Effectiveness of Online Group Therapy based on Emotional Schema Therapy on Distress Tolerance and Cognitive Emotion Regulation on University Students with Adjustment Disorder due to Romantic Break-up

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of online emotional schema therapy on distress tolerance and cognitive emotion regulation in university students with adjustment disorder due to romantic break-ups.

By a randomized controlled trial design, among students of 4 universities with romantic break-up experiences in the 2020 year, applying an online procedure a final sample of 30 participants was selected and divided randomly into two equal groups. Participants were in the 18 to 38 age range. After filling out the demographic information questionnaires, Adjustment Disorder New Model and the DSM-5 diagnostic interview, participants were accepted into the sample based on a puposeful sampling . The experimental group received emotional schema therapy for 10 sessions and the control group remained on the waiting list. Participants completed the distress tolerance scale (DTS) and cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire (CERQ) in three stages of the study.

Results of a mixed analysis of variance showed a significant difference (P<0/05) between the post-test scores of the experimental and control groups in the distress tolerance and cognitive emotion regulation strategies variables.

The results of this study suggest that online group therapy based on emotional schema therapy can reduce the symptoms of a romantic breakup and is recommended for them.