Comparing the effectiveness of schema therapy and emotion focused therapy on alexithymia of people with marital conflict

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Psychology, Emirates Branch, Islamic Azad University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran.

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon Branch, Tonekabon, Iran.

4 Associate Professor ، Department of Psychology, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: This research was conducted with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of schema therapy and emotion focused therapy on alexithymia of people suffering from marital conflict.
Methods: The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with two experimental groups and one control group. From the statistical population of women referring to the clinics of the 1st district of Tehran, 45 people were selected using the available method and replaced in three groups using a random method. The research tool was emotional ataxia (Begby et al., 1994). First, the pre-test of alexithymia was performed for all three groups, then schema therapy and emotion-focused therapy were performed for the experimental groups, but no intervention was applied for the control group; Finally, the post-test and the follow-up test were performed for all three groups.
Results: The results of the repeated measurement test showed that both schema therapy and emotion-oriented groups are effective in reducing alexithymia (p>0.01). Bon Feroni's post hoc test showed that emotional therapy is more effective than schema therapy (p>0.01).
Conclusion: it is suggested to use emotion-focused therapy to improve the alexithymia of people with marital conflict.

Keywords