The Effectiveness of “Schema Therapy” and “Imago Relationship Therapy” and on Marital Boredom of Couples in Qom

Today, attention to the family and its role in building a healthy society has received more and more attention from psychologists and researchers. One of the most important issues in a marital relationship is boredom. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of "Schema Therapy" and "Imago Relationship Therapy" on marital boredom of couples in Qom.

In this semi-experimental research, a pre-test, post-test and follow-up design was used with a control group. The statistical population included all couples who referred to the counseling center of Qom Young Cultural Center in 2020.30 couples by simple random method were chosen by lottery. The instruments used in the study included demographic questionnaire, the “Marital Boredom Scale”. The validity of the scale was measured by the content validity index and the reliability by the internal consistency method by calculating the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. "Schema Therapy" was performed in 8 sessions of 90 minutes (one session per week) and "Imago Relationship Therapy" was performed in 10 sessions of 90 minutes. Data were analyzed in SPSS. 23.

There was no significant difference between the mean scores of marital boredom between "Schema Therapy" and "Imago Relationship Therapy" (P-value <0.05). The difference in the mean score of marital boredom variable between the "Schema Therapy" groups with control and also the "Imago Relationship Therapy" groups with control in the pre-test stage is not significant. But in the post-test and follow-up stage it was significant (P-value <0.05). In the groups of "Schema Therapy" and “Imago Relationship Therapy”, the difference between the mean scores of marital boredom in the stages of pre-test with post-test, pre-test with follow-up and post-test with follow-up was significant (P-value <0.05). But in the control group, the difference between the mean scores of marital boredom was not significant in any of the 2 to 2 stages (P-value <0.05).

"Schema Therapy" and “Imago Relationship Therapy” were significant on the marital boredom of couples in Qom. Therefore, it is suggested that psychologists and counselors use both treatments to reduce marital problems and especially marital boredom.