Comparing the Effectiveness of Schema Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Psychological Distress and Forgiveness of Divorced Women Affected by Marital Infidelity

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MSc, Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

10.22034/jmpr.2026.68688.6775

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of schema therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy on psychological distress and forgiveness of divorced women affected by marital infidelity. This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a control group and a 2-month follow-up. The statistical population of the research consisted of all divorced women affected by marital infidelity attending the Fasle Zendegi clinic in Tehran in the winter of 2025. A total of 45 women were randomly divided into 3 groups (15 women in each group). The first experimental group then underwent 10 sessions of 90-minute schema therapy, and the second experimental group underwent 8 sessions of 90-minute cognitive-behavioral therapy. Data was collected using the Kessler psychological distress scale (K10) of Kessler and et al. (2003) and Heartland forgiveness scale (HFS) of Thompson et al. (2005).  Analysis of variance with repeated measures and Bonferroni post hoc test was used for data analysis. The data analysis software was SPSS version 29. The results showed that both interventions had a significant effect on psychological distress and forgiveness (p<0.05). In addition, the results of Bonferroni post hoc test showed that schema therapy is more effective than cognitive-behavioral therapy on psychological distress and forgiveness (p<0.05). Based on the results of the present study, it can be said that schema therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy can be used as a treatment method to on psychological distress and forgiveness of divorced women affected by marital infidelity and priority of use in reduction psychological distress and forgiveness of divorced women affected by marital infidelity is with schema therapy.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Modern Psychological Researches
Volume 21, Issue 81
May 2026
Pages 148-165

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History

  • Receive Date: 16 August 2025
  • Revise Date: 09 February 2026
  • Accept Date: 11 February 2026

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