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Posttraumatic Growth in Sex Offenders

Authors :
Jessie Dezutter
Siebrecht Vanhooren
Mia Leijssen
Source :
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. 61:171-190
Publication Year :
2016
Publisher :
SAGE Publications, 2016.

Abstract

In recent qualitative studies, posttraumatic growth has been highlighted as a possible sign of change in how offenders relate to their basic existential needs. In this article, we present results of a pilot study with a mixed-method design on posttraumatic growth and psychological stress in a sample of sexual offenders ( n = 30) in ongoing therapy. We performed univariate analyses and subsequent hierarchical analyses, and the results affirmed our hypothesis that posttraumatic growth is negatively associated with psychological stress. We used phenomenological analysis to identify themes in the participants' reflections on posttraumatic growth. We found that prison experiences forced the participants to change. Prisoners experience emotional support from others during incarceration as crucial to positive change. Taking responsibility for the crime helped them engage in the therapy more fully and resulted in more posttraumatic growth. ispartof: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology vol:61 issue:2 pages:171-190 ispartof: location:United States status: published

Details

ISSN :
15526933 and 0306624X
Volume :
61
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....2104f4bcff89ee232a11a7a3c572fc17
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624x15590834