Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on the Desire for Divorce and Forgiveness in Betrayed Women

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on the desire for divorce and forgiveness in betrayed women.

Methods and Materials: The research method was quasi-experimental with a control and experimental group design. The statistical population of this study consisted of betrayed women in Tehran who had visited counseling centers in 2022. Thirty betrayed couples were screened through observation and interviews, and 15 women were placed in the control group and 15 women in the experimental group based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The sample for this study was selected through convenience sampling. The participants in the experimental group received ACT for 8 weeks, with one 60-90 minute session per week, while the control group did not receive any specific intervention. Data were collected using questionnaires on the desire for divorce and forgiveness. Participants completed the questionnaires in both pre-test and post-test situations. Covariance analysis was used for data analysis.

Findings: The findings showed that the mean scores of the variables of desire for divorce and forgiveness in the post-test of the experimental group were significantly different from the pre-test.

Conclusion: Therefore, ACT affects the desire for divorce and forgiveness in betrayed women.