Comparison of the Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Short-Term Solution-Focused Therapy on Distress Tolerance in Pregnant Women

Farnoosh  Irvani; Mustafa Bolghan-Abadi; Ahmad Mansouri

doi:10.61838/kman.hn.3.4.13

Authors

Farnoosh Irvani Ph.D Student of Psychology, Department of Psychology, Ne.C., Islamic Azad University, Neyshabur, Iran.

Mustafa Bolghan-Abadi * Department of Psychology, Ne.C., Islamic Azad University, Neyshabur, Iran. Mu.bolghanabadi@iau.ac.ir

Ahmad Mansouri Department of Psychology, Ne.C., Islamic Azad University, Neyshabur, Iran

https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.hn.3.4.13

Keywords:

distress tolerance, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), short-term solution-focused therapy (SFBT), pregnant women

Abstract

The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and short-term solution-focused therapy (SFBT) on distress tolerance in pregnant women in 2024. This applied research employed an experimental design with pretest–posttest and follow-up assessments, including a control group. The study population comprised all pregnant women who visited the Comprehensive Health Service Center and obstetrics specialists in Semnan and who became pregnant either naturally or through assisted reproductive methods in 2021 and 2022. Using a convenience sampling method, 66 pregnant women were selected. Data were collected using the standardized Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) by Simons and Gaher (2005) and analyzed with SPSS version 27. The CBT intervention group participated in eight weekly sessions of 90 minutes each, while the SFBT intervention group attended six weekly sessions of 90 minutes each. The control group was placed on a waiting list. The results showed that both CBT and short-term SFBT significantly improved distress tolerance in pregnant women, indicating the effectiveness of both therapeutic approaches. Additionally, no statistically significant difference was found between the two intervention groups regarding their impact on increasing distress tolerance. Based on the findings, both CBT and short-term SFBT were effective in enhancing distress tolerance and demonstrated stable effectiveness over time. Therefore, it is recommended that behavioral therapy practitioners incorporate the results of this study into their therapeutic programs

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Daalderop LA, Lagendijk J, Steegers EA, El Marroun H, Posthumus AG. Psychological distress during pregnancy and adverse maternal and perinatal health outcomes: The role of socioeconomic status. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. 2023;163(3):920-30. [PMID: 37259252] [DOI]

2. Wu Y, Lu YC, Jacobs M, Pradhan S, Kapse K, Chen Y, et al. Association of prenatal maternal psychological distress with fetal brain growth, metabolism, and cortical maturation. JAMA Network Open. 2020;3(1):Article e1919940. [PMID: 31995213] [PMCID: PMC6991285] [DOI]

3. Ochi S, Dwivedi Y. Dissecting early life stress-induced adolescent depression through epigenomic approach. Molecular Psychiatry. 2023;28(1):141-53. [PMID: 36517640] [PMCID: PMC9812796] [DOI]

4. Aliyari Khanshan Vatan F, Ahadi H, Kalhornia Golkar M, Sedaghat M. The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in anxiety and distress tolerance in patients with coronary heart diseases. Iranian Journal of Rehabilitation Research. 2022;8(3):54-65.

5. Zhong ZM, Jiang H, Wang H, Liu Y. The Association Between Mindfulness and Athletes’ Distress Tolerance: The Mediating Roles of Cognitive Reappraisal and Mental Toughness. Behavioral Sciences. 2025;15(3):298. [PMID: 40150193] [PMCID: PMC11939238] [DOI]

6. Grisham JR, Yap K, Isemann S, Svehla J, Briggs N, Norberg MM. A naturalistic study of emotion regulation-enhanced cognitive-behavioral group therapy for hoarding disorder in a community setting. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports. 2022;10:Article 100450. [DOI]

7. Baratpour S, Dasht Bozorgi Z. The effect of well-being therapy on hope, distress tolerance and death anxiety in people with cardiovascular disease after getting a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Iranian Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 2020;9(1):90-9.

8. Babaee Z, Mansoobifar M, Sabet M, Borjali M, Mashayekh M. Comparison of the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness treatment on distress tolerance and suicidal ideation in adolescents with suicidal thoughts. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 2022;13(4):41-52. [DOI]

9. Hosseinian S, Lotfi KF, Peyman A. Comparing the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy on depression, anxiety, and stress in nulliparous pregnant women. [Journal not specified in source]. 2022.

