NCJ Number
164439
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1996) Pages: 219-235
Date Published
1996
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Thirty-two male child molesters who had molested male or female children under age 14 and were not members of their families took part in a study examining the effectiveness of a treatment component that focused on enhancing intimacy skills and reducing loneliness in sex offenders.
Abstract
The offenders were all incarcerated in a medium-security prison in Canada. None had received any treatment prior to entering the Bath Institution Sex Offenders' Program, a cognitive-behavioral program. The intimacy component was part of an overall treatment package offered as a group therapy program. Topics in the intimacy component include general information, sexual relations, jealousy, the development of relationship skills, and dealing with loneliness. Participants were tested individually both before and immediately after the treatment component, using Miller's Social Intimacy Scale and the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale. Results revealed highly significant improvements in both intimacy and reduction of loneliness. Findings suggest the potential benefits of this treatment technique and the desirability of further research and development. Tables and 40 references (Author abstract modified)