Community Health Journal

Community Health Journal

Comparing the Effects of Schema-Based Couple Therapy and Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy on Conflict Resolution Styles in Maladjusted Couples: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
N Besharat Mehr 1
MM Jahangiri 2
D Taghvaei 3
1 PhD Student, Dept. of Psychology, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran.
2 Assistant Prof, Dept. of Psychology, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran.
3 Associate Prof, Dept. of Psychology, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran.
10.22123/chj.2025.514833.2176
Abstract
Introduction: Couples counseling is effective in reducing marital discord; however, the process of how such interventions are carried out is rarely described. Therefore, the need for obtaining a better understanding of couple therapy approaches with incompatible couples is paramount. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of SBCT (Schema-Based Couple Therapy) and EFCT (Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy) on conflict resolution styles in maladjusted couples.
Materials and Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and control group, along with a two-month follow-up assessment. The statistical population consisted of all maladjusted couples who attended the Tehran Asayesh Counseling Center in 2023 (80 couples). From this population, 90 individuals were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to three equal groups. Data were collected using Spanier’s Marital Adjustment Questionnaire (MAQ) and Rahim’s Organizational Conflict Inventory–II (ROCI-II). Therapeutic interventions for the experimental groups were delivered across ten weekly sessions, each lasting 90 minutes. The control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed by two-way repeated measures ANOVA.
Results: The scores of integration style (η=0.626, F=35.142), compromising style (η=0.539, F=24.561), and overall constructive conflict resolution (η=0.698, F=48.601), dominating style (η=0.582, F=29.220), obligating style (η=0.502, F=21.152), avoiding style (η=0.753, F=67.649), and overall unconstructive conflict resolution (η=0.807, F=87.761) in the test groups in the post-test stage significantly improved compared to the control group and, this improvement remained stable in the follow-up stage (p<0.05). Also, the results of Benferroni's post hoc test showed no significant difference between the two treatment approaches in terms of effectiveness.
Conclusion: Based on these findings, the SBCT and EFCT are beneficial in improving marital conflict resolution, and therapists can use these approaches to enrich the relationships of dysfunctional couples.
Keywords
Schema-based couple therapy, Emotionally focused couple therapy, Conflict resolution style, Maladjusted
1.        Beiramloei S, Monazami Tabar F, Safaei Rad I. The effectiveness of couple therapy based on communication imagery on marital burnout and attitudes towards extramarital relationships in conflicted couples. Applied Psychology 2024; 18(4):194-218. [In Persian]
2.        Zhang LR, Chen WW. Chinese young adults' emotion regulation and conflict resolution response profiles, and their associations with perceived partner responsiveness and romantic relationship satisfaction. Personal Relationships 2025; 32(1):e12580.
3.        Gobadi Kahnamoyi N, Azmoudeh M, Esmaielpour KH, SakenAzari R. Comparison of the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral couple therapy and emotionally focused couple therapy on interpersonal emotion regulation of couples with emotional divorce. Community Health Journal 2024; 18(1):11-21. [In Persian]
4.        Bülbül K, Odaci H, Türkkan T. Examination of the relationship between conflict resolution styles and marital satisfaction: the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties. Journal of Family Social Work 2024; 27(3-4):60-74.
5.        Girma Shifaw Z. Marital communication as moderators of the relationship between marital conflict resolution and marital satisfaction. The American Journal of Family Therapy 2024; 52(3):249-60.
6.        Ghafarzadehmatin A, Afrooz GA, Baghdasarans A, Ghodsi P. The effectiveness of couple-based schema therapy on marital satisfaction in young couples. Journal of Applied Psychological Research 2024 Dec 24.
7.        Zare M, Taghavi MR, Aflakseir A. Predicting of marital commitment based on couples' conflict resolution styles, self-compassion and satisfaction of basic psychological needs. Clinical Psychology Studies 2023; 14(50):1-36. [In Persian]
8.        Karimi HA, Lali M. The effectiveness of couple therapy based on schema therapy on rejection sensitivity and tendency to marital infidelity of married women. Iranian Journal of Family Psychology 2024; 11(1):94-107. [In Persian]
9.        Ogwuche CH, Tyav-Tersoo KI, Caleb ON, Orafa DT. Marital infidelity among married couples: Roles of emotional intelligence and narcissistic personality traits in makurdi, benue state. Journal of Innovation in Psychology, Education and Didactics 2024; 28(1):27-36.
