Evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and existential therapy on the psychological well-being and hope of female heads of households in Rasht

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD. student, Department of Consulting, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran.

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

Abstract

Introduction
Women heads of households face psychological and social difficulties and challenges to achieve psychological well-being. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to compare the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and existential therapy on the psychological well-being and hope of female heads of households in Rasht city.

Method
The research method was semi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up plan with two experimental groups and a control group. The statistical population includes all female heads of households in the city of Rasht and the sample size includes 60 people who were randomly assigned to two experimental groups (20 people in the existential therapy group and 20 people in the cognitive behavioral therapy group) and a control group (20 people). were given. Then, eight 90-minute group sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy and existential therapy were presented to each of the two experimental groups.
Results
The results showed that the main effect of time is statistically significant in the variables of psychological well-being and hope, which means that between the three stages of pre-test, post-test and follow-up in the variables of psychological well-being and hope of women heads of households in the two experimental groups (cognitive-behavioral therapy and existential therapy) there was a significant difference, which indicated the significant effect of both treatment methods on the dependent variables of the research.
Conclusion: Both treatment methods have been able to increase the psychological well-being and hope of female heads of the household to the same extent.

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