Comparing the Effectiveness of the Intolerance of Uncertainty Therapy and Emotion-Oriented Therapy Based on Compassion on Psychological Coherence, Resilience and Distress Tolerance in Divorcing Women

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD student, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Se.C., Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran

2 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Se.C., Islamic Azad University, Semnan, Iran

3 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

10.22034/jmpr.2025.69277.6827

Abstract

The research question of this study is: What is the difference in the effectiveness of Intolerance of Uncertainty Therapy and CEmotion-Oriented Therapy Based on Compassion on psychological coherence, resilience, and distress tolerance among women at risk of divorce? Based on the objective, the research methodology was applied. From the perspective of data collection, the study employed a quantitative approach and a quasi-experimental design, specifically a pre-test, post-test design with a control group, followed by a 2-month follow-up period. The statistical population consisted of all women at risk of divorce who sought consultation at psychological service centers in Tehran’s Districts 1, 2, and 11 during the years 2023–2024. The participants completed the Psychological Coherence Questionnaire (SCQ) by Flensborg-Madsen et al. (2006), the Resilience Scale (RISC) by Connor & Davidson (2003), and the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) by Simons & Gaher (2005). Results indicated that Emotion-Oriented Therapy Based on Compassion was more effective than Intolerance of Uncertainty Therapy in improving psychological coherence, resilience, and distress tolerance. Consequently, the main hypothesis—that there is a difference in the effectiveness of these two approaches on psychological coherence, resilience, and distress tolerance among women at risk of divorce—was confirmed.
Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that Emotion-Oriented Therapy Based on Compassion demonstrates greater efficacy compared to Intolerance of Uncertainty Therapy in improving distress tolerance, psychological coherence, and resilience among women at risk of divorce.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Akhgari, Zahra, Ebrahimi Moghadam, Hossein & Davari, Rahim. (1400). Predicting Distress Tolerance Based on Dark Personality Traits with Mediation of Defense Styles in Married Clients Seeking Divorce. Journal of the Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, 64(6), 4237-4251. (In Persian) DOI: 10.22038/mjms.2022.20142
Al-Yagon, M., Garbi, L., & Rich, Y. (2022). Children's resilience to ongoing border attacks: the role of father, mother, and child resources. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 1(2), 1-12.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-021-01303-6
Ayaadi, Nader, Fatehizadeh, Maryam & Etemadi, Ozra. (2025). Identifying the challenges and issues of remarriage after divorce in Iran: A systematic qualitative study. Journal of Applied Psychological Research, 16(3), 107-126. DOI: 10.22059/japr.2024.358746.644611
Azimzadeh Tehrani, Negar, Bayazi, Mohammad Hossein & Shakeri Nasab, Mohsen. (2019). The relationship between Islamic coping methods and the sense of psychological coherence with disease adaptation and pain tolerance in patients with breast cancer. Health Psychology, 9(33), 145-160. (In Persian) DOI: 10.30473/hpj.2020.48867.4584
Akbari, Mehdi. (2017). Comparing the effectiveness of intolerance of uncertainty therapy, drug treatment with buspirone and combination therapy in improving symptoms of patients with generalized anxiety disorder. Clinical Psychology Studies, 8(27), 89-115. (In Persian) DOI: 10.22054/jcps.2017.7909
Basirifar, M., & Mosavinezhad, S. M. (2022). Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Distress Tolerance and Sense of Coherence in Infertile Women in Mashhad. J Health Res Commun, 8(1), 81-92 (In Persian) URL: http://jhc.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-597-fa.html
Bhovandi, Neda, Khayatan, Flor, & Golparvar, Mohsen. (1400). Comparing the effectiveness of emotion-focused integrative therapy based on compassion with compassion-based therapy on perfectionism and intolerance of uncertainty in patients with primary headache symptoms. Psychological Methods and Models, 12(43), 114-130. (In Persian) SID. https://sid.ir/paper/1000079/fa
Behvandi, N., Khayatan, F., & Golparvar, M. (2022). Comparing of Compassion-Based Emotion Focused Therapy With Compassion-Focused Treatment on Quality of Life of Primary Headache Patients. IJPCP, 28(2), 210-221 (In Persian) URL: http://ijpcp.iums.ac.ir/article-1-3567-fa.html
Bavolar, J., Kacmar, P., Hricova, M., Schrötter, J., Kovacova-Holevova, B., Köverova, M., & Raczova, B. (2023). Intolerance of uncertainty and reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Journal of General Psychology, 150(2), 143-170.  DOI: 10.1080/00221309.2021.1922346
Bozkur, B., & Güler, M. (2023). Achievement Need and Burnout in University Students: Serial Mediation by Resilience and Life Satisfaction. Studia Psychologica, 65(1), 86-101. DOI:10.31577/sp.2023.01.868
Broetje, S., Bauer, G. F., & Jenny, G. J. (2020). The relationship between resourceful working conditions, work-related and general sense of coherence. Health promotion international, 35(5), 1168-1179. DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daz112
