The Effectiveness of an Integrated Approach of Schema Therapy based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Marital Conflicts and Divorce Tendency in Divorce Applicant Couples

One of the common problems in the couple's relationship is marital conflict that can lead to depression, addiction, and spousal abuse, verbal or physical conflict between married couples. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of an integrated approach of schema therapy based Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on reduction of marital conflicts and divorce tendency in divorce applicant couples.

This study was quasi experimental with pretest, posttest and control group. The data statistical population includes all of divorce applicant couples to intervention crisis center of Mashhad in winter 2019. The sample include 30 couples (15 couples in group control and 15 couples in experimental group) were voluntary selected by convenience sampling with replacement. The experimental group underwent 10 sessions of 90 minutes educated by Schema therapy based Acceptance and commitment therapy protocol and control group was not under any intervention. Both groups were requested to answer marital conflict and divorce tendency questionnaire. Data were analyzed using MANCOVA covariance analysis and SPSS software.

The results showed that the schema therapy based acceptance and commitment therapy led to significant differences in the post test of the experimental group and the comparison of the meanings showed an decrease marital conflicts (ƞ 2 =0.52, p= 0.001, F= 67.03) and divorce tendency (ƞ 2 =0.54, p= 0.001, F= 66.18) in the experimental group (P<.01).

The findings of this study indicate the beneficial effects schema therapy based acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on marital conflicts and divorce tendency in divorce applicant couples.Counselors and family therapists can use this effective integrated approach to slove marital conflicts and help people to improve their marital relationships.