Attachment Style’s Impact on Perceptions of Group Therapy for Sexual Violence Survivors

Abstract

The purpose of this master's thesis is to further the knowledge base on the perceived effectiveness of group therapy treatment for female survivors of sexual violence—by identifying key therapeutic factors within the group setting. In particular, this study examined the effect of participant attachment style on perceived most helpful therapeutic factors. Participants were randomly assigned to listen to group therapy vignettes for a skills group, a process group, or a waitlist (control) condition without vignettes. Participants completed the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised Scale (Fraley, Waller, & Brennan, 2000) and the Therapeutic Factors Inventory-Short Form (TFI-S; Joyce, MacNair-Semands, Tasca, & Ogrodniczuk, 2011) to measure which therapeutic factors were perceived to be the most helpful to the hypothetical survivor in the vignettes, “Polly.” Results showed no significant main effect of group type on perceived most helpful therapeutic factors. There was also no significant main effect of attachment style on preferred group type nor TFI-S scores. Though results were nonsignificant, important considerations for future research regarding group therapy, attachment style, and female survivors of sexual violence are included.