The effectiveness of couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment on love schemas and emotional schemas in couples with extramarital relationships

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment on love schemas and emotional schemas in couples with extramarital relationships with a two-month follow-up period.

Methods and Materials: This research used a single-case quasi-experimental design of multiple baseline types. The statistical population of this research included all couples with experience in extramarital relations who were referred to the family courts and prevention unit of the Dezful city welfare department in 2021-22. After the diagnostic interview and specifying the couples who met the entry criteria, four couples (8 persons) were selected based on purposive sampling. The protocol of the couples therapy method was implemented in the form of three baseline stages and, eight 90-minute sessions and a two-month follow-up. The participants responded to Yaarmohammadi Vasel et al.'s Love Schema Questionnaire (2021) and Leahy Emotional Schema Scale (LESS). The data were analyzed using a visual drawing method, reliable change index (RCI), and recovery percentage formula.

Findings: The results showed that couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment increased adaptive emotional schemas and decreased maladaptive emotional schemas of couples with extramarital relationships (p<0.05). Couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment significantly affects the secure love schema, unstable love schema, clingy love schema, avoidant love schema, and non-serious love schema (p<0.05) and its results continued until the follow-up stage.

Conclusion: Therefore, couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment as a stable intervention to increase love and emotional schemas can be used in health and treatment centers for couples with extramarital relationships.