The effect of couple therapy based on Schoenaker encouragement approach on improving psychological flexibility, cognitive emotion regulation and communication patterns of couples in Shiraz

Subject Areas : Woman and family

Minoosh  Homayooni ¹ (Ph.D Student in Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr Branch, Bushehr, Iran)
Moloud  Keykhosrovani ² (Assistant Professor in Psychology, Islamic Azad university, Bushehr Branch, Bushehr, Iran Iran (corresponding author), Email: [e-mail])
Ali  Pouladi reishehri ³ (Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Bushehr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran. Assistant Professor at Payam Noor University, Bushehr, Iran)

Received: 2022-04-17 Accepted : 2022-05-28 Published : 2023-05-22

Keywords: cognitive emotion regulation, couples communication patterns, Psychological flexibility, couple therapy based on Schoenaker encouragement approach,

Abstract :

A review of theoretical and empirical backgrounds shows that positive mindfulness-based therapy and compassion-based therapy have been effective in emotion dysregulation and avoidance of experiments. But it is not yet clear which of these interventions will be more effective and more stable over time. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and continuity of the effect of positive mindfulness therapy and compassion therapy on experiential avoidance and emotion dysregulation in women victims of domestic violence. The present study was an applied One related to the purpose and in terms of design a quasi-experimental one with pre-test and multi-group post-test with a  control group and a follow-up of three months. The statistical population of the present study consisted of all women victims of domestic violence who were members of safe houses in Shiraz in 2009-2010. Assessment instruments included Granefski, Kraaij & Spinhoven's emotion regulation questionnaire (2001) and Bond et al's experience avoidance questionnaire (2010). One group received the Hofmann, Wu & Boettcher (2014) Positive Mindfulness Intervention, and the other group received the Gilbert (2010) Compassionate Therapy Experiment in 8 sessions of 90 minutes each, and the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance and Benferoni method. The results showed that compassion-based therapy and positive mindfulness-based therapy are effective on emotion dysregulation and avoidance of experiments (p<0.01). Compassion-based therapy is more effective than mindfulness therapy in reducing emotion dysregulation and avoiding experimental experiences (p<0.01). It seems that compassionate therapy and positive mindfulness therapy can be used as a preventive and remedial measure in increasing the mental health and quality of life of women victims of domestic violence.Conflict of interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this manuscript.

References:

1. Abbasi, I., Fata, L., Moloudi, R., & Zarabi, H. (2012). Psychometric adequacy of the Persian version of the Admission and Practice Questionnaire - Second Edition. Journal of Psychological Methods and Models, 3(10), 65-80. [In Persian]


2. Abedinia, N., Boalhari, J., & Naghizadeh, M. M. (2015). Comparison of the underlying factors of divorce application by gender. Journal of Psychological Studies, 11(1), 141-177. [In Persian]


3. Ahmadi, S.Z., Mirzaeian, B., & Maddah, M.T. (2014). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on anxiety and cognitive avoidance in anxiety students. Journal of New Ideas in Psychology, 1(1), 10-1. [In Persian]


4. Akin, A. (2010). Self-compassion and Loneliness. International Online Journal of Educational Sciences, 2(3), 702 -718.


5. Atkins, D. C., Marin, R. A., Lo, T. Y., Klann, N., & Hahlweg, K. (2010). Outcomes of couples with infidelity in a community -based sample of couple therapy. Journal of Family Psychology, 24 (4), 212-216. doi: 10.1037/a0018789.


6. Banducci, A., Felton, J.W., Bonn-Miller, MO., Lejuez CW. & MacPherson, L. (2017). A longitudinal examination of the impact of childhood emotional abuse on cannabis use trajectories among community youth. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 171(2), 14-21.


7. Bardeen, J. R., & Fergus, T. A. (2016). The interactive effect of cognitive fusion and experiential avoidance on anxiety, depression, stress and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Journal of contextual behavioral science, 5(1), 1-6.