10.     Masoudi Z, Smkhani-Akbarinejhad H. The effectiveness of emotion-focused couple therapy on forgiveness and sexual intimacy of women affected by marital infidelity. Journal of Psychology 2024; 28(2):162-70. [In Persian]
11.     Young JE, Klosko JS, Weishaar ME. Schema Therapy: A Practitioners Guide. Guilford Press; 2003.
12.     Zhao J, Tadros E. Rebuilding Trust After Infidelity for Justice-Involved Couples: An Emotionally Focused Therapy Case Study. The Family Journal 2025:10664807251329573.
13.     Kula O, Machluf R, Bar‐Kalifa E, Shahar B. The relationship between therapist interventions and couples' emotional injury resolution in emotion focused couples therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy 2022; 48(3):726-37.
14.     Johnson SM. Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy. In A. S. Gurman, J. L. Lebow, & D. K. Snyder (Eds.), Clinical handbook of couple therapy (5th ed., pp. 97–128). The Guilford Press 2015.
15.     Tayyebi Z, Jadidi M, Godsi P. The effectiveness of emotion-oriented couple therapy on marital burnout in women affected by infidelity. Journal of Research in Psychological Health 2024; 18(1):16-27. [In Persian]
16.     Salimi L. The effectiveness of emotion-oriented couple therapy on positive feelings towards the spouse and intolerance of uncertainty in infertile couples applying for divorce. Rooyesh-e-Ravanshenasi Journal (RRJ) 2023; 12(8):201-10. [In Persian]
17.     Spanier GB. Measuring dyadic adjustment: New scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads. Journal of Marriage and the Family 1976; 38(1), 15-28.
18.     Rahim MA. Rahim organizational conflict inventory–II (ROCI-II). Journal of Applied Psychology. 1983.
19.     Borjali Z, Molazade J, Mohammadi N, Aflakseir A. The efficacy of the combined couple therapy approach based on acceptance and commitment with schema formulation (ACT/SF) on psychological flexibility and marital satisfaction. Journal of Psychological Science 2024; 23(141):27-47. [In Persian]
20.     Moghim F, Asadi J, Khajevand Khoshali A. A comparison between the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and schema therapy on marital burnout and marital conflicts of patients referred to Gorgan counseling centers. Shenakht Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry 2022; 9(2):16-34. [In Persian]
21.     Bagheri Kaboodkola M, Mohammadzadeh R, Ghavampour Hashemi M. The effectiveness of schema-based cognitive therapy on cognitive fatigue and the quality of marital relationships of married women in Amol city. Shenakht Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry 2024; 11(2):34-45. [In Persian]
22.     Heim C, Heim C. Jointly negotiated conflict resolution strategies of couples in long-term marriages: A qualitative study. Contemporary Family Therapy 2025; 47(1):16-28.
23.     Elegbede CB, Abidogun MA, Mumuni MA, Kuponiyi YA. Effectiveness of Marital Conflict Resolution Mechanisms in Fostering Marriage Stability among Couples in Lagos State, Nigeria. Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences Journal of Health, Sports Science and Recreation 2024; 2(1):130-6.
24.     Iamnizad A, Golmohmmadian M, Moradi O, Godarzi M. The effectiveness of emotion-oriented couple therapy on forgiveness and communication beliefs of couples involved in marital infidelity. Journal of Psychological Science 2021; 20(100):653-65. [In Persian]
25.     Sedeghi-Arfaee F, Navabi-Semiromi MJ, Mansourzade-Semiromi N. The effectiveness of emotionally focused couple therapy on interpersonal forgiveness and cognitive flexibility. Psychological Models and Methods 2024; 15(56):19-34. [In Persian]
26.     Seidyousefi M, Mohamadian F, Nademi A. Comparison of the effectiveness of schema-based couple therapy and emotion-focusedcouple therapy on the spouse acceptance in couples with marital disputes. Rooyesh-e-Ravanshenasi Journal (RRJ) 2023; 12(4):55-64. [In Persian]
27.     Letafati-Beris R, Ghamari-Kivi H, Kiani AR, Sheykholeslami A. Comparison of the effectiveness of the schema mode therapy and Emotional-focused therapy on styles of conflict resolution, in new married couples with conflict. Rooyesh-e-Ravanshenasi Journal (RRJ) 2021; 10(9):181-92. [In Persian]
28.     Pourabbas Vafa H, Babapour Kheiroddin J, Livarjani S, Moheb N. Comparison of the efficacy of emotional schema therapy and emotion-based therapy on marital burnout among women with emotional divorce. Journal of Modern Psychological Researches 2022; 17(66):35-43. [In Persian]
29.     Kadiroğlu İ, Çoban S, Şenkal Ertürk İ. Emotion-focused therapy and trauma: an integrative review. Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies, 2025; 1-17.
Community Health Journal
Volume 19, Issue 2
Autumn 2025
Pages 45-59