Comparing the Effectiveness of the Educational Program Based on the Causal Model of Emotional Divorce Tendency and Schema Therapy on Marital Vitality

Subject Areas : Islamic-Iranian Family Studies Journal

Gelareh Jalili ¹ , Yahya Yarahmadi ² , farzad zandi ³

1 - Department of Psychology, Sanandaj branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj,Iran.
2 - Department of Psychology, Sanandaj Branch,Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj,Iran.
3 - Department of Psychology, Ghorveh branch, Islamic Azad University, Ghorveh, Iran.

Received: 2023-07-19 Accepted : 2023-09-13 Published : 2023-08-23

Keywords: tendency to emotional divorce, marital vitality, Schema Therapy,

Abstract :

 Introduction: The purpose of this research was to compare the effectiveness of the educational program based on the causal model of tendency to emotional divorce and schema therapy on marital vitality. Method:The research was conducted with a semi-experimental design using a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of the research included all couples (regular households of men and women) in Kermanshah city in 2019. Purposive sampling, 30 couples were randomly assigned to 2 experimental and control groups. The data collection tools were Gutman's emotional divorce questionnaires (2008) and Tagrian's marital happiness questionnaires (2007). Data analysis was done using SPSS software and through covariance analysis model. Findings: The results showed that schema therapy and educational program derived from the model are effective on couples' marital vitality (P<0.05). The results of the comparison between the two programs showed that the training program derived from the model with the control group was at the same level (P<0.01), the training program was derived from the model with the schema therapy program at the level (P<0.01) and between the schema therapy training program There is a significant difference with the control group at the level (P<0.01). Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, the educational program based on the causal model of the tendency to divorce can be used in counseling and psychology centers. IntroductionVitality is one of the important indicators of mental health in the society, which along with a positive and hopeful attitude towards the future is the main source of mobility, effort and dynamism, marital vitality causes physical, cognitive, behavioral stimulation and increases many capabilities and capacities (Tafsileh & Elmi, 2021). Schema therapy is a relatively new treatment method that examines how people think, how they perceive and process, and how they remember information. Inconsistent schemas cause bias in the interpretation of events. Young developed schema therapy to treat patients with personality problems and chronic mental disorders. He believes that schema-focused cognitive therapy is superior to short-term cognitive therapy for the treatment of difficult and chronic psychological disorders (Farrell & Show, 2018). The usefulness of schema therapy in treating severe marital problems and common problems in maintaining intimate relationships and improving the performance of couples has been confirmed (Young, Klosko & Weishaar, 2013; Khatamsaz, Forouzandeh & Ghaderi, 2017; Mohnai, Golestaneh, Poladi Rishahri, and Kikhosravani, 2018). On the other hand, one of the main factors of emotional and legal divorces is the inability to manage couples' conflicts, it seems that the use of new methods, especially integrated solutions and treatments, can be promising in this important area, because the effectiveness of the educational program based on the causal model of the tendency to emotional divorce A couple therapy approach is presented in order to improve the quality of the couple's relationship; that educational programs for couples are a combination of variables of emotional divorce, satisfaction of basic psychological needs, differentiation and metacognitive beliefs and perception of spouse's selfless behaviors. In general, despite the conducted research, there is still no research in Iran that compares the effectiveness of the educational program based on the causal model of the tendency to emotional divorce and schema therapy on marital vitality; Therefore, this research is done with the aim of filling the research gaps in this field. Therefore, this research intends to answer the question whether there is a difference between the effectiveness of the educational program based on the causal model of tendency to emotional divorce and schema therapy on marital vitality? MethodologyThe research was conducted as a semi-experimental method with two experimental and control groups (15 people in the experimental group and 15 people in the control group) with a pre-test, post-test plan with the group. The statistical population included all couples (normal households of men and women) in Kermanshah city in 2019 who did not have any serious problems with each other. The sampling method is purposeful, for this purpose, 30 couples who obtained lower scores in the emotional divorce questionnaire were selected and then they were randomly divided into 2 experimental and control groups. The entry criteria in the intervention section include an emotional divorce score higher than 15 among the selected samples; at least four years of living together at the time of conducting the research; Not abusing drugs and not having chronic mental disorders (diagnosed by psychologists and psychiatrists), as well as exit criteria in the intervention section, including suffering from personality disorders diagnosed by psychologists and psychiatrists; Passing treatment courses during the exam; The lack of desire to continue training and the existence of incomplete and distorted questionnaires. In order to collect data, the marital vitality questionnaire of couples (Tagrian, 2008) was used. Univariate analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data. ResultsFirst hypothesis- Schema therapy is effective on marital vitality.Based on the obtained results, after adjusting the marital vitality pre-test scores, there was a significant difference between the effect of the two experimental and control groups (sig ≤.006; F=8/218); Therefore, the null