Effectiveness of Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) on Anger and Psychological Well-Being in Adolescent Girls with a History of Physical Abuse in Yazd, Iran: a quasi-experimental study

Background Physical abuse during adolescence can have major impacts on mental and emotional health, which can lead to increased anger and reduced psychological well-being. It is important to investigate effective therapeutic approaches, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), to increase the quality of life of these adolescents. Methods This study aimed to assess the efficacy of EMDR in reducing anger and improving psychological well-being in adolescent females with a background of physical abuse in Yazd, Iran. A total of 30 adolescent females with a history of physical abuse were chosen through convenience sampling and randomly divided into an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). The aggression questionnaire (AGQ) and Ryff's Psychological Well-being Scale (PWB) were used to gather the data. The analysis of the data was performed with SPSS software. Results EMDR significantly reduced anger and enhanced psychological well-being in the experimental group relative to the control group. These findings indicate the efficacy of EMDR as an effective therapy for adolescents who have experienced physical abuse. Conclusion The results of our study highlight the importance of addressing emotional trauma in vulnerable populations. The EMR can be a useful therapy for supporting people’s mental health and recovery from trauma. This study provides a foundation for developing targeted psychological interventions and can help mental health professionals design effective treatment programs.