Compassion-Focused Therapy Versus Schema Therapy: A Comparative Analysis of Their Impact on Relationship Beliefs in Women Seeking Divorce
| Author | Mozhdeh Sadat Hamidian | en |
| Author | Alireza Manzari Tavakoli | en |
| Author | Arsalan Khanmohammadi Otaghsara | en |
| Orcid | Mozhdeh Sadat Hamidian [0000-0002-9395-916X] | en |
| Orcid | Alireza Manzari Tavakoli [0000-0002-1573-7748] | en |
| Orcid | Arsalan Khanmohammadi Otaghsara [0000-0001-7000-331X] | en |
| Issued Date | 2026-07-31 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Dysfunctional relationship beliefs contribute substantially to marital dissolution. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy (CFT) and schema therapy in reducing dysfunctional relationship beliefs among women seeking divorce, with particular attention to between-group differences and the durability of effects at a 3-month follow-up. Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group and a 3-month follow-up was used. The study population comprised women aged 25 - 45 years seeking divorce in Tehran during 2024 - 2025 (mean age = 34.72 years, standard deviation [SD] = 5.22). Using convenience sampling, 45 eligible participants were recruited and randomly assigned to three equal groups (n = 15 each): CFT, schema therapy, and a control group. Both intervention groups received eight weekly 90-minute sessions, whereas the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Relationship Beliefs Inventory and analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post hoc tests in SPSS version 26. Results: Both interventions significantly reduced dysfunctional relationship beliefs compared with the control group (time × group interaction: F = 79.91, P = 0.001, η2 = 0.69). Schema therapy produced a greater reduction than CFT (mean difference = 20.97, P = 0.001). No significant differences were observed between the posttest and follow-up assessments, indicating that treatment gains were maintained in both experimental groups. Conclusions: Both approaches reduced dysfunctional relationship beliefs; however, schema therapy produced significantly greater and more sustained reductions than CFT. These findings support the preferential use of schema therapy to modify dysfunctional relationship beliefs in family counseling and psychological interventions before divorce among women seeking divorce. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/jhrt-172660 | en |
| URI | https://brieflands.com/journals/jhrt/articles/172660 | en |
| Keyword | Divorce | en |
| Keyword | Psychotherapy | en |
| Keyword | Interpersonal Relationships | en |
| Keyword | Empathy | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Compassion-Focused Therapy Versus Schema Therapy: A Comparative Analysis of Their Impact on Relationship Beliefs in Women Seeking Divorce | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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