8. Bell, K. M., & Higgins, L. (2015). The impact of childhood emotional abuse and experiential avoidance on maladaptive problem solving and intimate partner violence. Behavioral Sciences, 5(2), 154-175.


9. Bent, S., & Goleman, T. (2001). Emotional alchemy: How the mind can heal the heart. New York: Three Rivers Press.


10. Berman, N. C., Wheaton, M. G., McGrath, P., & Abramowitz, J. S. (2010). Predicting anxiety: the role of experiential avoidance and anxiety sensitivity. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 24(1), 109-130.


11. Bond, F. W., Hayes, S. C., Baer, R. A., Carpenter, K. M., Guenole, N., Orcutt, H. K., & Zettle, R. D. (2011). Preliminary psychometric properties of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire –II: A revised measure of psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance. Behavior Therapy, 42 (4), 676 -688.


12. Cebolla, A., Enrique, A., Alvear, D., Soler., J., & García-Campayo, J. (2017). Contemplative positive psychology: introducing mindfulness into positive psychology. Papeles del psicólogo, 38, 12-18.


13. Cicchetti, D., Ackerman, B. P., & Izard, C. E. (1995). Emotions and Emotion Regulation in Developmental Psychopathology. Development and Psychopathology, 7, 1-10.


14. D’Olimpio F, Mancini F. (2014). Role of Deontological Guilt in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder–Like Checking and Washing Behaviors. Clinical Psychology Sci 2(6), 727-39.


15. Damson, R. (2015). The effect of self-compassion on the resilience and emotion regulation of marital woman. Journal of Personality assessment, 63 (2), 262 - 274.


16. Deminof, L. (2013). The efficacy of self-compassion on the adversity quotient, Emotion Regulationof marital woman. Journal Anxiety Disorder, 11(5), 279 -315.


17. Denis, K., & Beker, R (2015). The effect of selfcompassion on the irrational beliefs, selfdissociationand marital not satisfaction in couples. Journal of Personality assessment, 63(2), 262 - 274.


18. Dimitropoulou, C., & Leontopoulou, S. (2017). A positive psychological intervention to promote well-being in a multicultural school setting in Greece. The European journal of counselling psychology, 6(1), 113-137.


19. Eftekhari, A., Zoellner, L. A., & Vigil, S. A. (2009). Patterns of Emotion Regulation and Psychopathology. Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 22, 571-586.


20. Fathollahzadeh, N., Majlesi, Z., Mazaheri, Z, Rostami, M., & Navabi Nejad, Sh. (2017). The effectiveness of compassion-based focused therapy on the internalized and self-critical shame of emotionally abused women. Psychological Studies, 13(2), 151-168. [In Persian]


21. Gamez, W., Chmielewski, M., Kotov, R., Ruggero, C., & Watson, D. (2011). Development of a measure of experiential avoidance: The multidimensional experiential avoidance questionnaire. Psychological Assessment, 23(3), 692-713.


22. Garland, E. L., Hanley, A. W., Goldin, P. R., & Gross, J. J. (2017). Testing the mindfulness-to-meaning theory: evidence for mindful positive emotion regulation from a reanalysis of longitudinal data. PLOS one, 12(12), e0187727.


23. Gerami, M., Saeidmanesh, & M. Niknam. (2017). The effectiveness of positive group therapy on selfesteem among young girl's in Yazd.


24. Gerhart, J. A., Baker, C. N., Hoerger, M., & Ronan, G. F. (2014). Experiential avoidance and interpersonal problems: A moderated mediation model. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 3(4), 291-298.


25. Gilbert, P. (2010). Compassion focused therapy: Its distinctive features. London: Routledg.


26. Gilbert, P. (2014). The origins and nature of compassion focused therapy. Br J Clin Psychol, 53, 6-41.


27. Gordon, K., Baucom, D., & Synder, D. (2005). Treating couples recovering from infidelity. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61(11), 1393-1405.


