Effectiveness of Schema Therapy on Turmoil and Marital Boredom of Incompatible Married People

Introduction: Marital distress and dissatisfaction are common issues in couples' relationships that reduce the quality of married life. The aim of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of schema therapy in reducing marital distress and dissatisfaction in incompatible married individuals. Method: This research was an intervention study of a semi-experimental type with a pre-test-post-test design and a control group. The statistical population of this study consisted of married individuals with marital incompatibility from the city of Ardakan, Ahmadabad district, in the year 2024. The sample included 30 volunteers, selected through convenience sampling from men and women aged 21 to 45. After assessment with Berr-Sternberg questionnaire, participants were recruited via calls on social media, the Basij, and mosques, and were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (15 participants) or the control group (15 participants). The intervention sessions were held at the Jame’ Mosque in Ahmadabad. Data collection tools included the Pines Marital Dissatisfaction Questionnaire, the Weiss Marital and Relational Distress Scale, and the Berr-Sternberg Marital Incompatibility Scale, whose validity and reliability have been confirmed in previous studies. The therapeutic intervention consisted of 8 sessions, each lasting 90 minutes, conducted twice a week for the intervention group, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance with SPSS-23 software. Rusults: Schema therapy was significantly effective in reducing marital distress and dissatisfaction among incompatible married individuals in the intervention group, and its effectiveness was significantly maintained after two months of follow-up. The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups at all three stages: pre-test, post-test, and follow-up (p< 0/05). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, schema therapy has significantly reduced marital distress and dissatisfaction while improving relationships and compatibility among incompatible married individuals. Therefore, it can be considered an effective approach for enhancing the quality of marital life.