“Thank You, Sorry, Love”(TSL) Therapy With North Korean Refugee Women: A Pilot Study

Year Published:

Abstract

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of The “Thank You, Sorry, Love” (TSL) family therapy program in potentially improving the marital relationships and health of North Korean refugee women. Methods: The participants included 12 married North Korean female refugees in their 20s to 40s. Using a blinded assignment, six received the TSL family therapy program and six did not receive any treatment. Pretests (just before the program), posttests (just after termination of the program), and follow-up tests (1 month after termination of the program) were conducted. Results: The program participants experienced a statistically significant decrease in marital violence and an increase in their total antioxidant activity levels. Conclusions: TSL family therapy has the potential to contribute to improving the lives of traumatized North Korean refugee women. Larger scale replication studies involving random assignment would be a useful next step in evaluating the TSL program.

Citation

Relevant Evidence Summaries

The evidence was reviewed and included in the following summaries: 

What works to prevent and respond to intimate partner violence among refugees?

A variety of interventions may be effective in preventing or responding to intimate partner violence (IPV) among refugees. Strong evidence supports the effectiveness of IPV prevention and response interventions that: consider the unique contexts of refugees and immigrants, engage with community members, and are tailored according to participants’ lived experiences, needs, and abilities. There is…

About this study

AGE: Adults

DIRECTION OF EVIDENCE: Positive impact

FULL TEXT AVAILABILITY: Free

HOST COUNTRY: Korea, Rep.

HOST COUNTRY INCOME: High

INTERVENTION DURATION: 8-14 sessions

INTERVENTION: Family therapy

OUTCOME AREA: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

REGION OF ORIGIN OF PARTICIPANT(S): Asia – East

STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE: Suggestive

TYPE OF STUDY: Suggestive evidence

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2016

More STUDIES

A Systematic Review on the Impact of Trauma-Informed Education Programs on Academic and Academic-Related Functioning for Students Who Have Experienced Childhood Adversity

The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the existing literature regarding trauma-informed education programs and their impact on academic and academic-related outcomes. The articles included for review (n=15) contained data on trauma-informed education programs implemented in preschool, primary/elementary, and high school settings. Academic and academic-related outcomes reported included attendance, disciplinary…

Buffering the effects of childhood trauma within the school setting: A systematic review of trauma-informed and trauma-responsive interventions among trauma-affected youth

Exposure to trauma during childhood is highly prevalent. This review seeks to evaluate the current state of the literature in regard to trauma-informed care within the school setting. A number of models have been put forth to describe broad trauma-informed approaches integrated within school systems, which incorporate trauma sensitive care and practices within the broader…

A Scoping Review of School-Based Efforts to Support Students Who Have Experienced Trauma

The current review sought to describe the published literature relative to addressing trauma in schools. Through a systematic review of peer-reviewed publications as well as gray literature, we identified a total of 91 publications that were coded for study rigor as well as a number of intervention characteristics. Publications included in the review mentioned a…