Comparing Schema Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Self-Differentiation, Distress Tolerance, and Forgiveness in Married Women with Marital Conflict
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Objective: To compare the effectiveness of schema therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on self-differentiation, distress tolerance, and forgiveness in married female university students experiencing marital conflict.
Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study used a pretest–posttest design with a two-month follow-up and a control group. Forty-five married female students with marital conflict at Islamic Azad University (West Tehran Branch) were purposively recruited and randomly assigned to schema therapy (n=15), CBT (n=15), or control (n=15). Participants completed the Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI), Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS), and Interpersonal Forgiveness Inventory (IFI) at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up. The schema therapy and CBT groups each received eight 120-minute group sessions. Data were analyzed using multivariate repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests
Findings: Both schema therapy and CBT produced significant improvements in self-differentiation, distress tolerance, and forgiveness compared with the control group at posttest and follow-up (p<0.01). Between-treatment comparisons indicated differential effects: schema therapy yielded greater gains in self-differentiation, whereas CBT showed superior outcomes in distress tolerance and forgiveness (p<0.01)
Conclusion: Both interventions were beneficial for women with marital conflict, but they may target different therapeutic mechanisms. Schema therapy may be preferable when strengthening differentiation and autonomy is prioritized, whereas CBT may be more effective for enhancing distress tolerance and promoting forgiveness. Integrating these approaches in counseling settings could optimize outcomes.
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