Volume 24, Issue 1 (9-2026)
RBS 2026, 24(1): 62-75 |
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Kianmehr M, Atashpoor S, Aghaei A. Comparing the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and healthy person theory-based therapy on vaginismus symptoms and perceived pain intensity in women with vaginismus. RBS 2026; 24 (1) :62-75
URL: http://rbs.mui.ac.ir/article-1-2083-en.html
URL: http://rbs.mui.ac.ir/article-1-2083-en.html
1- PhD of student of psychology, Department of psychology,Isf.c., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
2- Associate Professor, Department of psychology,Isf.c., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran. ,hamid.atashpour@iau.ac.ir
3- Professor, Department of psychology, Isf.c., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
2- Associate Professor, Department of psychology,Isf.c., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran. ,
3- Professor, Department of psychology, Isf.c., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
Abstract: (17 Views)
Aim and Background: Vaginismus is one of the fundamental disorders in the field of women's sexual health, which has attracted significant attention from researchers and clinicians in psychology, counseling, and sexual health in recent years. This phenomenon possesses a multidimensional nature, wherein psychological, emotional, cognitive, interpersonal, and cultural factors play a pivotal role in its development and maintenance; hence, investigating the efficacy of therapeutic modalities tailored to this disorder is of paramount importance. The present study aimed to investigate and compare the efficacy of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and a therapeutic approach based on the "Healthy Human" theory on the symptoms and perceived pain intensity in women suffering from vaginismus.
Methods and Materials: This quantitative study utilized a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest and follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population comprised women diagnosed with vaginismus, from whom a sample of 60 participants was selected via purposive sampling based on explicit inclusion criteria. Participants were randomly assigned to three experimental groups (n = 15 per group) and one control group (n = 15). The experimental groups received interventions consisting of Emotionally Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and the Healthy Human treatment package, respectively, while the control group received no intervention. Data collection tools included the Vaginismus Symptoms Checklist (2015) and the McGill Short-Form Pain Questionnaire (1997). The gathered data were analyzed using Linear Mixed Models (LMM).
Findings: Statistical analysis revealed that regarding the improvement of vaginismus symptoms, Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy demonstrated the highest efficacy at the post-test stage, maintaining this effect throughout the follow-up phase. Furthermore, the treatment based on the Healthy Human theory and Dialectical Behavior Therapy exhibited the highest level of efficacy in reducing perceived pain intensity during both the post-test and follow-up stages.
Conclusions: Based on the study findings, it can be concluded that incorporating the principles and techniques of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, emotion-focused therapy and the Healthy Human theory (as a comprehensive, indigenous-centered approach) can serve as distinct and effective interventions to improve vaginismus symptoms and alleviate perceived pain intensity in women afflicted with this disorder.
Methods and Materials: This quantitative study utilized a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest and follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population comprised women diagnosed with vaginismus, from whom a sample of 60 participants was selected via purposive sampling based on explicit inclusion criteria. Participants were randomly assigned to three experimental groups (n = 15 per group) and one control group (n = 15). The experimental groups received interventions consisting of Emotionally Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and the Healthy Human treatment package, respectively, while the control group received no intervention. Data collection tools included the Vaginismus Symptoms Checklist (2015) and the McGill Short-Form Pain Questionnaire (1997). The gathered data were analyzed using Linear Mixed Models (LMM).
Findings: Statistical analysis revealed that regarding the improvement of vaginismus symptoms, Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Emotionally Focused Therapy demonstrated the highest efficacy at the post-test stage, maintaining this effect throughout the follow-up phase. Furthermore, the treatment based on the Healthy Human theory and Dialectical Behavior Therapy exhibited the highest level of efficacy in reducing perceived pain intensity during both the post-test and follow-up stages.
Conclusions: Based on the study findings, it can be concluded that incorporating the principles and techniques of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, emotion-focused therapy and the Healthy Human theory (as a comprehensive, indigenous-centered approach) can serve as distinct and effective interventions to improve vaginismus symptoms and alleviate perceived pain intensity in women afflicted with this disorder.
Keywords: Vaginismus, perceived pain intensity, emotion-focused therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, healthy person theory-based therapy
Type of Study: Applicable |
Subject:
Special
Received: 2026/01/31 | Accepted: 2026/09/21 | Published: 2026/09/1
Received: 2026/01/31 | Accepted: 2026/09/21 | Published: 2026/09/1
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