Effectiveness of Existential-Humanistic Therapy in Self-Acceptance and Marital Satisfaction in Women with Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in Iran. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of existential-humanistic therapy in self-acceptance and marital satisfaction in women with breast cancer.

This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test, post-test and follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population was the women with breast cancer referring to Shahid-Rahimi Hospital in Khorramabad, Iran in 2020, from among whom two groups (experimental and control) of 15 women each were randomly selected and asked to complete the self-acceptance (USAQ) and marital satisfaction (ENRICH) questionnaires. Then the experimental group attended eight 90-minute intervention sessions. After the intervention, both groups took a post-test and followed up further after two more months. The data were analyzed using the repeated measures ANOVA test.

The repeated measures ANOVA test showed that the interaction between group and time was statistically significant. Therefore, the self-acceptance and marital satisfaction variables increased significantly (F=5/77, P<0/01 and F=13/97, P<0/01, respectively).

According to the results of this study, existential-humanistic therapy has a significant effect on self-acceptance and marital satisfaction in breast cancer patients. It is, therefore, recommended to pay attention, in addition to the physical problems of such patients, also to their psychological problems and, along with pharmacotherapy consider psychotherapy, including existential-humanistic therapy as well.