28. Granefski, N., Kraaij, V., & Spinhoven, P. (2002). Manual for the use of the cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire. Leiderorp: Datec.


29. Gross, J. J., & John, O. P. (2003). Individual Differences in Two Emotion Regulation Processes: Implications for Affect, Relationships, and WellBeing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 348-362.


30. Hasani, J. (2011). Evaluation of validity and reliability of the short form of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Behavioral Science Research, 9(4), 229-240. [In Persian]


31. Helmes, E., Ward, B. G. (2014). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for anxiety symptoms in older adults in residential care. Aging & Mental Health 2015; 23: 1-7.of life: a meta-analysis. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 82,375,


32. Hershenberg, R., Mavandadi, S., Wright, E., & Thase, M. E. (2017). Anhedonia in the daily lives of depressed veterans: A pilot report on experiential avoidance as a moderator of emotional reactivity. Journal of Affective Disorders, 208(1), 414-417.


33. Hofmann, S. G., Sawyer, A. T., Witt, A. A, & Oh, D. (2010). The effect of mindfulness-based therapyon anxietyand depression: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 169-183.


34. Hofmann, S. G., Wu, J. Q., & Boettcher. H. (2014). Effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders on quality. Journal of consulting clinical psychology, 82(6), 1228.


35. Huh, H. J., Kim, S. Y., Yu, J. J., & Chae, J. H. (2014). Childhood trauma and adult interpersonal relationship problems in patients with depression and anxiety disorders. Annals of general psychiatry, 13(2), 26-36.


36. Ivtzan, I., Niemiec, R. M., & Briscoe, Ch. (2016). A study investigating the effects of mindfulness based strengths practice (MBSP) on wellbeing. International journal of wellbeing, 6(2), 1-13.


37. Kashdan, T. B., & Ciarrochi, J. (2013). The Context Press mindfulness and acceptance practica series. Mindfulness, acceptance, and positive psychology: The seven foundations of well-being. Oakland, CA, US: Context Press/New Harbinger Publications.


38. Keng, S. L., Smoski, M. J., & Robins, C. J. (2011). Effects of mindfulness on psychological health: a review of empirical studies. Clinical psychology review, 31, 1041-1056.


39. Krieger, T., Altenstein, D., Baetting, I., Doering, N., & Grosse, M. (2013). Self compassion in depression: Associations with depressive symptoms rumination and avoidance in depressed outpatients. JBT, 44, 501-13.


40. Leary, S.W., Kerr, C., Wasserman, R.J., Gray, J. R., Greve, D., & Treadway, M. T. (2007). Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness. Neuroreport, 16(17), 1893-1897.


41. Lluch-Sanz, C., Galiana, L., Vidal-Blanco, G., Sansó, N. (2022). Psychometric Properties of the Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form: Study of Its Role as a Protector of Spanish Nurses Professional Quality of Life and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Nursing Reports, 12, 65-76.


42. McEvoy, P. M., Burgess, M. M., Page, A. C., Nathan, P., & Fursland, A. (2013). Interpersonal problems across anxiety, depression, and eating disorders: a transdiagnostic examination. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 52(2), 129-47.


43. McManus, F., Muse, K., Surawy, C., Hackmann, A., & Williams, J. M. G. (2015). Relating differently to intrusive images: The impact of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) on intrusive images in patients with severe health anxiety (Hypochondriasis). Mindfulness, 6(4), 788-796.


44. Mennin, D. S., Fresco, D. M., Ritter, M., & Heimberg, R. G. (2015). An open trial of emotion regulation therapy for generalized anxiety disorder and cooccurring depression. Depression and Anxiety, 32(8), 614-23.


