A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Emotionally Focused and Schema Therapies in Reducing Externalizing Problems of Children in Female-Headed Households

This study sought to compare the effectiveness of emotionally focused and schema therapies in reducing externalizing problems of children (students) in female-headed households. This quasi-experimental research had a pretest-posttest control group design. The statistical population of the study consisted of single mothers who predominantly head one-parent families and have at least one schoolchild. After screening, 45 women were selected by convenience sampling method and were randomly assigned to three groups: 15 subjects in experimental group 1, 15 subjects in experimental group 2, and 15 subjects in control group. The data were collected by using Achenbach Child behavior checklist in three stages of pre-test, posttest and follow-up and were analyzed via SPSS software and repeated measures tests. The results revealed that the mean score of the emotionally focused therapy group decreased from 46.13 to 35.15 and the mean score of schema therapy group reduced from 46.00 to 35.26. Moreover, the results of repeated measurements showed that both emotionally focused and schema therapies were effective in reducing externalizing problems of adolescents (p<0.001). And finally the results of a pairwise comparison demonstrated that there was no significant difference between the two therapies as to their effectiveness.