strategies to cope with their stress. This study examines the coping strategies of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and those in host communities in war zones. MethodsPeople living in the IDP camp and host communities in Maiduguri, Nigeria were recruited using a convenient sampling strategy. A 28-item Hausa version of the Brief COPE Scale wasused for data collection. Data were analyzed using linear regression and presented as unstandardized beta (B) and standard error (SE). ResultsA total of 562 participants were recruited (IDPs, n = 281; and the host communities, n = 281). Problem- and emotion-focused coping strategies were identified as the most common approaches used in host communities; however, dysfunctional strategies were morecommon among the IDPs. Age (younger or older adulthood) was identified as a predictor forthe use of emotion-, problem-, and dysfunctional-focused coping strategies. ConclusionHost communities were more likely to use a problem-and emotion-focused approach to coping, while IDPs were more likely to use dysfunctional strategies. Location and demographic factors (being single, aged 18–29years, >50 years and older) also influenced coping.

Evaluating the effectiveness of a 6-week hybrid mindfulness-based intervention in reducing the stress among caregivers of patients with dementia during COVID-19 pandemic: protocol of a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundMindfulness-based intervention (MBI), an emotion-focused approach, has been shown promising and sustainable effects on enhancing the well-being of caregivers of patients with dementia (PWD). However, the conventional MBI was quite demanding, had high rates of attrition and inconsistent long-term effect. The social distancing measures introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic also restricted face-to-face psychosocial intervention. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a 6-week hybrid MBI in caregivers of PWD over a 6-month follow up.MethodsThis is a single-blinded, parallel-group randomized controlled trial (RCT). Eligible participants from three local nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) will be randomly divided into intervention groups and control groups in a ratio of 1:1. The participants in the intervention group will receive 6 weekly 90-min group-based sessions delivered through a face-to-face and online approach. The participants in the control group will receive brief education on dementia care with the same group size, duration, and frequency as the sessions in the intervention group. Immediately after the intervention and at the 6-month follow-up, caring stress and other outcomes will be assessed. Besides, a focus group interview will be conducted to identify the strengths, limitations, and therapeutic components of the intervention from their perspectives. For quantitative data, intention-to-treat analysis and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) will be used. For qualitative data, content analysis will be used.DiscussionThis proposed hybrid model of MBI has several advantages, such as lower duration, longer follow-up period and easier access by family caregivers. Also, physiological indicators (e.g., heart rate viability and neuropsychiatric symptoms) will be measured in this study to show the body change after MBI. The quantitative and qualitative data of this research can also benefit the development of online or hybrid MBI for caregivers of PWD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these strengths, it does have practical challenges and limitations. However, this proposed intervention has the potential to benefit not only the participants, but also the researcher as well as public health providers.Trial registration: NCT05242614. Registered on 2022-02-16, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05242614

„Valaki megmondaná, hogyan kell felkészülni a legrosszabbra?” A Covid-járvány okozta testi-lelki állapotok pasztorálpszichológiai reflexiója

"„Could Anyone Explain How to Prepare Man for the Worst?” – Pastoral-Psychological Reflection on Physical and Mental Conditions Caused by the COVID-19. This study provides a theological reflection on suffering by identifying various conditions caused by the COVID-19 and post-COVID syndrome. A distinction is to be made between fear and symptoms on the one hand and anxiety and suffering on the other. Fear and symptoms potentially cause anxiety, and suffering thus creates existentially defined states wherein our faith and spirituality are highly significant. Different approaches are adopted in this paper: the problem-focused and emotion-focused approach, as explained by Lazarus and Folkman, and the religious coping methods and styles of Kenneth I. Pargament. The collaborative coping style (researched by Pargament) is not just the most effective approach, but it is one of the potential ways of inner spiritual growing. In order to find answers regarding suffering and anxiety, we have to meet Jesus and follow him on his descending path (repentance, humility, obedience – via purgativa), make reconciliation (via iluminativa), and receive the new creation (via unitiva). Congregations can search these ways together so that faith communities might gain strength and find possibilities in pastoral and spiritual care during the time of COVID-19. Keywords: stress, anxiety, illness, suffering, coping, theology of suffering "

Applying the Dynamic Dual Pathway Model of Approach Coping to Collective Action Among Advantaged Group Allies and Disadvantaged Group Members.

