Effectiveness of Emotional Schemata Therapy in comparison with Reality Therapy on marriage expectations in single girls

The aim was to determine effectiveness of Emotional Schemata Therapy (EST) in comparison with Reality Therapy (RT) on marriage expectations in single girls.

Method was quasi-experimental with pre-test, post-test and a two-month follow-up. Statistical population included 53 single girls aged 35-40 years from three consulting centers of Tehran, in 2018. Tool was Jones and Nelson Marriage Expectation Scale (1996). 45 girls were selected among the volunteers whom were screened and randomly assigned into experimental group I for EST, experimental group II for RT, and control group (15 each). The Leahy Treatment Package (2016) was used for experimental group I for eight 90-minute sessions, once a week. For experimental group II, Duba, Graham, Britzmann, and Minatra Treatment Package (2009) was used in three stages and in six 60-minute sessions, once a week. The data were analyzed using mixed variance of analysis.

The results of EST indicated these effects at the significance level of P< 0.05; on pessimistic expectation (F = 18.03), idealistic expectation (F = 19.52), and realistic expectation of marriage (F = 6.6). The effects of RT were; on pessimistic expectation (F = 25.81), idealistic expectation (F = 16.49), and realistic expectation (F = 5.56). The effects were stable at the follow-up stage in both of the groups. The results also showed that the efficacy of the two therapeutic methods was not significantly different (P = 0.11).

Both of the interventions have led to reductions in pessimistic attitudes and dysfunctional ideal images of marriage expectations in single girls. Thus, these interventions provide the best tool to help the individual to identify a schematriggering situation and the conditions of “Here and Now”. In other words, they are catalysts for individual’s change in the field of marriage.