Sexual abuse

Aim: the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of schema therapy on modifying the attitude towards marriage of girls who were victims of sexual abuse.Method: In this research, a. Quasi- experimental single-case study design was used. As of 2020/9/12, the statistical population included all Girls who experienced sexual abuse in childhood in Tehran. Three participants were selected through purposive sampling and participated in the individual counseling schema therapy sessions lasting 16 sessions of 60 minutes each. The participants completed the pretreatment (3 baseline) Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (Young, 1998) and Marrital Attitude Scale (Braaten and Rosén, 1998). Also, at the beginning of the fifth, ninth, and thirteenth sessions, as well as at the end of the sixteenth session and the follow-up periods of three weeks, six weeks, and nine weeks, they completed the questionnaire. SPSS 25 software was used for data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics (effect size) were used to determine significance. The analysis of data was done using visual analysis charts, Statistical significance, and clinical significance (P ≤ 0.05).Results: The findings, showed that schema therapy was effective in reducing the intensity of initial maladaptive schemas and modifying the attitude towards marriage of victims of sexual abuse.Conclusion: Considering the application of schema therapy in reducing the intensity of initial maladaptive schemas and modifying the attitude towards marriage of victims of sexual abuse, the present approach can be used as a therapeutic program to help people who have been sexually abused, especially children.