Comparison of the effectiveness of schema mode cards and the effectiveness of cognitive processing therapy on problem solving in conflicted couples

Abstract

Background and Aim: Marriage conflicts occur when there is disagreement, incompatibility, or disagreement between couples, therefore, this research aimed to compare the effectiveness of schema mode cards and the effectiveness of cognitive processing therapy on problem-solving skills in conflicted couples. Methods: The purpose of the present research was applied. Its method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test and post-test design, two experimental groups and a control group, and a two-month follow-up period. The statistical population of the research included all the couples who were referred to the counseling centers of the 10th district of Tehran in 1400. Thirty couples were selected by available sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental and one control group. The research tools included the Marital Conflict Questionnaire (MCQ), Hepner's Problem Solving Scale (1982), Cognitive Processing Therapy Training Package by Rasik et al. (2007), and Tabatabai Far et al. was implemented for the experimental groups. The obtained data were analyzed using repeated measure variance. Results: The findings indicate that teaching schema mode cards on all components of problem-solving, including trust in problem-solving (Eta coefficient = 0.61), avoidance-tendency style (Eta coefficient = 0.51), and personal problem (Eta coefficient = 0.35), is compelling. Also, cognitive processing treatment is effective on the above components with coefficients of 0.75, 0.56 and 0.40, respectively. The effectiveness of both approaches was stable in the follow-up phase, according to Bonferroni's post hoc test. The findings showed that teaching schema mode cards were more effective than cognitive processing intervention in problem-solving components (P<0.05). Conclusion: Based on the available findings, it can be concluded that both methods of teaching schema mode cards and cognitive processing therapy can be used to increase problem-solving in conflicting couples. According to the cultural context and localization of schema mode cards, it can be more useful in problem-solving in conflicting couples.