45. Mohammadkhani, P., Abasi, I., Pourshahbaz, A., Mohammadi, A., & Fatehi, M. (2016). The role of neuroticism and experiential avoidance in predicting anxiety and depression symptoms: Mediating effect of emotion regulation. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 10(3), 47-50. [In Persian]


46. Morin, C. M., Collechi, C., Stone, J., Sood, R., & Brink, D. (2015). The effect of self-compassion on the forgiveness, resiliency and marital satisfaction of couples. Journal of marital, 7(1), 85 -96.


47. Neff, K. (2003). Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and Identity, 2(4), 85 -102.


48. Neff, K. D, & Germer C. K. (2013). A pilot study and randomized controlled trial of the mindful selfcompassion program. J Clin Psychol, 69, 28-44.


49. Niemiec, R. M., Rashid, T., & Spinella, M. (2012). Strong mindfulness: integrating mindfulness and character strengths. Journal of mental health counseling, 34(3), 240-253.


50. Noroozi Chahar Ghale, P., Hashemi Azar, J., Sarami Foroushani, Gh. (2015). Comparison of neuropsychological function of emotionally and normally abused female students. Psychological Studies, 11(2), 7-24. [In Persian]


51. Ochsner, K. N., & Gross, J. J. (2008). Cognitive Emotion Regulation: Insights from Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 17, 153-158.


52. Ong, C. L. (2013). Towards positive education: a mindful school model. Dissertation, Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania.


53. Pilfid, H., Nemeth, JM, Bonomi, A. E, Lee, M. A., Ludwin, J. M. (2014). Sexual infidelity as trigger for intimate. The efficacy of self-compassion on obsessive rumination, depression and resilience. Journal of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 15(2), 155-167.


54. Pollock, N. C., McCabe, G. A., Southard, A. C., & Zeigler-Hill, V. (2016). Pathological personality traits and emotion regulation difficulties. Personality and Individual Differences, 95, 168-177.


55. Quilty, L. C., Mainland, B. J., McBride, C., & Bagby, R. M. (2013). Interpersonal problems and impacts: Further evidence for the role of interpersonal functioning in treatment outcome in major depressive disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 52(2), 393-400.


56. Rahdar, N., & Atari, Sh. (2013). The effectiveness of self-compassion on emotional regulation and resilience in couples. Journal of Health, 7(3), 42-57. [In Persian]


57. Rahkeshay, H. (2016). The role of government intervention in domestic violence against women from a human rights perspective. Journal of Human Rights, 4, 121-150. [In Persian]


58. Rezaie, M. (2014). The effect of self-compassion training on forgiveness, intimate attitudes and quality of life married people. Master thesis, Islamic azad university, central tehran branch. [In Persian]


59. Rostami, M., Abdi, M., & Heidari, H. (2019). Investigating the types of childhood abuse by forgiving the main and current family in married people. Journal of Thought and Behavior in Clinical Psychology, 8(32), 77-89. [In Persian]


60. Sadeghpour, A., Khalatbari, J., Seif, A. A., & Shahriari Ahmadi, A. (2020). Comparison of the effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy and mindfulness training on post-traumatic development and cancer-related burnout in cancer patients. Journal of Psychological Sciences, 19(86), 193-202. [In Persian]


61. Saeedi, Z., Ghorbani, N., Sarafraz, M.R., & Sharifian, M.H. (2013). The effect of inducing self-compassion and self-esteem on the experience of shame and guilt. Contemporary psychology, 8(1), 91-102.


62. Scherer, K. R. (2015). What Are Emotions? And How Can They be Measured? Soc Sci Inf, 44, 695-729.


63. Segal, Z., Williams, J., & Teasdale, J. (2002). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression: A new approach to preventing relapse. New York: Guilford Press.


64. Tesh, M., Learman, J. & Pulliam, R.M. (2015). Mindful Self-Compassion Strategies for Survivors of Intimate Partner Abuse. Mindfulness, 6(2), 192-201.


65. Thümmler, R., Engel, E. M., & Bartz, J. (2022). Strengthening Emotional Development and Emotion Regulation in Childhood—As a Key Task in Early Childhood Education. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (7), 3978.