Comparison of the Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Couple Therapy and Schema Therapy on Improving Communication Patterns in Couples Affected by Domestic Violence
Keywords:
Schema Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Couple Therapy, Communication Patterns in Couples, Domestic ViolenceAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Schema Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Couple Therapy (CBCT) in improving communication patterns among couples affected by domestic violence.
Methods and Materials: The study employed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of couples affected by domestic violence who referred to counseling centers in Tehran. A total of 45 participants were selected using simple random sampling and assigned to two experimental groups (Schema Therapy and CBCT) and one control group, each containing 15 participants. Data were collected using the Communication Patterns Questionnaire (Christensen & Salavy, 1984) and analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and Tukey’s post hoc test with SPSS version 26. Each intervention included 10 weekly sessions tailored to the specific therapeutic model.
Findings: The MANCOVA results indicated statistically significant differences between groups in all three communication pattern dimensions: mutual constructive communication (F = 8.043, p < .01), mutual avoidant communication (F = 2.222, p < .05), and demand/withdraw communication (F = 1.068, p < .05). Tukey’s post hoc test revealed that Schema Therapy was significantly more effective than CBCT in improving mutual constructive communication (mean difference = 2.40, p = .006), reducing mutual avoidance (mean difference = 0.13, p = .000), and decreasing demand/withdraw patterns (mean difference = -1.00, p = .000).
Conclusion: These findings suggest that Schema Therapy may offer deeper and more sustainable improvements in relational functioning by targeting underlying maladaptive schemas contributing to dysfunctional communication.
Downloads
References
Abdollahi, N., Amini, N., & Honarparvaran, N. (2023). The effect of schema-based couple therapy on improving psychological flexibility, cognitive emotion regulation, and communication patterns in couples in Shiraz. Family and Health, 13(4), 151-169. https://www.magiran.com/paper/2775293/the-effect-of-couple-therapy-based-on-the-schema-on-improving-psychological-flexibility-cognitive-emotion-regulation-and-communication-patterns-of-couples-in-shiraz?lang=en
Adıyaman, Y. C., & Eğinli, A. T. (2023). The effect of early maladaptive schemas on communication styles of romantic couples. Journal of Fundamentals of Mental Health, 25(6), 340-355. https://www.magiran.com/paper/2678676/the-effect-of-early-maladaptive-schemas-on-communication-styles-of-romantic-couples?lang=en
Akbari, M., Shokhmgar, Z., Sanagoo, A., Nasiri, A., Ahange, A., Khaleghi, H., Mohammad Pour, M., & Karami, A. (2021). Comparison of the Effectiveness of Schema Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on CommunicationSkills and Problem Solving and Mental Health in Couples with Extra-Marital Experience. ijpn, 9(1), 1-10. http://ijpn.ir/article-1-1476-en.html
Akbari, M., Shokhmgar, Z., Thanago, A., Nasiri, A., Anghi, A., Khalqi, H., Mohammadpour, M., & Vakrami, A. (2021). Comparing the effectiveness of schema therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy on communication and problem solving skills and mental health in couples with extramarital experience. Journal of psychiatric nursing, 9(1), 1-10. https://ijpn.ir/article-1-1476-en.html
Amini, A., Ghorbanshirroudi, S., & Khalatbari, J. (2023). Comparison of the Effectiveness of Teaching Strategies Based on Emotion-Oriented Couple on Communication Patterns of Couples. yums-armaghan, 28(3), 340-354. https://doi.org/10.61186/armaghanj.28.3.340
Ardakhani, N., & Seadatee Shamir, A. (2022). The effectiveness of Emotion-focused Couple Therapy on Emotional Self-Disclosure and Marital Commitment of Couples Referring to Counseling Centers. International Journal of Education and Cognitive Sciences, 3(3), 27-34. https://doi.org/10.22034/injoeas.2022.160162
Behnia, L., Ghorban Shiroudi, S., & Khalatbari, J. (2019). The Relationship Between Insecure Attachment and Ineffective Parenting with Domestic Violence Against Women on the Verge of Divorce with the Mediation of Early Maladaptive Schemas. Journal of Cognitive Sciences, 16(06), 216EP - 265. https://psychologicalscience.ir/article-1-298-fa.html
Durães, R. S. S., Khafif, T. C., Lotufo-Neto, F., & Serafim, A. d. P. (2020). Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Couple Therapy on Reducing Depression and Anxiety Symptoms and Increasing Dyadic Adjustment and Marital Social Skills: An Exploratory Study. The Family Journal, 28(4), 344-355. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480720902410