10. Ali Pourpicha H, Abbasi G, Hassan Zadeh R. The Impact of Integrated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Mindfulness on Intolerance of Uncertainty and Psychological Distress in Patients with COVID-19. Psychology Nursing. 2023;11(6):37-50.

11. Dobson KS, Dozois DJA. Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies: Guilford Press; 2021. 3_https://doi.org/DOI}

12. Aminoff V, Sellen M, Sörliden E, Ludvigsson M, Berg M, Andersson G. Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for psychological distress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Psychology. 2021;12:Article 684540. [PMID: 34194374] [PMCID: PMC8236879] [DOI]

13. Bakhtiari M, Pourdel M. The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy on distress tolerance and resilience in women with substance-dependent incarcerated spouses. Scientific Quarterly Research on Addiction. 2024;17(70):267-88. [DOI]

14. Karimi F, Zargar Shirazi F. The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy on cognitive emotion regulation and distress tolerance in women with substance-dependent spouses. Quarterly Journal of Addiction Research. 2023;17(70):175-94. [DOI]

15. Elahi M, Najafi M, Mohammadifar M. Comparison of the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and metacognitive therapy on psychological distress (stress, anxiety, and depression) in drug addicts. Journal of Modern Psychological Researches. 2023;18(71):13-22.

16. Karami P, Ghanifar MH, Ahi G. Comparing the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Compassion-Focused Therapy in Improving Distress Tolerance and Self-Compassion in Women with Experiences of Marital Infidelity. Journal of Assessment and Research in Applied Counseling (JARAC). 2024;6(2):27-35. [DOI]

17. Jahangirrad M, Kraskian-Mujmenari A, Nasseri-Moghaddam S. A comparative study on the effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy and emotion-focused therapy on distress tolerance in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. International Journal of Body, Mind & Culture. 2022;9(1):1-10.

18. Zarabi S, Tabatabaei Nejad FS, Latifi Z. Comparison of the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and self-healing therapy on the distress tolerance of women with bulimia nervosa. Journal of Research in Behavioural Sciences. 2021;19(2):369-80. [DOI]

19. Tashvighi M, Aghaei Amir Abadi SZ. The Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Group Therapy on Emotion Regulation Difficulties and Assertiveness in Adolescents Living in Welfare Centers in Tehran. 2020.

20. Kafaki HB. The Effect of Short-Term Solution Focused Therapy on Distress Tolerance and Social Adjustment of Patients With MS in Sari. American Journal of Applied Psychology. 2017;6(6):147. [DOI]

21. Zhang A, Ji Q, Zhang K, Cao Q, Chen Y, Chen J, et al. Solution-focused brief therapy for adolescent and young adult cancer patients in China: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology. 2022;40(6):816-33. [PMID: 34232115] [DOI]

22. Naderipour A, Toozandehjani H, Bagherzadeh Golmakani Z, Zendehdel A. The effectiveness of short-term solution-oriented psychotherapy on pain perception and distress tolerance in female patients with multiple sclerosis. Rooyesh-e-Ravanshenasi Journal. 2023;12(5):75-84.

23. Rahbari Ghazani N, Hajloo N, Aghajan S. The effectiveness of family-based empowerment based on short-term solution-oriented therapy on emotional expression and psychological distress of adolescents with substance-abuse parents. Rooyesh-e-Ravanshenasi Journal. 2022;11(5):111-24.

24. Baniasadi K, Gerdooie R, Gorji M, Shahbazi G, Babaahmadi F, Ghafourian G, et al. Comparison of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Enhancing Resilience, Cognitive Flexibility, and Distress Tolerance in Adolescents with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Journal of Adolescent and Youth Psychological Studies (JAYPS). 2025;6(6):1-10. [DOI]

25. Naderipour A, Tozandejani H, Bagherzadeh Golmakani Z, Zendehdel A. Effectiveness of short-term solution-focused psychotherapy on pain perception and distress tolerance in women with multiple sclerosis. Royesh Psychology. 2023;12(5):75-84.

26. Joolani E, Leil Abadi L, Golshani E. Comparing the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Using Rumi's Parables and Stories and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Distress Tolerance in Mothers of Children with Cerebral Palsy. Behavioral Sciences Research. 2023;21(2):238-60.

27. Dastyar N, Askarpour H. Investigation of psychological distress in pregnant women under domestic violence. Journal of Jiroft University of Medical Sciences. 2023;10(1):1179-86.