Comparing the effectiveness of schema-based and emotionally focused couple therapies on self-differentiation and marital disillusionment in couples in Mashhad
Social Determinants of Health,
Vol. 11 (2025),
1 January 2025
,
Page 1-13
https://doi.org/10.22037/sdh.v11i1.47409
Abstract
Background: Reducing self-differentiation and marital frustration in couples weakens the marital bond. The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of schema-based couple therapy (SBCT) and emotion-focused couple therapy (EFCT) on self-differentiation and marital frustration in couples.
Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental design involving couples referred to counseling centers in Mashhad Regions 1 and 2 due to marital dissatisfaction in 2023. Of these, 45 couples were randomly selected as a sample and placed in two experimental groups and a control group. The experimental group 1 received SBCT, the experimental group 2 received EFCT, and the control group received only general counseling. The research tools included the Self-Discrimination Questionnaire (DSI) by Skowron and Friedlander (1998) and the Kaiser Marital Dissatisfaction Questionnaire (1993) and afterward, a post-test was administered. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 24) and a multivariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) test.
Results: The results of the pairwise comparison showed that there is no significant difference between the mean scores of self-differentiation as a result of SBCT and EFCT (P>0.05), while SBCT had a greater effect on marital disillusionment than EFCT (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the results, SBCT can be effective in reducing marital disillusionment among couples.
- Couple Therapy
- Emotionally Focused Therapy
- Schema Therapy
- Differentiation of Self
How to Cite
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