The Effects of Forgiveness-Based Mindfulness Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy on Depression and Resiliency in Women Affected by Their Husbands’ Infidelity

From among psychological treatments, the forgiveness-based mindfulness therapy and emotionally focused therapy can better help women affected by their husbands’ infidelity. The objective of this research is to determine the effects of the forgiveness-based mindfulness therapy and the emotionally focused therapy on depression and resiliency in women affected by their husbands’ infidelity. The research method and design included an educational trial (semi-experimental), with three groups and two stages (the pre-test and post-test stages). The research statistical population included the women who had been affected by their husbands’ infidelity in Isfahan city, in 2017, from among which 45 women were selected and then randomly assigned to three groups. To measure the dependent variables, the Becks’ Depression Inventory (BDI), and the resiliency questionnaire were utilized. The group of "forgiveness-based mindfulness therapy" received 11 sessions of treatment, and the group of "emotionally focused therapy" received 8 sessions of treatment, but the control group received no treatment. The data were analyzed using the multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). The results indicated a significant difference between the forgiveness-based mindfulness therapy (37/10) for the control group (20.53) in terms of depression in the post-test and the pretest (p<0.001), and there was a significant difference between the forgiveness-based mindfulness therapy (93.40) and the emotionally focused therapy (88.13) for the control group (66.33) in terms of resiliency (p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference observed between the emotionally-focused therapy (13.67) for the control group (20.53) in terms of depression (p>0.05). Considering the research findings, the forgiveness-based mindfulness therapy is effective in treating depression and resiliency, and the emotionally focused therapy is effective in enhancing the resiliency of women affected by their husbands’ infidelity. Therefore, it is recommended that these two therapies be used to improve the mental health and well-being of women affected by their husbands’ infidelity