The Effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) on Feelings of Rejection and Alexithymia in Women with Marital Conflict
Keywords:
feelings of rejection, alexithymia, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, marital conflictAbstract
Purpose: The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) on feelings of rejection and alexithymia in women experiencing marital conflict.
Methods and Materials: The research method was a semi-experimental extended design of pre-test–post-test with follow-up and a control group. The statistical population included all women with marital conflict who referred to psychological service clinics in districts 2, 3, 4, and 5 of Tehran in 2021. A total of 30 participants were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental (15 participants) and control groups (15 participants). Data collection instruments included the Kansas Marital Conflict Scale (KMCS; Egman et al., 1990), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (Bagby, 1994), the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (Downey & Feldman, 1996), and Ellis’s Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy protocol (1962), administered over eight 50-minute sessions. For data analysis, multivariate covariance analysis (MANCOVA) and SPSS version 22 software were used.
Findings: The results of covariance analysis indicated a significant difference between the scores of the control and experimental groups (P < .001). Specifically, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy led to a reduction in overall scores of feelings of rejection and alexithymia among women with marital conflict.
Conclusion: The findings showed that Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy improves feelings of rejection and alexithymia in women experiencing marital conflict. Therefore, REBT can be applied alongside pharmacological and cognitive therapies as an auxiliary and supportive intervention.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Leila Mohammadi (Author); Ghodratollah Abbasi; Ramazan Hassanzadeh (Author)
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