Brown, R. J., Burton, A. L., & Abbott, M. J. (2022). The relationship between distress tolerance and symptoms of depression: Validation of the Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS) and short‐form (DTS‐SF). Journal of Clinical Psychology, 78(12), 2609-2630.  DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23370
Bryan, C., O'Shea, D., & MacIntyre, T. (2019). Stressing the relevance of resilience: A systematic review of resilience across the domains of sport and work. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 12(1), 70-111. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2017.1381140
Cachón Zagalaz, J., López Manrique, I., San Pedro Veledo, M. B., Zagalaz Sánchez, M. L., & González Mesa, C. G. D. (2020). The Importance of the Phoenix Bird Technique (Resilience) in Teacher Training: CD-RISC Scale Validation. Sustainability, 12(3), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12031002
Cairncross, M., & Miller, C. J. (2020). The effectiveness of mindfulness-based therapies for ADHD: a meta-analytic review. Journal of attention disorders, 24(5), 627-643. DOI: 10.1177/1087054715625301
Chen, Z., Allen, T. D., & Hou, L. (2020). Mindfulness, empathetic concern, and work–family outcomes: A dyadic analysis. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 119, 103402. DOI: 10.13302/jclp.23370
Compton, W. C., & Hoffman, E. (2019). Positive psychology: The science of happiness and flourishing. SAGE Publications. DOI: 10.1002/jclp.245670
Craig, C., Hiskey, S., & Spector, A. (2020). Compassion focused therapy: A systematic review of its effectiveness and acceptability in clinical populations. Expert review of neurotherapeutics, 20(4), 385-400. DOI: 10.112302/jclp.23370
Dugas, M. J., Sexton, K. A., Hebert, E. A., Bouchard, S., Gouin, J. P., & Shafran, R. (2022). Behavioral experiments for intolerance of uncertainty: A randomized clinical trial for adults with generalized anxiety disorder. Behavior Therapy, 53(6), 1147-1160. DOI: 10.112502/jclp.452370
Delfan-Azari, Ramin; Behboudi, Masoumeh; and Dokanei-Fard, Farideh. (2013). The effectiveness of the McMaster model on anxiety and self-control in women on the verge of divorce. Journal of Applied Family Therapy, 4(1), 491-511. (In Persian) https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/aftj/article/view/1691/2059
Ehteshamzadeh, P., Sabri Nazarzadeh, R., & Memarbashi-Aval, M. (2013). The relationship between sense of coherence and job performance with the mediation of mental health and coping strategies. Psychological Methods and Models, 3(13), 83-95. (In Persian) SID. https://sid.ir/paper/227558/fa  
Egberink, I. J., Harms, T., & Lommen, M. J. (2020). Psychometric properties of the Dutch revised sense of coherence scale in a firefighter sample. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11(1), 1-10. DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23370
Emerson, L. M., De Diaz, N. N., Sherwood, A., Waters, A., & Farrell, L. (2020). Mindfulness interventions in schools: Integrity and feasibility of implementation. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 44(1), 62-75. DOI: 10.1236502/jclp.23370
Ghoncheh, Somayeh and Golpour, Reza. (1401). The relationship between resilience and social support with social health in students: The moderating role of self-compassion. Social Psychology Research, 12(45), 45-64. (In Persian) DOI: 10.22034/spr.2022.318792.1703
Ghorbanzadeh, S. S., Kiamarsi, A. & Abolghasemi, A. (1402). Comparing the effectiveness of self-compassion-based therapy and emotion-focused couple therapy on family functioning in women with domestic violence experience. Psychological Studies, 19(4), 39-54. (In Persian) DOI: 10.22051/psy.2023.43687.2786
Gilbert, P. (2023). An Evolutionary and Compassion-Based Approach to Yearning and Grief. In Compassion-Based Approaches in Loss and Grief (pp. 18-27). Routledge. DOI: 10.1236502/jclp.45666
Gilbert, P., & Simos, G. (Eds.). (2022). Compassion focused therapy: Clinical practice and applications. Routledge.
Gilbert, P., & Training, C. M. (2022). Compassion-Focused Therapy. Spirituality and Psychiatry, 262. DOI: 10.1236502/jclp.2334555
Godini, A. A., Rasouli, M., & Mohsenzadeh, F. (2019). The effectiveness of group counseling based on metacognitive therapy and dialectic behavior therapy on reducing anxiety in boy adolescent of divorce. International Clinical Neuroscience Journal, 6(3), 98-103. DOI: 10.1236502/jclp.11236
Granqvist, P. (2020). Attachment, culture, and gene-culture co-evolution: expanding the evolutionary toolbox of attachment theory. Attachment & Human Development, 1-24. DOI: 10.1236502/jclp.21236
Greenman, P. S., & Johnson, S. M. (2022). Emotionally focused therapy: Attachment, connection, and health. Current Opinion in Psychology, 43, 146-150. DOI: 10.1236502/jclp.24555370
Haikal, M., & Latipun, L. (2020). The resilience of women who are divorced and choose to live with their children. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 9(4), 44-49.‏ https://doi.org/10.11648/J.PBS.20200904.12
Her, M., & Xiong, Z. B. (2023). Self-reported reasons for divorce, social support, and depression: An exploratory study with Hmong women. Journal of Family Issues, 1(1), 1-10. DOI: 10.1236502/jclp.756970
Hsieh, C. M., Chiu, A. F., & Huang, C. H. (2023). Association between Psychological Resilience and Self-Rated Health in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis. In Healthcare (Vol. 11, No. 4, p. 529). MDPI. DOI: 10.1236502/jclp.245670
