Comparing the Effectiveness of Schema Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Emotion Regulation in Obese Women
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Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of schema therapy and dialectical behavior therapy on emotion regulation in obese individuals.
Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study used a pretest–posttest design with a four-month follow-up and a control group. The sample consisted of 45 obese women with a body mass index above 30 kg/m² who were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to three groups: schema therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and control, with 15 participants in each group. The schema therapy and dialectical behavior therapy groups each received 12 weekly 90-minute sessions, while the control group received no psychological intervention. Emotion regulation was assessed using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire developed by Gross and John. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc comparisons.
Findings: The results showed significant improvements in emotion regulation in both intervention groups compared with the control group. The time × group interaction was significant for cognitive reappraisal, F = 17.30, p = .001, η² = .453, and expressive suppression, F = 33.10, p = .001, η² = .612. Post hoc comparisons showed that schema therapy and dialectical behavior therapy significantly improved cognitive reappraisal compared with the control group, MD = 4.66 and MD = 6.93, respectively, both p = .001. For expressive suppression, the mean differences were 3.13 and 6.66, respectively, both p = .001.
Conclusion: Both schema therapy and dialectical behavior therapy improved emotion regulation in obese women, but dialectical behavior therapy showed greater effectiveness.
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