Comparison of Emotion-Focused Therapy and Self-Compassion-Based Therapy on Love Trauma Symptoms and Distress Tolerance in Individuals Experiencing Romantic Breakup

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy and self-compassion-based therapy on love trauma symptoms and distress tolerance in individuals experiencing romantic breakup. This quasi-experimental study used a pretest-posttest design with a two-month follow-up, including two experimental groups and one control group. The statistical population consisted of individuals with romantic breakup experiences who referred to counseling centers in Tehran in 2019. A total of 45 eligible participants were selected through convenience and purposive sampling and randomly assigned to three groups of 15 participants: emotion-focused therapy, self-compassion-based therapy, and control. The emotion-focused therapy group received eight 90-minute sessions, while the self-compassion-based therapy group received eight 60- to 90-minute sessions. The control group remained on a waiting list. Data were collected using the Love Trauma Inventory and the Distress Tolerance Scale at pretest, posttest, and follow-up. Mixed analysis of variance with repeated measures and Bonferroni post hoc tests were used for data analysis. Mixed analysis of variance showed significant effects of time and time × group interaction for love trauma symptoms, F=434.350, p<0.001, η²=0.812 and F=73.146, p<0.001, η²=0.777, respectively. Significant effects of time and time × group were also found for all distress tolerance dimensions, including emotional distress tolerance, F=463.941 and F=61.858; absorption by negative emotions, F=287.458 and F=48.542; appraisal of distress, F=479.401 and F=68.618; and distress regulation, F=604.752 and F=52.024, with p<0.001 in all analyses. Bonferroni comparisons indicated that both interventions were significantly more effective than the control condition. Self-compassion-based therapy was more effective in reducing love trauma symptoms, whereas emotion-focused therapy produced greater improvement in distress tolerance dimensions. Both interventions were effective for psychological adjustment following romantic breakup; however, self-compassion-based therapy showed greater effectiveness for reducing love trauma symptoms, while emotion-focused therapy was more effective for enhancing distress tolerance.