iamni rad, A., Golmohmmadian, M., Moradi, O., & Godarzi, M. (2021). The effectiveness of emotion-oriented couple therapy on forgiveness and communication beliefs of couples involved in marital infidelity. Journal of Psychological Science, 20(100), 653-665. (In Persian)
URL: http://psychologicalscience.ir/article-1-966-fa.html
Hu, K., Eriksson, M., Wengström, Y., Czene, K., Hall, P., & Fang, F. (2020). Sense of coherence and risk of breast cancer. Elife, 9(4), 1-10. DOI: 10.1177/1087054715625301
Janadeh, Khaled, Basaknejad, Sudabeh, Younesi, Eidan, and Saadatmand, Khadija. (2018). The relationship between anxiety sensitivity, experiential avoidance, and resilience with test anxiety in students. Clinical Psychology, 10(1), 71-78. (In Persian) DOI: 10.22075/jcp.2018.13974.1361
Jackson, J. B., Carrese, D. H., & Willoughby, B. J. (2023). The indirect effects of financial conflict on economic strain and marital outcomes among remarried couples. International Journal of Stress Management, 1(2), 1-10. DOI: 10.1144/108704444715625301
Kaur, S., & Singh, S. (2016). Exploring Relationship among Spiritual Quotient, Personal Competence and Job Satisfaction of Employees: An Empirical Study. Journal of Management Research, 16(4), 187-200. DOI: 10.444/1087054440015625301
Kotera, Y., Green, P., & Sheffield, D. (2021). Positive Psychology for Mental Wellbeing of UK Therapeutic Students: Relationships with Engagement, Motivation, Resilience and Self-Compassion. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 5(2), 1-16. DOI: 10.1177/1087054715625301
Lass, A. N., & Winer, E. S. (2020). Distress tolerance and symptoms of depression: A review and integration of literatures. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 27(3), 80. https://psycnet.apa.org/buy/2020-26831-001 ‏
Lee, E. J., & Han, S. (2023). Patterns of marital conflict among middle‐aged couples and their effects on family satisfaction: A latent class analysis. Family Relations, 1(2), 1-10.
Lei, A., You, H., Luo, B., & Ren, J. (2021). The associations between infertility-related stress, family adaptability and family cohesion in infertile couples. Scientific reports, 11(1), 1-10. DOI: 10.1177/1087054715625301
Marren, C., Mikoška, P., O'Brien, S., & Timulak, L. (2022). A qualitative meta‐analysis of the clients' experiences of emotion‐focused therapy. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 29(5), 1611-1625. DOI: 10.112302/jclp.23370
Mostajran, M., Jazayeri, R. S., & Fatehizadeh, M. (1400). The effect of integrated emotion-focused (Greenberg) and compassion-focused therapy on the quality of marital life of married women. Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences Research, 11(1), 85-106. (InPersian) DOI:10.22108/cbs.2022.130801.1576
Moghadasali, S., Mirhashemi, M., & Bagheri, N. (2021). The Modeling Structural Role Mediator Resiliency in Relationships between Communication Patterns with Marital Satisfaction. IJNR, 16(1), 50-63 (In Persian) URL: http://ijnr.ir/article-1-2476-fa.html
Montazeri, A., Maftoon, F., Farhangniya, M., Bahabadi, M. R., Naghizadeh moghari, F. (2022). Resilience during covid-19 pandemic: A population-based study in Iran. Payesh, 21(4), 429-438 (In Persian)
URL: http://payeshjournal.ir/article-1-1896-fa.html
Nameni, E., & Shahabi, A. (1400). The effectiveness of training combining two solution-oriented and narrative methods on self-expression and marital intimacy of women on the verge of divorce. Family Studies, 17(4), 649-672. (In Persian) doi: 10.52547/JFR.17.4.649
Nisanci, Z., & Nisanci, A. (2023). Between-reporter agreement among couples: exploring nonlinear patterns in marital conflict. Journal of interpersonal violence, 38(1-2),16-36. DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23370
Ranney, R. M., Berenz, E., Rappaport, L. M., Amstadter, A., & Dick, D. (2022). Anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance predict changes in internalizing symptoms in individuals exposed to interpersonal trauma. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 46(1), 217-231 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23370
Rich, E., Butler-Kruger, L., & Roman, N. (2023). Exploring Strategies to Support Adolescent Mental Health after Parental Divorce: A Scoping Review. Youth, 3(1), 428-436. DOI: 10.112302/jclp.23370
Raisi, S. J., Mohammadi, K., Zarei, I. & Najjarpourian, S. (2018). Comparing the effectiveness of emotion-focused couple therapy and the decision-making re-approach on increasing the resilience dimensions of married women. Islamic Journal of Women and Family Research, 6(3), 33-48. (In Persian) https://pzk.journals.miu.ac.ir/article_2112.html
Saeedi, M., Khalatbari, J., Ghorban Shiroudi, Sh. & Abolghasemi, Sh. (2019). Comparing the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and compassion-focused therapy on impulsivity in women about to divorce. Community Health, 14(1), 73-83. (In Persian) DOI: 10.22123/chj.2020.187285.1296
Sadri Damirchi, E., Mojarrad, A., & Matin, H. (2022). The effectiveness of Resilience training to reduce the risk of divorce and marital discord in Women seeking divorce. Rooyesh, 11(1), 175-184. (In Persian)
URL: http://frooyesh.ir/article-1-3285-fa.html
Salminen, S., Perttula, P., & Puro, V. (2020). Psychological Resilience and Occupational Injuries. Psychology, 11(03), 461-472. DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23370
 
