Comparing the effectiveness of reality therapy and schema therapy on stress symptoms in women with marital conflict

Introduction:Stress symptoms may result in marital conflict imposing psychological,physical and social difficulties to family. Aim: comparing the effectiveness of reality therapy and schema therapy on stress symptoms  in women with marital conflict.  Methods: the present study is quasi-experimental with pre-test ,post-test and one-month follow-up with control group. statistic population includes women with marital conflict reffered problem-solving office and counseling center in 2019 in varamin. 45 testees getting high mark in Sanaee marital conflict qustionaire were selected through purposed sampelling. they wrere accomodated in 2 experimental and control groups (each group included 15) through random sampling. they filled ouSeydkhorasani stress symptoms  questionaire (2000). 2 groups were taught reality therapy and schema therapy for 2 months but control group did not get any treatment. two experimental groups were tested again through post-test. A month. Results: The mean & standard deviation in stress symptoms for the reality therapy group, the schema therapy group, and the control group on the posttest were (199.07±6.34), (200.27±5.68) and (201.20±7.123), respectively. The results showed that reality therapy (124.27±6.27) and schema therapy (125.13±5.142) compared to the control group (200.53±7.67) Reduced the stress symptoms in women with marital conflict on the posttest (p<0.001). Besides, the effect of reality therapy (123.00±6.68) and schema therapy (123.33±5.34) on the stress symptoms (200.07±7.75) persisted in the follow-up phase (p <0.001). It was also shown that the reality therapy and schema therapy did not show any significant differences in terms of their effects on the stress symptoms at posttest and follow-up phases (p <0.05).  Conclusion: It was also shown that the reality therapy and schema therapy were effective on stress symptoms therefore,these two approaches can help couple therapists improve marital quality life.