Comparision of the effectiveness of schema therapy and emotional-based couple therapy on couples' young self-differentiation

Couples' relationships could always be face traumatic situations for various reasons and could be divorced. Therefore, it seems necessary in any treatment approach attention to the influential of the family fom major injuries. The aim of this study was to comparision of the effectiveness of schema therapy and emotional-based couple therapy on couples' young self-differentiation.

The research method was experimental extended to pretest-posttest multigroup. The statistical population consisted of all young couples with adjustment problems who referred to psychological and counseling service centers in Tehran in the second half of year 2019 (N = 2025). Among them, 30 couples (60 people) were randomly selected based on inclusion criteria and then replaced in three groups: schema therapy, emotional-based couple therapy and control group. Research instruments included the Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI). The first experimental group received the Young's (2001) therapy scheme in 12 sessions of 45 minutes, the second experimental group received the emotional-based couple therapy training with Johnson's approach (2004) in 9 sessions of 60 minutes. The control group was waiting for their turn. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and LSD post hoc test and SPSS25 software.    

The results showed that there was a significant difference between the experimental groups and control group; And both therapy-intervention schema therapy and emotional-based couple therapy had a significant positive effect on self-differentiation of young couples (P <0.05). Also, the results of LSD post hoc test showed that the effectiveness of schema therapy intervention on self-differentiation was higher than emotional-based couple therapy (P <0.05).

According to the results of the present study, schema therapy and emotional-based couple therapy interventions can be effective in improving self-differentiation of young couples; It is recommended that therapists and family counselors use these therapies along with other therapeutic interventions to improve self-differentiation of couples.