مطالب

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and metaphor therapy on marital burnout in women with marital conflicts. Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest design, a control group, and a three-month follow-up period. The statistical population included women with marital conflicts who visited counseling centers in Shiraz in 2023. A total of 60 participants were selected voluntarily and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group. The research instrument was the Marital Burnout Questionnaire (Pines, 1996, CBM). The educational interventions, based on the cognitive-behavioral approach (Gehart, 2012) and the metaphor-based approach (Coup, 2013), were conducted in eight 60-minute sessions for the two experimental groups. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Findings: The results indicated a significant difference in the posttest and follow-up stages between the control group and the CBT group (p < .001) and the metaphor therapy group (p < .001). The effectiveness of CBT and metaphor therapy in improving marital burnout was 59.6% and 29.7% in the posttest, and 69.2% and 34.8% in the follow-up stage, respectively. Additionally, the findings showed a significant difference between the two experimental groups in both the posttest and follow-up stages, with differences of 26.3% and 37.1%, respectively. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that both CBT and metaphor therapy lead to improvements in marital burnout among women. Family therapists can utilize these educational approaches to enhance marital relationships in couples experiencing conflicts.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapy and transactional analysis on sexual function and sexual satisfaction in female patients with bipolar disorder. Methods: In this study, 20 women with bipolar disorder who referred to the Gyrus Specialty Neurology and Psychiatry Clinic in Tehran from April to August 2022 were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to three groups: mindfulness-based therapy, transactional analysis therapy, and a control group. All participants completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) by Rosen et al. (2000) and the Sexual Satisfaction Scale by Larson et al. (1998) before and after the intervention. The mindfulness-based therapy group underwent eight 90-to-120-minute sessions held twice a week, while the transactional analysis group received treatment in nine 60-to-120-minute sessions held twice a week. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and repeated measures analysis. Findings: The results indicated that both mindfulness-based therapy and transactional analysis therapy had an effect on sexual function and sexual satisfaction in female patients with bipolar disorder. Moreover, a comparison of the effectiveness of the two therapeutic approaches across all dimensions showed that mindfulness-based therapy had a greater impact on sexual function and sexual satisfaction in female patients with bipolar disorder compared to transactional analysis. Conclusion: Therefore, the use of mindfulness-based therapy is recommended in psychology clinics.

Objective: This study aims to examine the effectiveness of reflective parenting training on emotion regulation and the parent-child relationship in mothers with children under 6 years of age. Method: This is a quantitative study with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design involving an experimental group and a control group. The statistical population includes all mothers with children under 6 years old in Isfahan. For sampling, a purposive sampling method was used by visiting kindergartens in Isfahan, and 30 participants were selected based on the cut-off point of the questionnaires and inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were randomly assigned to two groups: an experimental group (15 people) and a control group (15 people). Subsequently, reflective parenting training sessions based on the Bateman and Fonagy (2001) protocol were conducted for the experimental group, while the control group received no intervention. The research instruments included the Parent-Child Relationship Scale (Pianta, 1992) and the Emotion Regulation Inventory (Shield & Cicchetti, 1995). The collected data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests (repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test) and SPSS software. Findings: Given that the calculated F-value for between-group effects (group membership effect), within-group effects (time effect), and the interactive effect of group and time was significant at the 99% confidence level (P < 0.01), these results indicate a significant difference between the two groups. Furthermore, it suggests that this significant difference exists at least at one time point during the intervention among the research groups. The Bonferroni post hoc test results showed differences in adaptive emotion regulation, instability/negativity, and the parent-child relationship scores during the research stages between the experimental groups (P < 0.01). In other words, the reflective parenting intervention had a significant impact on improving the research variables. Conclusions: Therefore, it can be concluded that this intervention was effective on the research variables and confirms that this approach can be used as an effective strategy in improving parental abilities and reducing psychological challenges in mothers during the parenting period.