We apply the dynamic dual pathway model of approach coping to understanding the predictors of future collective action among a sample of advantaged group allies and disadvantaged group members who were attending a protest. We propose that problem-focused approach coping (i.e., group efficacy beliefs) would be a stronger predictor of future collective action among disadvantaged compared to advantaged group members, and emotion-focused approach coping (i.e., group-based anger) would be a stronger predictor of future collective action among advantaged compared to disadvantaged group members. Data was collected from LGBTIQ+ and heterosexual people (N = 189) protesting as part of the 2019 Christopher Street Day Parade in Cologne, Germany. We found that increased group efficacy predicted intentions to engage in future collective action for the rights of sexual minorities among LGBTIQ+ but not heterosexual participants. Increased group-based anger was a predictor of future collective action intentions regardless of which group the participants belonged to. Our findings extend the dynamic dual pathway model by applying it to a sample of advantaged group allies and disadvantaged group members attending a protest using a multiple perspectives approach.

"Early Negative Memories, Humiliation and Defectiveness/Shame Schema: An Emotion-Focused Therapeutic Approach to Social Anxiety"

"Introduction: Recently emotion-focused therapy has developed as an additional approach and considers the role of primary emotions such as shame in the formation and persistence of SAD. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the theoretical model of emotion-focused therapy for SAD by considering the role of early negative memories, humiliation and the mediating role of self-defectiveness/shame schema in the etiology of SAD. Method: This cross-sectional descriptive study recruited a sample of 105 students, 44 males (41.9%) 61 females (58.1%), diagnosed with SAD by psychologists from Shahid Beheshti University Counseling Center. Participants ranging in age from 18 to 34 with a mean age of 23.1 years (SD=3.5) completed the Social Phobia Inventory, Humiliation Inventory, Early Life Experiences Scale, Defectiveness /Shame Schema subscale of the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form. Results: Data were analyzed using SmartPLS-SEM. The results showed that early childhood experiences and humiliation significantly predict SAD. Also, the indirect effects of the independent variables through defectiveness/shame schema on SAD were significant. Conclusions: Consistent with the assumptions of the emotion-focused approach to SAD, these results confirm that early life experiences and humiliation with the development of shame schemes play an important role in the etiology of SAD and must be considered for therapy to be effective. The results of this study suggest that the components of the emotion-focused model can have therapeutic value as targets of intervention in randomized clinical trials."

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Sexual Self-Efficacy in Women with Breast Cancer

Background: Breast cancer is a disease that women with it are at risk of experiencing disease-related turmoil and pressures.Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy on sexual self-efficacy in women with breast cancer. Methods: The present study was semi-experimental with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up with a control group. The statistical population of this study was all married women with breast cancer referred to Milad hospital in 2020. Forty-five patients who met the criteria for entering the study were selected as the final sample size by sampling method in non-random and available sampling and were placed in two experimental groups of one control group (each group 15 people). At this stage, all three groups responded to the sexual self-efficacy questionnaire as a pre-test, then the two experimental groups received cognitive-behavioral and emotion-focused therapy sessions and the control group waited. After completing the course, all three groups responded to the questionnaire listed as a post-test. After 4 months, the follow-up test was performed again. Data were analyzed by covariance analysis test and paired comparison of measurement stages by SPSS.22.Results: The results showed that both emotion-focused therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy were effective on sexual self-efficacy (p <0.001), but there was no difference between the two treatments on sexual self-efficacy. Conclusion: The results of this study showed the effect of emotion-focused approach therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy as supportive methods in increasing sexual self-efficacy in women with breast cancer.

