The efficacy of schema therapy on communication beliefs and quality of life of couples with low marital compatibility

Confusion in the marital relationship has an important role in the quality of life, on the other hand, the quality of life of couples depends on their communication beliefs. Various studies have investigated the effect of schema therapy on behaviors related to emotional divorce, but the extent of the effect of schema therapy on communication beliefs and the quality of life of couples has been neglected.

The present study's purpose was to investigate schema therapy efficacy on communication beliefs and the quality of life of couples.

The present research method was semi-experimental with pre-test, post-test, and control group. The statistical population included women with low compatibility referring to counseling centers covered by Tehran's welfare between May and June 2021, in the first stage, 108 people were selected using the available method, and after completing the marital compatibility questionnaire, 30 people with compatibility were selected. They were randomly selected and placed in groups. The experimental group underwent schema therapy in 10 sessions of 90 minutes. The data collection tool was Idelsen and Epstein's Communication Beliefs Questionnaire (1981) and Quality of Life Questionnaire (World Health Organization, 2004). Data were analyzed using SPSS 24 software and analysis of covariance.

The findings showed that the average social, physical, psychological, environmental health, and overall health has increased, and it is statistically significant in the schema therapy group compared to the control group. The average score of belief in the destructiveness of opposition, belief in the changeability of the spouse, mind reading, sexual perfectionism, and belief in sexual differences in schema therapy has decreased, and this reduction in the schema therapy group is statistically significant compared to the control group. P<0.05).

Schema therapy leads to improving the quality of life and changing communication beliefs in couples involved in the conflict. Considering the effect of schema therapy on the communication beliefs and quality of life of couples, it is suggested that counseling centers and welfare centers pay attention to this approach to improve the quality of life and change the communication beliefs of couples involved in a conflict.