Objective: This study aimed to develop and test a structural equation model for predicting marital conflict based on early maladaptive schemas, gender stereotypes, and emotional needs, with the mediating role of coping styles. Methods and Materials: The research adopted a correlational design using structural equation modeling. The statistical population included 1,760 married men and women with marital conflicts who had sought counseling services in Tehran in 2024. Using purposive sampling, 500 participants were selected who had been married for at least six months and voluntarily completed six standardized questionnaires: the Marital Conflict Questionnaire (MCQ), Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form, Bem Sex Role Inventory (short form), Emotional Needs Questionnaire, Young-Rigg Schema Avoidance Inventory, and Young’s Overcompensation Inventory. Data were analyzed using SmartPLS software through both descriptive and inferential statistics, including path coefficients and indirect effects. Findings: The results showed that disconnection and rejection schema (β = 0.413, p < 0.001), other-directedness (β = 0.214, p < 0.001), avoidance coping (β = 0.217, p < 0.001), and overcompensation coping (β = 0.122, p = 0.010) were significant direct predictors of marital conflict. Emotional needs significantly predicted both avoidance (β = 0.175, p = 0.014) and overcompensation coping (β = 0.246, p < 0.001). Gender stereotypes also played a role, with neutrality negatively predicting marital conflict (β = –0.229, p < 0.001). Mediation analysis confirmed significant indirect effects of impaired autonomy and emotional needs on marital conflict via avoidance coping, and of impaired limits and over-vigilance via overcompensation coping (p < 0.05). However, several indirect paths through gender stereotypes were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The findings support a comprehensive model where early maladaptive schemas, emotional needs, and gender stereotypes predict marital conflict through maladaptive coping styles. These insights can inform schema-based couple therapy by addressing cognitive-emotional vulnerabilities and promoting healthier coping mechanisms in marital relationships.

Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of reality therapy and emotion-focused therapy (EFT) on love trauma syndrome, self-worth, and relationship beliefs in divorced women residing in Tehran. Methods and Materials: This research is applied in terms of purpose and quasi-experimental in terms of data collection, using a pretest-posttest-follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population included all divorced women residing in District 2 of Tehran in 2023, from whom 45 participants were selected through convenience sampling. The participants were randomly assigned, with age-matching, into two intervention groups and one control group. Participants completed the Relationship Beliefs Questionnaire, Ross's Love Trauma Syndrome Questionnaire, and the Self-Worth Questionnaire at pretest, posttest, and follow-up phases. The first intervention group received 8 sessions of reality therapy, while the second group received 10 sessions of emotion-focused therapy. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with SPSS version 22. Findings: Both reality therapy and emotion-focused therapy were effective in enhancing self-worth, improving relationship beliefs, and reducing love trauma syndrome symptoms among divorced women in Tehran. Moreover, the effectiveness of both treatments persisted over time. No significant difference was found between the effectiveness of reality therapy and emotion-focused therapy on the studied variables. Conclusion: Based on the results, it can be concluded that both reality therapy and emotion-focused therapy are effective interventions for improving love trauma syndrome symptoms, enhancing self-worth, and modifying relationship beliefs in divorced women in Tehran

Objective: The present study aimed to examine and compare the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy and schema therapy on attachment styles and emotion regulation in women affected by infidelity. Methods and Materials: This research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest and control group. The statistical population included all women affected by infidelity who referred to counseling centers in Tehran in 2023. From this population, 45 participants were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to three groups: the first experimental group (emotion-focused therapy, 15 participants), the second experimental group (schema therapy, 15 participants), and the control group (15 participants). The experimental groups received the respective interventions across a set number of sessions, while the control group did not receive any intervention. All three groups were assessed at pretest, posttest, and follow-up stages using the Attachment Styles Questionnaire and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Findings: Data analysis using repeated measures analysis of variance and post hoc tests indicated that both therapeutic approaches led to significant improvements in attachment styles and enhanced emotion regulation abilities in women affected by infidelity (p < .05). Moreover, a comparison of results showed that schema therapy demonstrated greater effectiveness than emotion-focused therapy in certain indices. Conclusion: Based on the findings, emotion-focused therapy and schema therapy can be considered effective approaches for promoting secure attachment styles and improving emotion regulation among women affected by infidelity.