Comparing the Effectiveness of Group Schema Therapy and Group Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Self-Care Behaviors among Adolescent Girls from Divorced Families
Keywords:
Schema Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Self-Care Behaviors, Adolescent Girls, Divorced Families.Abstract
This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of group schema therapy and group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on self-care behaviors among adolescent girls from divorced families. The present study was applied in purpose and quasi-experimental in method, using a pretest–posttest design with a control group. The statistical population included 13- to 15-year-old adolescent girls from divorced families studying in lower secondary schools in Tabriz during the 2023–2024 academic year. Through purposive sampling, 45 eligible students were selected and randomly assigned to three equal groups: schema therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and control, with 15 participants in each group. The experimental groups received their respective interventions in 12 group sessions of 90 minutes over approximately three months, while the control group received no intervention during the study period. Data were collected using the Adolescent Self-Care Questionnaire, which measures physical, psychosocial, and emotional self-care. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance in SPSS version 26. After controlling for pretest scores, schema therapy had a significant effect on physical self-care, F = 26.123, p < .001, psychosocial self-care, F = 71.349, p < .001, and emotional self-care, F = 13.013, p = .002. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy also had a significant effect on physical self-care, F = 17.427, p = .001, psychosocial self-care, F = 8.782, p = .009, and emotional self-care, F = 62.526, p < .001. The comparison of the two interventions showed no significant difference in physical and psychosocial self-care, but mindfulness-based cognitive therapy was significantly more effective than schema therapy in emotional self-care, F = 16.838, p < .001. Both group schema therapy and group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy were effective in improving self-care behaviors among adolescent girls from divorced families. However, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy showed greater effectiveness in improving emotional self-care, suggesting its particular usefulness for strengthening adolescents’ emotional awareness, self-kindness, and adaptive response to emotional needs.
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