Examining the Effect of a Strength-Based Approach on Distress Tolerance and Frustration Tolerance in Divorced Women

Maryam Lali Dehghi; Asmat Sadat Atai Kechui; Tayebeh Dohooyi Mosa; Fatemeh Heidari

doi:10.61838/kman.aftj.5.2.3

Authors

Maryam Lali Dehghi M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling, Department of Counseling, Khomeinishahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khomeinishahr, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0857-3230
Asmat Sadat Atai Kechui M.A. in General Psychology, Department of Psychology, Khorasgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khorasgan, Iran Corresponding Author
Tayebeh Dohooyi Mosa M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Anar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Anar, Iran Author
Fatemeh Heidari M.A. in Psychology, Department of Psychology, Fasa Branch, Islamic Azad University, Fasa, Iran Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.aftj.5.2.3

Keywords:

Strength-based approach, distress tolerance, frustration tolerance, divorced women

Abstract

Objective: Dealing with stress is one of the transformative changes that divorce introduces in personal and family lives, leading to the disruption of mental health, cognitive conflicts, and identity crises among women. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a strength-based approach on distress tolerance and frustration tolerance in divorced women.

Methods: The research was applied in nature and semi-experimental in design, featuring a pre-test and post-test with one experimental group and one control group, along with a two-month follow-up. Consequently, the study population consisted of all divorced women who visited counseling centers in District 6 of Tehran in 2022. From this population, 40 women were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental group (20 participants) and a control group (20 participants). The experimental group underwent a strength-based approach program based on a protocol developed by Darbani and Parsakia (2022). Data collection tools included the Harrington Frustration Tolerance Questionnaire (2005) and the Simons and Gahr Distress Tolerance Questionnaire (2005). Descriptive statistics utilized frequency distribution tables, and inferential analysis was conducted using mixed ANOVA with repeated measures and Bonferroni post-hoc tests, employing SPSS software version 26.

Findings: Considering the F-values and significance levels in the mixed ANOVA for frustration tolerance (F = 10.49, p = 0.002) and distress tolerance (F = 8.81, p = 0.003), it can be concluded that the intervention employed in this study, namely the strength-based approach as an independent variable, significantly altered the dependent variables (frustration tolerance and distress tolerance).

Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the strength-based approach is effective in improving distress tolerance and frustration tolerance among divorced women. Therefore, techniques from this approach can be utilized in post-divorce counseling for divorced women.