Using an emotion‐focused approach in preventing psychological birth trauma

This discussion article considers how an emotion-focused approach can be adopted to prevent psychological birth trauma and to optimize perinatal wellbeing for women and their families. Emotion-focused approaches have a different perspective when compared to other classic psychotherapy methods. This approach may help women to resolve the negative impacts of psychological birth trauma; to prevent posttraumatic stress disorder onset; to lead to better results for mother and baby well-being; and may be cost effective. Mental health nurses/midwives should receive education about emotion-focused approaches in addition to gaining competence in basic counseling skills so that they can utilize these approaches with women.

Helping Clients Victimized by Intimate Partners Through Stages of Change: An Emotion-Focused Approach

Intimate partner violence results in extensive negative mental health outcomes including depression, posttraumatic stress, and anxiety. Moreover, victimized partners who experience cumulative episodes of abuse over time can also present severe affect dysregulation and interpersonal difficulties. Preliminary evidence for existing psychological treatments shows that these are globally effective on a symptomatic level and in reducing revictimization. Nonetheless, systematic reviews show high attrition rates and suggest that future interventions need to address a wider range of emotional difficulties and contextual challenges according to readiness for change. In this article, our goal is to contribute to the development of more responsive interventions that are tailored to individual experiences of violence with a focus on personal values, self-determination, and autonomy, as well as promoting adaptive coping and safety. More specifically, we describe how the intervention principles and experiential tasks of a neohumanistic model, emotion-focused therapy, can be integrated into a mediating readiness for change framework to help victimized clients receiving psychological treatment. We address four main problematic content-affective states that may hinder the therapeutic progress (interrupting fear of change, decisional pain, overwhelming safety concerns, and long-term interpersonal injuries), their association with stages of change, and how they can be resolved in-session using emotion-focused principles and interventions. The implications for future research are also discussed.

Emotional awareness and expression training improves irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial.

Current clinical guidelines identify several psychological treatments for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS patients, however, have elevated trauma, life stress, relationship conflicts, and emotional avoidance, which few therapies directly target. We tested the effects of emotional awareness and expression training (EAET) compared to an evidence-based comparison condition-relaxation training-and a waitlist control condition. Adults with IBS (N=106; 80% female, Mean age=36years) were randomized to EAET, relaxation training, or waitlist control. Both EAET and relaxation training were administered in three, weekly, 50-minute, individual sessions. All patients completed the IBS Symptom Severity Scale (primary outcome), IBS Quality of Life, and Brief Symptom Inventory (anxiety, depressive, and hostility symptoms) at pretreatment and at 2weeks posttreatment and 10weeks follow-up (primary endpoint). Compared to waitlist controls, EAET, but not relaxation training, significantly reduced IBS symptom severity at 10-week follow-up. Both EAET and relaxation training improved quality of life at follow-up. Finally, EAET did not reduce psychological symptoms, whereas relaxation training reduced depressive symptoms at follow-up (and anxiety symptoms at posttreatment). Brief emotional awareness and expression training that targeted trauma and emotional conflicts reduced somatic symptoms and improved quality of life in patients with IBS. This emotion-focused approach may be considered an additional treatment option for IBS, although research should compare EAET to a full cognitive-behavioral protocol and determine which patients are best suited for each approach. Registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01886027).

Case formulation in emotion-focused therapy

ABSTRACTCase formulation in EFT is a relatively new concept and useful tool that helps therapists to both conceptualize cases as well as follow markers across therapy in order to initiate tasks that promote change in emotional processing. The paper summarizes the emotion-focused approach to case formulation and illustrates it in appellation to a case. First, the guiding principles of case formulation are explicated. Next, the three stages, unfolding the narrative and observing emotional processing style, cocreating a focus and identifying the core emotion, and process formulation, are outlined. The 14 steps of case formulation are nested within the 3 stages. Each of the steps is specified in application to the case of Sophie.

