[The Effects of the Combined Biofeedback and Brief Emotion Regulation Nursing Intervention Based on the Gross Model for Sexually Abused Adolescents].

PURPOSE

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a combined biofeedback and brief emotion regulation (C-BABER) program for sexually abused adolescents.

METHODS

This study employed a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. The participants included 26 sexually abused adolescents from eight Sunflower Centers of South Korea-with 13 in the experimental group and 13 in the control group. The experimental group received four sessions of the individual C-BABER program, each lasting 60 minutes.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, sexually abused adolescents in the experimental group exhibited significant score differences in traumatic symptoms, including depression (Z = -2.24, = .025), dissociation (Z = -2.21, = .027), anxiety (Z = -2.02, = .044), and posttraumatic stress (Z = -2.01 = .045); and impulsivity, including positive urgency (Z = -3.35, = .001) and negative urgency (Z = -2.28, = .023). Additionally, the experimental group exhibited significant score differences in meta-mood, including emotional attention (Z = -2.45, = .014), emotional clarity (Z = -2.30, = .021), and emotional repair (Z = -2.28, = .022); and emotional regulation modes, including emotional suppression (Z = -2.65, = .008) and cognitive reappraisal (Z = -1.98, = .047). Regarding bio-attention, significant changes were identified in the experimental group for the bio-attention rate and attention maintenance time in the posttest compared to the pretest ( = .001).

CONCLUSION

The C-BABER program for sexually abused adolescents is effective in decreasing traumatic symptoms and impulsivity, and in improving meta-mood, emotional regulation mode, and bio-attention. Therefore, we recommend providing sexually abused adolescents the C-BABER program to help them regulate their emotions and effectively adapt to their lives.