Comparison of the Effectiveness of Gestalt Therapy and Logotherapy on Coping Methods with Stress and Anxiety Sensitivity in Patients with Leukemia at the Mehraneh Clinic in Zanjan
Keywords:
Gestalt therapy, logotherapy, coping methods with stress, anxiety sensitivity, leukemiaAbstract
Introduction and Aim: Leukemia is associated not only with physical complications but also with significant psychological difficulties, including maladaptive coping patterns and elevated anxiety sensitivity. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Gestalt therapy and logotherapy on coping methods with stress and anxiety sensitivity among patients with leukemia.
Methodology: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest–follow-up design with two experimental groups and one control group. The statistical population consisted of patients with leukemia attending the Mehraneh Clinic in Zanjan during 2025–2026. Sixty participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to Gestalt therapy, logotherapy, and control groups. Data were collected using the Endler and Parker Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations and the Floyd et al. Anxiety Sensitivity Questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance.
Findings: The results demonstrated that both therapeutic interventions significantly increased problem-focused coping and significantly reduced emotion-focused and avoidant coping strategies (p < .05). Anxiety sensitivity also decreased significantly in both treatment groups, and these improvements remained stable during the follow-up phase. Significant time × group interaction effects were observed across all study variables, indicating the sustained impact of the interventions over time. However, no significant differences were found between Gestalt therapy and logotherapy regarding the magnitude of their effects.
Conclusion: Both Gestalt therapy and logotherapy are effective in improving coping strategies and reducing anxiety sensitivity among patients with leukemia, with treatment gains maintained over time. Given the absence of significant differences between the two approaches, both interventions may be considered valuable complementary psychological treatments alongside medical care.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Roya Mollaei (Author); Afsaneh Sobhi; Qamar Kiyani, Mohammad Saeid Ahmadi (Author)
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