Abolfazl Sadeghi, Dr Mohammad Mahdi Jahangiri, Dr Davood Taghvaei,
Volume 18, Issue 2 (9-2024)
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of self-compassion therapy on depression, caregiving burden, and alexithymia among caregivers of elderly patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test, post-test, and control group. The statistical population included all caregivers of elderly Alzheimer’s patients who referred to the Iranian Alzheimer’s Association in Arak City between February and August 2024. A total of 30 participants were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 15) groups. Research instruments included the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). The experimental group received 8 sessions of self-compassion therapy, while the control group received no intervention. Findings indicated that self-compassion therapy significantly reduced depression, caregiving burden, and alexithymia in the experimental group compared to the control group. These results highlight the importance of employing this therapeutic approach to improve the psychological well-being of caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients.
Fatemeh Ghasempour, Masoumeh Taheri, Sheyda Esmailzadeh, Seyede Fateme Esmaeilpour, Soheila Esgandani,
Volume 19, Issue 3 (12-2025)
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of integrated group-based acceptance and commitment therapy and self-compassion on distress tolerance and resilience against suicide in married women with experience of domestic violence. The research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest-posttest and one-month follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population included all married women with experience of domestic violence who referred to family counseling centers in Isfahan. From among them, 32 people were selected using purposive sampling and were randomly assigned to two groups: experimental (16 people) and control (16 people). One person from each group dropped out before the posttest, and finally, each group continued with 15 people. The experimental group received the integrated intervention over eight 90-minute sessions, and the control group was placed on a waiting list. Data were collected using the Distress Tolerance Scale and the Suicide Resilience Questionnaire and were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance in SPSS version 28. The findings showed that the integrated intervention significantly increased distress tolerance with an effect size of 0.481. Also, this intervention significantly increased the 'internal protector' and 'emotional stability' components of resilience against suicide with an effect size of 0.456, but it had no significant effect on the 'external protector' component. The stability of the effects on the aforementioned components was confirmed up to one month after the intervention. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that integrated acceptance and commitment therapy and self-compassion is an effective approach for increasing distress tolerance and improving the internal dimensions of resilience against suicide in married women with experience of domestic violence, but the inability of this intervention to improve the external protector requires attention in future research.
