Positive Psychotherapy Interventions: Catalyzing Subjective Vitality and Life Satisfaction in Women Experiencing Domestic Violence

Background: Domestic violence profoundly compromises the mental well-being and life satisfaction of women, underscoring the critical need for effective therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of positive psychotherapy in boosting subjective vitality and overall life satisfaction among women who have experienced domestic violence.
Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest control group. A convenience sample comprising 30 women who had experienced domestic violence and were seeking assistance at family counseling centers in Ahvaz, Iran, was recruited during 2024. The study participants were selected based on established inclusion criteria and subsequently allocated randomly to either the experimental or control group. The experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of positive psychotherapy, while the control group did not receive any intervention throughout the study period. All participants completed the Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) during both the pre-intervention and postintervention assessment phases. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with SPSS version 27 to assess the treatment effects.
Results: The study results indicated that positive psychotherapy led to a statistically significant enhancement in both subjective vitality and life satisfaction at the post-intervention assessment. In the positive psychotherapy group, the mean subjective vitality score rose from 15.62±5.08 at pre-test to 26.35±7.16 at post-test. Similarly, life satisfaction in this group increased from a mean of 14.41±3.72 at pre-test to 26.55±6.15 at post-test (P<0.001). Conversely, the control group exhibited only a minor increase in subjective vitality, from 14.26±4.91 at pre-test to 15.83±5.34 at post-test, and a slight decrease in life satisfaction, from 13.11±2.27 at pre-test to 12.06±2.94 at post-test. Post-test comparisons between the groups revealed significant differences in both subjective vitality and life satisfaction (P<0.001).
Conclusions: The present study confirmed that positive psychotherapy helps women experiencing domestic violence feel more energetic and satisfied with their lives. This highlights the importance of making positive psychotherapy available as a valuable tool in programs designed to support these women.