The efficacy of cognitive therapy based on acceptance and commitment with a focus on self-compassion emotional schemas and empathy in couples

Problematic emotional schemas are not only associated with emotions, but also with marital discord and decreased mindfulness, a negative view of one's emotions, and problematic coping strategies such as avoidance, rumination, or blaming oneself and others. On the other hand, empathy with the capability of understanding another’s emotional experience increases psychological well-being indicators and improves the quality of emotional schemas. Research shows the efficacy of acceptance and commitment therapy integrated with compassion on worry, rumination, social anxiety, and the relationship of couples; but there is a research gap in the application of this treatment in the studied community.

The present study sought to investigate the efficacy of cognitive therapy based on acceptance and commitment, with a focus on self-compassion emotional schemas, and empathy in couples.

The research method was quasi-experimental based on a pre-test, post-test design, and follow-up with the control group. The statistical population consisted of all couples who were referred to counseling centers in Tehran in the first half of 1400. The sample size was 36 people and the sampling method was purposive with random replacement. The experimental group received the interventions in 8 weekly 90-minute group sessions. The research instruments included Leahy's emotional schemas scale II (2002) and Jolliffe and Farrington’s basic empathy scale (2006). The data were analyzed using mixed analysis of variance and SPSS-25 statistical analysis software.

The results showed that cognitive intervention, based on acceptance and commitment with a focus on self-compassion, affect the variables of emotional schemas (P< 0.001) and empathy
(P< 0.001) significantly. Follow-up results showed stability in efficacy.

The results indicated that cognitive therapy based on acceptance and commitment with a focus on self-compassion influenced the emotional schemas and empathy in couples. Thus, cognitive therapy based on acceptance and commitment with a focus on self-compassion could be used to correct problematic emotional schemas and to increase empathy in couples.