Comparison of the Effectiveness of Group Cognitive Behavioral Couple Therapy and Schema Therapy Sessions on the Improvement of Communication Patterns and Marital Satisfaction in Couples Affected by Domestic Violence (A Quasi-Experimental Study)

Abstract

The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of group cognitive behavioral couple therapy and schema therapy sessions on improving communication patterns and marital satisfaction among couples affected by domestic violence in the city of Tehran. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest and a control group. The statistical population consisted of couples affected by domestic violence who had referred to counseling centers in Tehran. From among these couples, 45 individuals were selected using simple random sampling and were randomly assigned to three groups of 15 participants each, including two experimental groups and one control group. Data were collected using both field and library methods. The data collection instruments included the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire (1988), the Couples’ Communication Patterns Questionnaire developed by Christensen and Sullaway (1984), a schema therapy protocol (10 sessions), and a cognitive behavioral couple therapy protocol (10 sessions). For statistical data analysis and hypothesis testing, multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) with post hoc tests was conducted using SPSS version 26. The results indicated that both cognitive behavioral couple therapy and schema therapy approaches were effective in improving couples’ communication patterns and marital satisfaction. However, schema therapy was found to be more effective than cognitive behavioral couple therapy in improving communication patterns and marital satisfaction among couples affected by domestic violence.