The Effect of Schema Therapy on Cognitive Avoidance, Anxiety, and Empathy in Couples Referring to Ahvaz Counseling Centers

The family as one of the most important social institutions has an important role in shaping the personality of individuals. Satisfaction, desirability, contentment, quality and optimal functioning of the family are important and influential factors on the growth and prosperity of family members. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of schema therapy on cognitive avoidance, anxiety and empathy in married women in Ahvaz.

The research method was quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest design and follow-up with a control group. The statistical population included all married women who referred to counseling centers in Ahvaz due to marital incompatibility in 2020. The sample consisted of 30 married women who were selected by available sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (15 people in each group). Data collection tools included Anxiety subscale questionnaire from SCL-90 (1973), Sexton and Dagas Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire (CAQ) (2008) and Batson Empathy Traits Scale (BEA) (1983). The members of the experimental group underwent group therapy schemas in 9 sessions of 90 minutes and the control group did not receive any intervention program. Follow-up intervention was performed 45 days after post-test in experimental and control groups. Data were analyzed by multivariate and univariate covariance using SPPS software.

The results showed that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of cognitive avoidance, anxiety and empathy (p<0.001). Schema therapy effectively decreased anxiety and cognitive avoidance and also increased empathy among couples with low marital adjustment in the experimental group (p<0.001).

The results showed that there was a significant difference in the dependent variables (cognitive avoidance, anxiety and empathy) between schema therapy and control groups. Also, the results lasted for a period of 45 days. Also, according to the results of the present study, schema therapy program can be used to reduce cognitive avoidance and anxiety and increase empathy in couples with conflict.