Emotion Focused Therapy in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Clinical Case

An important number of studies show that emotion-focused therapy is effective in the treatment of patients with posttraumatic stress disorder. The paper describes the experiential emotion-focused psychotherapeutic intervention in a case of posttraumatic stress disorder in complicated grief. First we present a brief description of the main treatment approach for posttraumatic stress disorder in emotion-focused therapy, completed by the case conceptualization model in process-experiential psychotherapy. Then we will present the main research findings, both process and outcome studies, which demonstrated, during the past decades, the efficiency of the emotion-focused approach in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder and of panic disorder. The case is a 25 years old man experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder and panic attacks with prolonged suffering after the loss of his mother. The case is considered from the process-experiential perspective, starting with the clinical evaluation, followed by the case conceptualization and then the treatment plan.

Raised by a Schizophrenic Mother: Application of Emotion Focused Therapy in a Clinical Case with Mild Depression

An important number of studies show that children raised by parents who suffer from severe psychiatric disorders have higher risk of poor mental health and bad social outcomes. The paper describes the experiential emotion-focused psychotherapeutic intervention in a case of depression. First we present a brief description of the main treatment approach for depression in emotion-focused therapy, completed by the case conceptualization model in process-experiential psychotherapy. Then we will present the main research findings, both process and outcome studies, which demonstrated, during the past decades, the efficiency of the emotion-focused approach in the treatment of depression. The clinical case is a young woman, aged 34, mother of two children, who suffers for mild depression. As child, she was raised by a mother diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. The lack of secure attachment with her mother during childhood is reflected in difficulties with intimacy and trust in her adult relationships, which causes her present depression.

An attribution and emotion-focused approach to conflict’s impact on decision-making effectiveness

We review the current literature on affective and cognitive conflicts in relation to the effectiveness of strategic decision making. In particular, we draw attention to inconsistent findings regard...

An emotion-focused early intervention for children with emerging conduct problems.

This paper evaluates the real-world effectiveness of an emotion-focused, multi-systemic early intervention combining an emotion socialization parenting program with a child and school socio-emotional intervention for children with emerging conduct problems. Schools in lower socioeconomic areas of Victoria, Australia were randomized into intervention or wait-list control. Children in the first 4years of elementary school were screened for behavior problems and those in the top 8% of severity were invited to participate in the intervention. The study sample consisted of 204 primary caregivers and their children (Mage = 7.05, SD = 1.06; 74% boys). Data were collected at baseline and 10months later using parent and teacher reports and direct child assessment. Measures of parent emotion socialization, family emotion expressiveness, and children's emotion competence, social competence and behavior were administered. Results showed intervention parents but not controls became less emotionally dismissive and increased in empathy, and children showed better emotion understanding and behavior compared to control children. These outcomes lend support for an emotion-focused approach to early intervention in a real-world context for children with conduct problems.

Working Implicitly in Couples Therapy: Improving Right Hemisphere Affect-Regulating Capabilities

Attachment theory, viewed through the lens of neurobiology, explains how infants learn, through unconscious, rapid, nonverbal interactions with caretaking adults, to successfully manage their own emotional energy. These neurological affect-regulating mechanisms formed in early childhood shape later-forming attachment relationships, including those of adult romantic dyads which depend, for intimacy and stability, on the same right-brain, nonverbal, modulating capacities. Psychoanalytic researchers have identified healing, implicit, unconscious psychobiological mechanisms, other than verbal insight, explanation, and interpretation, that can be learned remedially in couples therapy. This article examines an implicit, emotion-focused approach to couples work that brings unconscious affect center stage.

The Effectiveness of Instructing Emotion-focused Approach in Improving the Marital Satisfaction in Couples

Emotion-focused Treatment (EFT) is a short-term and structured approach in Couples Therapy which is based on clear and evident concepts of marital desperation, affections recognition, adulthood love, and emotional responses. According to this outlook, marital agitation is formed and continues by widespread states of negative affection and attachment damages, lack of concern toward needs and internal wishes, negative interactional prototypes, and unsuitable emotional experience. The present study has been conducted for the purpose of determining the effectiveness of employing emotion-focused approach in couple's marital satisfaction. The population of this study includes couples Family Counseling Center of Education District 5 Tehran who have been married at least for three and at most for six years. Forty people (20 couples) were chosen by simple randomization and were randomly divided into two groups (one as experimental and the other one as control group). The experimental group was exposed to emotion-focused Couples Therapy intervention for eight sessions with duration of each session being ninety minutes. Meanwhile, the control group was put on the waiting list. Both groups were evaluated again after eight weeks. T-test and analysis of covariance were used for the data analysis. The results of the study indicated that the emotion-focused intervention has been effective in increasing the indicators of marital satisfaction in couples. Also, the findings of the study revealed a significant difference between women and men in emotion-focused experimental group and those in the control group.

