Comparison of the Effectiveness of Narrative Therapy and Schema Therapy on the Character Strengths of Middle-Aged Women
Keywords:
Narrative therapy, schema therapy, character strengths, middle-aged womenAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of narrative therapy and schema therapy in enhancing character strengths among middle-aged women.
Methods and Materials: A quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group structure was employed, involving 60 middle-aged women randomly assigned to three groups: narrative therapy, schema therapy, and a control group. The Values in Action Inventory of Strengths (VIA-S) by Seligman and Peterson (2004) was used to measure character strengths, demonstrating high reliability (Cronbach's alpha: 0.75–0.97). Interventions included 8 sessions of narrative therapy and 9 sessions of schema therapy, conducted in group settings. Data were analyzed using multivariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA) in SPSS version 23.
Findings: Both narrative therapy and schema therapy significantly enhanced character strengths, with a large effect size of 0.396. Narrative therapy was more effective in improving courage (mean difference: 9.75, p < .001) and temperance (mean difference: 8.75, p < .001) compared to schema therapy. Schema therapy showed comparable efficacy in enhancing wisdom, humanity, justice, and transcendence, with no significant differences between the two therapies in these domains. The control group exhibited minimal changes in character strengths between pretest and posttest.
Conclusion: Both narrative therapy and schema therapy are effective in enhancing character strengths among middle-aged women, with narrative therapy demonstrating superior efficacy in improving courage and temperance. These findings underscore the importance of tailored therapeutic approaches in promoting psychological well-being and resilience in this demographic. The study contributes to the growing body of research on positive psychology and therapeutic interventions, highlighting the role of character strengths in personal growth and mental health.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Masoumeh Shekohideh (Author); Ahmad Ghazanfari
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