Comparative Effectiveness of Self-Awareness-Based Spirituality and Emotion-Focused Therapy on Sexual Distress and Interpersonal Sensitivity in Mothers with Postpartum Depression in Isfahan City
Subject Areas : PsychologyRaziyeh Taee 1 * , سمیه پورمیدانی 2
1 - M.A. in Family Counseling, Non-Profit Shahid Ashrafi University, Isfahan, Iran
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology Behavioral Sciences and Psychology Research Center Islamic Azad University, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch Isfahan, Iran.
Keywords: postpartum depression, sexual distress, interpersonal sensitivity, self-awareness-based spirituality, emotion-focused therapy.,
Abstract :
One of the most common psychological effects after childbirth is postpartum depression, which, if untreated, can negatively impact the emotional and mental development of the child in the long term and can also have irreparable consequences on the quality of the mother's marital life. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of self-awareness-based spirituality and emotion-focused therapy on sexual distress and interpersonal sensitivity in mothers with postpartum depression in Isfahan city. This quasi -experimental research employed a pre-test-post-test design with a follow-up period and a control group. The research population comprised all mothers with postpartum depression in Isfahan city in 2024. The sample included 45 individuals selected through convenient sampling and based on the inclusion criteria, who were randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group (15 individuals in each group). To collect data, the Sexual Distress Questionnaire (Derogatis et al., 2008) and the Personal Sensitivity Questionnaire (Boys & Papaker, 1989) were utilized. The experimental groups received group therapy based on emotion-focused therapy (Johnson, 2008) and self-awareness-based spirituality, while the control group received no therapeutic intervention. For data analysis, multivariate analysis of covariance test was used. The results indicated that both self-awareness-based spirituality and emotion-focused therapy were effective in reducing sexual distress, with emotion-focused therapy having a more significant impact compared to self-awareness-based spirituality on reducing sexual distress. Regarding interpersonal sensitivity, both therapies showed equal effectiveness (P<0.05), and this effect remained stable during the follow-up period. The findings of the present study can assist specialists in adopting appropriate approaches in the treatment of postpartum depression and prepare mothers to cope with challenges after childbirth.
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