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Ethics code: IR.IAU.ABHRR.REC.1403.002

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Rahmani F, Alijani F, Babakhani V, Poyamanesh J. Comparing the Effectiveness of Paradoxical Couple Therapy and Schema Therapy on Couples' Marital Disaffection and Marital Happiness. MEJDS 2025; 15 (0) :110-110
URL: http://jdisabilstud.org/article-1-3644-en.html
Comparing the Effectiveness of Paradoxical Couple Therapy and Schema Therapy on Couples' Marital Disaffection and Marital Happiness
Fariba Rahmani1 , Fatemeh Alijani *2 , Vahideh Babakhani2 , Jafar Poyamanesh3
1- PhD Student in Counseling, Department of Counseling, Ab.C., Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran
2- Department of Counseling, Ab.C., Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran
3- Department of Psychology, Ab.C., Islamic Azad University, Abhar, Iran
Abstract:   (532 Views)

Abstract
Background & Objectives: Marital relationships are crucial for mental health and family stability, providing emotional support and enhancing life satisfaction. Successful marriages reduce stress and increase happiness, but unresolved conflicts, poor communication, and unmet emotional needs can lead to marital disaffection—marked by emotional detachment and indifference—and reduced happiness. Marital disaffection is the gradual decline of emotional attachment between couples, leading to emotional alienation and feelings of disinterest and indifference towards each other. Marital happiness refers to the feeling of satisfaction, happiness, and comfort in the marital relationship. Marital satisfaction is a very important factor, contributing to the relationship between couples. Paradoxical couple therapy (PTC), rooted in behavioral techniques, uses paradoxes to reduce resistance and promote change. Schema therapy, based on Young’s model, integrates cognitive–behavioral and experiential methods to modify maladaptive schemas, fostering secure attachments. Prior studies show that PTC reduces conflicts and schema therapy alleviates burnout and improves satisfaction, but direct comparisons are lacking. So, the present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of paradoxical couple therapy and schema therapy on marital disaffection and marital happiness in couples.
Methods: The present research was a quasi–experimental study with a pretest–posttest and a 1–month follow–up design, with a control group. The statistical population comprised all couples seeking counseling at the Naroon Center in Tehran City, Iran, during 2024. Twenty–one volunteer couples meeting inclusion criteria (married at least one year, having at least one child, literate, aged 20–40, no concurrent psychotherapy or psychiatric medication, no substance abuse, scoring below 45 on marital happiness and above 50 on marital disaffection) were selected via convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (paradoxical couple therapy or schema therapy) and one control group (7 couples each). The exclusion criteria included unwillingness to participate, excessive absences, incomplete assignments, or concurrent external events. Observing scientific honesty and integrity, obtaining informed consent from research subjects, respecting the anonymity of the scales and the participants' right to remain anonymous, keeping their information confidential, and creating a reassuring atmosphere were among the ethical considerations that the researcher took into account. Data were gathered using Marital Disaffection Scale (Kayser, 1993) and Marital Happiness Scale (Azrin et al., 1973). The interventions were the Paradoxical therapy followed Besharat's protocol (2018) over 7 sessions, focusing on social interviews, behavioral analysis, paradox prescription (eg, exaggerating conflicts on timetables), and self–therapy planning. Schema therapy adhered to Young's model (2003) over 8 sessions, covering rapport building, schema education, cognitive strategies (validity testing, dialogues), experiential techniques (imagery, letter writing), and behavioral pattern–breaking (role–playing, motivation enhancement). Ethical considerations included informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity, and IRB approval (IR.IAU.ABHRR.REC.1403.002). Data analysis involved descriptive statistics (means, SDs) and inferential tests (repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post–hoc), at a significance level of p<0.05 using SPSS–25.
Results: Results showed that the effects of time (p<0.001), group (p<0.001), and the interaction of time and group (p<0.001) on the variables of marital disaffection and marital happiness were significant. Paradoxical couple therapy and schema therapy had a significant effect on reducing marital disaffection and increasing marital happiness of couples (p<0.001). Also, no significant difference was observed between the two paradoxical couple therapy and schema therapy in affecting on variables of marital disaffection and marital happiness (p>0.05).
Conclusion: According to the findings, both paradoxical couple therapy and schema therapy effectively reduce marital disaffection and enhance happiness without superiority between them. Therapists should integrate these for couple interventions, potentially improving family outcomes.

Keywords: Paradoxical couple therapy, Schema therapy, Marital disaffection, Marital happiness of couples
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Type of Study: Original Research Article | Subject: Counseling
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