Comparison of the effectiveness of schema therapy and treatment based on improving the quality of life on marital intimacy in women affected by infidelity

Background: Marital infidelity is one of the most important factors that threaten performance, stability and continuity of marriage and main reason that brings couples to family counseling centers for divorce.Objectives: The present study was conducted with aim of comparing the effectiveness of schema therapy and therapy based on improving the quality of life on marital intimacy in women affected by infidelity. Methods: This research was a semi-experimental type with pre-test and post-test design and control group with two-months follow-up. The statistical population was all women affected by infidelity in ۲۰۲۰- ۲۰۲۱ in the city of Tehran, and the statistical sample was ۴۵ women who were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to three groups of ۱۵ people. Schema therapy group was intervened during ۸ sessions of ۹۰ minutes and the treatment group based on quality of life during ۱۰ sessions of ۹۰ minutes once a week. The research tool included Walker & Thompson's Marital Intimacy Questionnaire (MIS) (۲۰۰۳). In order to analyze the data, descriptive and inferential statistical indicators, variance analysis test with repeated measurements and covariance test were used. RESULTS: The results showed that ۵۴/۲% of marital intimacy is under the influence of two treatments. The main effect of group is significant for intimacy (F=۲۴/۵۶, P=۰.۰۰۰, ۰.۲۱۰). However, there was no difference between the effectiveness of two treatments in increasing intimacy. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that schema therapy and therapy based on improving the quality of life are effective on increasing intimacy in women affected by infidelity.

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Keywords: marital intimacy , treatment based on improving the quality of life , schema therapy