The effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing on symptoms of anxiety sensitivity in divorced women

Divorce is one of the most important social phenomena that depends on many factors. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing on symptoms of anxiety sensitivity in divorced women.

The current study was a quasi-experimental interventional design. The statistical population consisted of 260 divorced women aged 20 to 50. Sixty of the mentioned women were selected based on the inclusion criteria and randomly assign to three groups, cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interview therapy, and control group. The instrument of data collection was Reyes and Patterson's Anxiety Sensitivity Questionnaire. For the experimental groups, 12 sessions of 75 minutes were held. No intervention was done for the control group. Before the interventions and at the end of the study, people in all groups filled out the anxiety sensitivity questionnaire. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 25 software and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).

There was a significant difference in the mean score of the anxiety sensitivity variable between the three groups of cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing and the control group (p<0.05). Also, in the one-by-one comparison of the cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational interview therapy groups with the control group, there was a significant difference in the post-test stage (p<0.05).

The findings indicate that the methods of cognitive-behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing are effective in reducing anxiety sensitivity in divorced women. It is suggested to use these two methods along with other psychological and pharmacological interventions in order to reduce anxiety sensitivity in divorced women as a clinical intervention.