Schwartzman, J. M., Millan, M. E., Uljarevic, M., & Gengoux, G. W. (2022). Resilience intervention for parents of children with autism: Findings from a randomized controlled trial of the AMOR method. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 52(2), 738-757. DOI: 10.22034/spr.2022.318792.1703
Silveira, S., Hecht, M., Adli, M., Voelkle, M. C., & Singer, T. (2022). Exploring the structure and interrelations of time-stable psychological resilience, psychological vulnerability, and social cohesion. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 804763.‏ https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.804763
Sorkkila, M., & Aunola, K. (2022). Resilience and parental burnout among Finnish parents during the COVID-19 pandemic: variable and person-oriented approaches. The Family Journal, 30(2), 139-147. DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23370
Thiel, A. M., Kilwein, T. M., De Young, K. P., & Looby, A. (2019). Differentiating motives for nonmedical prescription stimulant use by personality characteristics. Addictive behaviors, 88(1), 187-193. DOI: 10.112302/jclp.23370
Timulak, L., & Keogh, D. (2020). Emotion-focused therapy: A transdiagnostic formulation. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 50(1), 1-13.
Troy, A. S., Willroth, E. C., Shallcross, A. J., Giuliani, N. R., Gross, J. J., & Mauss, I. B. (2023). Psychological resilience: An affect-regulation framework. Annual review of psychology, 74(1), 547-576. DOI: 10.112302/jclp.23370
Turner, J. J., Kopystynska, O., Bradford, K., Higginbotham, B. J., & Schramm, D. G. (2023). Identifying Predictors of First Versus Subsequent Divorce Among Divorcing Parents. In Conjugal Trajectories: Relationship Beginnings, Change, and Dissolutions. Emerald Publishing Limited, 22, 195-212.  DOI: 10.112302/jclp.23370
Journal of Modern Psychological Researches
Volume 21, Issue 81
May 2026
Pages 71-88

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 22 September 2025
  • Revise Date: 12 December 2025
  • Accept Date: 16 December 2025

Share

How to cite

Statistics