Effects of Physical Exercise Versus Group Therapy on Self-esteem Among Domestic Violence Victims

Physical Exercise and Self-esteem: a Randomized Controlled Trial in Domestic Violence Victims

The current study is a randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of 6 weeks of physical exercise training versus group therapy on self-esteem as well as on the various subdomains of physical self-esteem among women who have experienced domestic violence within the last two months at the time of data collection

The present study design includes three arms (two intervention arms): Physical Exercise (Group A), Counseling/Support Group (Group B), and No Intervention (Control, Group C). Random allocation to each group was done in a 1:1:1 ratio at the end of an initial telephone interview by one of the authors. A permutated block design with a block size of three was used. For each participant in Groups A and B, the assigned intervention was started the week following the initial interview, and lasted 6 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• having experienced domestic violence at some time in the past 2 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• not being physically active on a regular basis (less than 20 min of moderate-vigorous physical activity per day during the last year)
• absence of medical contraindication to exercise