Farabi, M., Teimouri, S., & Rajaei, A. (2023). Comparing the Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Couple Therapy and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy on Communication Patterns in Couples with Extramarital Relationships. International Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 16(4), 241-247. https://doi.org/10.30491/ijbs.2023.365115.1862
Ghanbari, Z., Mohseni Nasab, Z., Taati, M., Mohbi Aria, M., & Torabi, A. (2023). Comparing the effectiveness of schema therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction on alexithymia, self-control, and psychological well-being in women victims of domestic violence. Research in Psychological Health, 17(4), 50-65. https://www.magiran.com/paper/2715846/comparing-the-effectiveness-of-schema-therapy-and-stress-reduction-based-on-mindfulness-on-emotional-ataxia-self-control-and-psychological-well-being-in-women-victims-of-domestic-violence?lang=en
Hadian, S., Havasi soomar, N., Hosseinzadeh Taghvaei, M., Ebrahimi, M. I., & Ranjbaripour, T. (2023). Comparing the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy and reality therapy on the responsibility and self-efficacy of divorced women [Research]. Advances in Cognitive Sciences, 25(3), 47-63. https://doi.org/10.30514/icss.25.3.47
Kayairad, H., Pasha, R., Asgari, P., & Makvandi, B. (2020). Comparison of the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy and schema therapy on extramarital relationships and domestic violence in women with emotional divorce. Psychological Sciences Journal, 19(96), 1667-1682. https://psychologicalscience.ir/article-1-877-en.html
Kiaee Rad, H., Pasha, R., Askary, P., & Makvandi, B. (2022). The Effect of Schema Therapy on Extramarital Relationships and Domestic Violence in Women with Emotional Divorce. Knowledge & Research in Applied Psychology, 23(3), 188-204. https://sanad.iau.ir/en/Article/889481
Miri, N. (2024). Structural modeling of trust in couples affected by infidelity based on emotional schemas with the mediation of communication patterns. Jarac, 6(2), 79-85. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.jarac.6.2.10
Moradi, Z., & Sadeghi, M. (2020). The Impact of Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy on Anger Control and Marital Conflict Reduction in Couples Referring to the Police Counseling Centers: A Single-Subject Study. Military Psychology, 10(40), 67-82. https://jmp.ihu.ac.ir/article_205107_cb0a0e42f964b99ec5738859bd544e3a.pdf
Niazi, E., Mami, S., & Ahmadi, V. (2019). Comparison of the Efficacy of the Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy and Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy on the Communication Beliefs among Maladjustment Couples [Original Research Article]. Middle Eastern Journal of Disability Studies, 9(0), 14-14. http://jdisabilstud.org/article-1-1403-en.html
Rahiman, R. (2024). Development of a Structural Model With a Mediating Role of Maladaptive Schema in Relation to Personality Dimensions and Attachment Styles With Communication Skills and Marital Conflicts Among Couples Facing Divorce. PST, 48(2), 842-857. https://doi.org/10.52783/pst.599
Rajani, A. A., Azizi, L. S., Naeemi, S., Amiri, A. A., Javidan, M. M., Abad, H. D. G., & Hosseini, K. (2016). The Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Couple Therapy on Reduction of Marital Conflicts and Burnout of Couples. The Turkish Online Journal of Design Art and Communication, 6(AGSE), 1649-1655. https://doi.org/10.7456/1060agse/046
Rasouli Rad, A., Rahmani, M. A., Shiroudi, S. G., & Zarbakhsh, M. R. (2023). Comparing the Effectiveness of Schema Therapy and Mutual Behavior Analysis on Marital Heartbreak, Marital Conflict and Communication Skills of Couples Applying for Divorce [Research]. Islamic Life Style, 6(4), 788-799. http://islamiclifej.com/article-1-1441-en.html
Ussher, J. M., & Perz, J. (2017). Evaluation of the relative efficacy of a couple cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) for Premenstrual Disorders (PMDs), in comparison to one-to-one CBT and a wait list control: A randomized controlled trial. PLoS One, 12(4), e0175068. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0175068
Vaslehchi, T., Moghaddam, A. A., Ehsanfar, M., Hajiyousefi, E., & Abbasi, N. (2024). The Efficacy of Cognitive-Behavioral Couple Therapy on Communication Beliefs and Marital Burnout Among Couples on the Verge of Divorce. Jarac, 6(1), 64-71. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.jarac.6.1.7
Downloads
Additional Files
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammad Talaei Kahjugh (Corresponding Author); Arash Nikmanesh, Kamran Pourmohammad Ghouchani (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
