Effects of Schema Therapy on Marital Satisfaction and Marital Conflict in Mothers of Children with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Background: Mothers of children with intellectual disability often face many challenges and stressors related to their children’s problems. This can negatively affect their marital relationship and satisfaction and cause marital conflict. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of schema therapy on marital satisfaction and marital conflict in mothers of children with intellectual disability. Methods: This quasi-experimental study had a pretest-posttest, control group design. The statistical population included all mothers of children with intellectual disability covered by the Social Welfare Organization of Qarchak, Iran. A total of 30 women were randomly selected and allocated into two equal groups of experimental and control (n = 15 in each group). While schema therapy was presented to the experimental group through holding ten 2-hour sessions, mothers in the control group did not receive any intervention. To collect data, we used the Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire by Olson (1998) and the Marital Conflict Questionnaire by Barati and Sanai. Data were analyzed using paired samples t-test and analysis of covariance. Results: The results showed that schema therapy significantly improved marital satisfaction and mitigated marital conflict in mothers of children with intellectual disability (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Schema therapy increased marital satisfaction and reduced marital conflict in mothers of children with intellectual disability.