مقایسه اثربخشی درمان گروهی مبتنی بر بخشودگی و درمان گروهی عقلانی–هیجانی–رفتاری بر صمیمیت زوجین مادران دارای فرزند استثنایی

هانیه ابراهیمی; محمود جاجرمی; فاطمه شهامت ده سرخ

Authors

Haniyeh Ebrahimi Department of Psychology, Boj.C., Islamic Azad University, Bojnourd, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1375-9431
Mahmoud Jajarmi Department of Counseling, Boj.C.,Isamic Azad University, Bojnourd, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7126-161X
Fatemeh Shahamat Dehsorkh Department of Psychology, Khayyam University, Mashhad, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6537-9942

Keywords:

Effectiveness, Forgiveness-based group therapy, Rational-emotional-behavioral group therapy, Intimacy, Mothers with exceptional children

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of forgiveness-based group therapy and Rational-Emotive-Behavioral group therapy on marital intimacy among mothers of children with special needs.

Methodology: This applied study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control-group design with a two-month follow-up. The statistical population consisted of mothers of children with special needs in Bojnord, from whom 45 participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group. Data were collected using the Marital Intimacy Questionnaire at pretest, posttest, and follow-up stages. The experimental groups received ten sessions of forgiveness-based group therapy and Rational-Emotive-Behavioral group therapy, respectively, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance and multivariate analysis of covariance.

Findings: Results indicated that both interventions significantly improved marital intimacy (P<0.01). Forgiveness-based therapy produced significant effects on overall intimacy and honesty, whereas Rational-Emotive-Behavioral therapy significantly enhanced overall intimacy, agreement, honesty, and affection. Comparative analysis revealed a significant difference only in the affection dimension, favoring forgiveness-based therapy.

Conclusion: Both therapeutic approaches effectively enhanced marital intimacy among mothers of children with special needs; however, forgiveness-based therapy exerted stronger effects on emotional intimacy, while Rational-Emotive-Behavioral therapy demonstrated broader impacts on cognitive and relational dimensions.

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