Exploring consent to randomized placebo‐controlled clinical trials in oncology

Randomized placebo-controlled trials are critical for advancing knowledge in oncology, yet little is known about optimal communication for informed consent. This study aimed to identify patient preferences for and satisfaction with three consultation styles (information-focused, emotion-focused and collaborative) in simulated discussions of four clinical trial concepts (randomization, placebo, tissue analysis and oncologists' recommendation). In total 75 Australian cancer patients and carers, or both, viewed videotaped simulated consultations with a doctor and patient discussing a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Their satisfaction and preferences for both consultation style and information were assessed. The patients' characteristics and decision-making preferences were also evaluated as potential predictors for consultation style preference. Participants preferred a collaborative consultation style when discussing randomization (74.6%), placebo (71.4%) and oncologist's recommendation (77%). However an emotion-focused consultation style was preferred when discussing tissue analysis (81%). The participants represented a highly information-seeking group, although most favoured collaborative or passive roles in treatment decision-making. Limited variables were identified that predict consultation style preference. While supporting the value of a collaborative approach to clinical trial communications, the study finding that tissue analysis requires a more emotion-focused approach highlights a new focus for trial communication and confirms the need for doctors to remain flexible in their consultation style.

Striving for balance: Coping with epilepsy in Iranian patients

Patients with epilepsy are subject to a wide range of distinctive psychosocial consequences, which can be more harmful than the seizures themselves and other medical difficulties accompanying them. This qualitative study was aimed at identifying coping strategies employed by 21 Iranian adults with epilepsy. The study participants were chosen by purposeful sampling from hospitals, neurologists’ clinics, rural health care facilities, and epilepsy associations. Data were collected through semistructured interviews. A qualitative content analysis method was used to analyze the gathered data. The analysis resulted in the emergence of six themes and seven subthemes: confronting the disease using religious sentiment, seeking support, fighting the disease, defending oneself against the disease, concealing the disease, and expressing emotions. The findings showed that the participants used an emotion-focused approach more often than a problem-focused approach as a coping strategy. The results will improve health care professionals’ knowledge of how Iranian patients cope with epilepsy and help them to design nursing care models to promote successful coping strategies for patients.

The Implicit Realm in Couples Therapy: Improving Right Hemisphere Affect-Regulating Capabilities

Attachment theory, viewed through the lens of neurobiology, explains how infants learn, through unconscious, rapid, non-verbal interactions with caretaking adults, to successfully manage their own emotional energy. These neurological affect-regulating mechanisms formed in early childhood shape later-forming attachment relationships, including those of adult romantic dyads which depend, for intimacy and stability, on the same right brain, nonverbal, modulating capacities. Psychoanalytic researchers have identified healing, implicit, unconscious psychobiological mechanisms, other than verbal insight, explanation and interpretation that can be learned remedially in couples’ therapy. This paper examines an implicit, emotion-focused approach to couples’ work that brings unconscious affect center stage.

Experimental evidence for a dual pathway model analysis of coping with the climate crisis

Two experiments examined the psychological power of fear and group efficacy beliefs to increase environmental action intentions against the climate crisis. Extending a dual pathway model of coping with collective disadvantage, results showed evidence for emotion-focused approach coping: Environmental action intentions were increased by individuals' manipulated fear of the negative future consequences of the climate crisis (Experiments 1–2). Additionally, results showed evidence for problem-focused approach coping: Individuals' measured (Experiment 1) and manipulated group efficacy beliefs (Experiment 2) increased environmental action intentions. The results thus suggest that the dual pathway model can be successfully applied to a psychological analysis of emotion- and problem-focused approach coping with the climate crisis. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these results.