The Effect of the Pennsylvania Resilience Intervention on Hope and Marital Burnout in the Wives of Incarcerated Individuals with Substance Dependence

Psychological problems in women whose spouses are incarcerated can have significant adverse impacts on their lives. This study aimed to examine the effect of the Pennsylvania Resilience Intervention on hope and marital burnout in the wives of incarcerated individuals with substance dependence. The research employed a quasi-experimental method with a pre-test–post-test control group design. The study population consisted of all women whose husbands were incarcerated due to substance dependence and who were supported by the Prisoners’ Support Association in Ardakan during the 2023–2024 academic year. In total, 34 individuals were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two groups of 17 participants each: an experimental group and a control group. The research instruments included the Hope Scale (Snyder, 1991) and the Marital Burnout Questionnaire (Pines, 1996). The experimental group received the Pennsylvania Resilience Program across ten 120-minute sessions, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Statistical computations were conducted using SPSS version 26. The results showed no significant differences between the two groups regarding demographic variables such as age, education, and employment status (p > .05). The analysis of covariance revealed that the Pennsylvania Resilience Intervention had a significant effect on hope (F = 28.149, p < .001) and marital burnout (F = 6.418, p < .017) in the wives of incarcerated individuals with substance dependence. Enhancing resilience is essential for improving life challenges and psychological well-being components. Therefore, the Pennsylvania Resilience Intervention can be considered a promising approach to increasing hope and reducing marital burnout among this population.