Comparing the Effectiveness of schema therapy training and acceptance and commitment therapy in the attachment of gifted adolescents

Abstract

Background: The early experiences of childhood with parents and the type of emotional relationship of the child with his parent is considered as attachment style. Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of schema therapy training and acceptance and commitment therapy on the attachment of gifted adolescents.Methods: The present research was semi-experimental, with pre-test and post-test design with a control group and follow-up period. The statistical population of the present study was all gifted students who studied in the academic year of 2019-20, among which 60 people (matched in terms of age, IQ, and gender). The sampling method was stratified randomly. 36 patients were selected and randomly divided into three groups that were matched for age and IQ. Experimental groups received initial inconsistent schema training and commitment and acceptance in 10 sessions, and the control group did not receive any training. All three groups were assessed before and after the training sessions and follow-up course with the Armsden and Greenberg Parental Attachment Questionnaire (1987). Data were analyzed by the repeated measure analysis of variance and SPSS.22 software. Results: The results showed that there is a difference between the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy and schema therapy on attachment to parents (p <0.01). The results also showed that schema therapy was more effective than acceptance and commitment therapy (p <0.01).Conclusion: It can be concluded that schema therapy and acceptance and commitment were effective on attachment to parents but they weren’t effective on peer attachment in gifted adolescents.