J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs.  2014 Jun;23(2):70-81.

A Qualitative Study on Forgiveness Experience by Wives of Alcohol Abusers

• Kim HK
• Lee EJ

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was done to describe the forgiveness experience following participation in forgiveness therapy of wives of men who abuse alcohol.
METHODS
A qualitative research method was used to describe the lived experiences of the participants in forgiveness therapy. Sixteen wives of alcoholic men were purposefully sampled from two alcohol counseling centers located in South Korea. Forgiveness therapy consisted of 120-minutes sessions once weekly. The data were collected from four groups. Conversations in forgiveness therapy were recorded and dictated. Data were analyzed using the Fullilove's problem-oriented analysis method.
RESULTS
The experience of wives of alcohol abusing husbands can be described as "Resistant," "Self-understanding," "Understanding her spouse," and "Growth" following forgiveness therapy.
CONCLUSION
The results indicate that wives of men who abuse alcohol experienced recovery through forgiveness. Therefore forgiveness therapy can be used as an useful nursing intervention for inner healing and growth.

Keyword

Alcoholics; Forgiveness; Qualitative research

MeSH Terms

Alcoholics
Counseling
Forgiveness*
Humans
Korea
Male
Nursing
Qualitative Research
Spouses*

Figure

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  Figure 1 Recovery process of forgiveness therapy.

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