Comparison of the Effectiveness of Schema Therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy on Early Maladaptive Schemas, Marital Quality of Life, and Cognitive Regulation of Emotion in Couples Experiencing Infidelity

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD student, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Research and Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

2 Department of Psychology and Counseling, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

3 Department of Psychology, Psychology Research Center, Ur. C., Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran

10.22034/jmpr.2025.20494

Abstract

Marital infidelity is one of the most serious challenges faced by families, which has many consequences and therefore requires serious intervention. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of schema therapy and emotion-focused therapy on early maladaptive schemas, marital quality, and cognitive emotion regulation in couples experiencing infidelity. This study employed a quasi-experimental design. The statistical population consisted of couples affected by infidelity in Tabriz. A sample of 21 couples was randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group. To measure the variables, the following instruments were used: Young’s Early Maladaptive Schema Questionnaire, the Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire by Busby, Crane, Larson, and Christensen, and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire by Garnefski and Kraaij. Data were analyzed using mixed analysis of variance. The results showed that schema therapy significantly reduced the schemas of abandonment, distrust/abuse, defect/shame, vulnerability to harm, enmeshment, and self-sacrifice, and was more effective than emotion-focused therapy in these areas. In contrast, emotion-focused therapy was more effective for the schemas of emotional deprivation, subjugation, and emotional inhibition, as well as for the marital quality subscales of agreement and satisfaction, and for both adaptive and maladaptive dimensions of cognitive emotion regulation. According to the results of this study, psychotherapists should consider using both therapies to address the psychological difficulties of couples affected by infidelity, in order to reduce their emotional distress and improve overall functioning.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Modern Psychological Researches
Volume 20, Issue 79
October 2025
Pages 131-145

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History

  • Receive Date: 26 June 2022
  • Revise Date: 31 July 2022
  • Accept Date: 02 August 2022

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