hypothesis that there is no difference between the two groups is rejected and it is concluded that schema therapy has been effective in increasing marital vitality. Also, the size of the effect of schema therapy on marital vitality is equal to ./58 Was.The second hypothesis - the educational program derived from the model is effective on the marital vitality of couples.Based on the obtained results, after adjusting the marital vitality pre-test scores, there is a significant difference between the effect of the two experimental and control groups (sig ≤.001; F=4/594); Therefore, the null hypothesis that there is no difference between the two groups is rejected and it is concluded that the educational program derived from the model has been effective on marital vitality. Also, the effect size of the extracted model treatment on increasing marital vitality is ./79. Was.Third hypothesis: There is a significant difference between the effectiveness of the educational program derived from the model and schema therapy.Based on the results of pre-test scores of marital vitality, there is a significant difference between the effect of the three test groups of the extract program and schema therapy and the control group (sig ≤ .001; F=24/568); Therefore, the null hypothesis that there is no difference between the two groups is rejected and it is concluded that there is a difference between the effectiveness of the 2 educational programs and schema therapy with the control group on marital vitality. The results of the Benferroni test to compare the average scores of marital vitality showed that between the training program extracted from the model with the control group at the level of P < 0.01, the training program extracted from the model with the schema therapy program at the level of P < 0.01 and between the schema training program There is a significant difference between the treatment and the control group at the P<0.01 level. discussionAccording to the obtained results, schema therapy had an effect on increasing marital vitality. The results of this research with the researches of (Tafsileh & Elmi, 2021; Mohnai, Golestaneh, Poladi Rishahri, and Kikhosravani, 2018; Heirat, A and Vatankhah, 2019; Rostami, 2016; Miller, 2020) is aligned. In explaining this finding, it can be said that one of the effective factors in the level of vitality and maintaining human mental health is establishing and maintaining coherent interpersonal relationships and marital compatibility and having continuous and stable social contact (Tafsileh & Elmi, 2021). A successful marital relationship creates vitality and creates a positive mood in a person. In fact, it is a positive and enjoyable attitude that husband and wife have in different aspects of marital relations and it is one of the most important indicators of life satisfaction. Therefore, the relationship between marital vitality is a two-way relationship. ConclusionBased on the general result of the research, it can be said that education based on positive beliefs, satisfaction of needs and the level of differentiation is effective in reducing the amount of emotional divorce. These trainings, while creating better conditions for couples, provide positive feelings such as marital happiness and vitality among couples. When a person fulfills the basic needs of his wife and also has a positive and optimistic view of married life and at the same time creates a degree of being one and being the same in behavior and ethics and relationships with his wife, these factors along with They can also strengthen marital vitality.Limitations and SuggestionsThe present research has only studied couples who have an emotional divorce, so its generalization to the official divorce society should be done with caution. Since the obtained data were self-reported, it is possible that in some cases bias in responding and unconscious defenses may have caused bias in the results. Also, due to the fact that this research was conducted during the corona epidemic, its results may have been affected by this disease.It is suggested that marriage counseling centers should explain and describe the issues of positive beliefs, satisfaction of basic needs and the level of differentiation to couples in pre-marriage counseling sessions. It is also suggested that counselors and psychologists use this extracted program for the low level of emotional divorce and also to improve couples' relationships. AcknowledgementsI would like to express my gratitude to the supervisor and the couples who participated in this research.FundingThe current research was taken from a specialized doctoral thesis and was without financial support.Ethics approval and consent to participateThis doctoral thesis research was conducted under the supervision of the ethics committee of the Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj branch, with the code of ethics IR.IAU.SDJ.REC.1400.071. Also, the cooperation of the participants was voluntary and their consent was declared. In addition, they were informed about the confidentiality and opt-out aspects of the research at each stage.Conflict interestsAccording to the authors, this article has no conflict of interest. ReferencesFarrell, J. M., & Shaw, I. A. (2018). Experiencing schema therapy from the inside out: A self-practice/self-reflection workbook for therapists. Guilford Publications.‏Heirat, A and Vatankhah, M. (2019). Effectiveness of integrated training of communication skills and schema therapy on the fear of intimacy of women referring to clinics in Isfahan city. Scientific Research Quarterly of Psychological Sciences, 19 (89), 553-559. [Persian]Khatamsaz, B, Forouzandeh, E, Ghaderi, D. (2017). Effectiveness of schema therapy on marital satisfaction and marital relationship quality in married women. Int J Educ Psychol Res; 7(3): 11-6.Miller, R. (2020). The Language of Sexual Intimacy and Marital Happiness: A Quantitative Descriptive Study (Doctoral dissertation, Ashford University)Mohnai, S., Golestaneh, S.M., Poladi Rishahri, A., and Kikhosravani, M. (2018). The effectiveness of couple therapy using Young's schema therapy method on marital adjustment and emotional divorce in couples applying for divorce in Bushehr city. Social Psychology, 7(51), 109-118. [Persian]