Comparing the Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Psychotherapy and Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy on Childbirth Stress and Self-Esteem in Pregnant Women

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of emotion-focused psychotherapy and mindfulness-based psychotherapy on childbirth stress and self-esteem in pregnant women. The present study was applied in terms of purpose and experimental method, quasi-experimental with a control group, pre-test-post-test. The statistical population included all pregnant women (gestational age 20 to 37) referred to Qamar Bani Hashem Hospital (AS) in 1403-104. The sampling method was available and the sample size was 45 people. Harman's Fear of Childbirth Questionnaire (1988) and Cooper Smith's Self-Esteem Questionnaire (1967) were used to collect data. In this study, mindfulness-based psychotherapy training sessions taken from Rebecca's book (2009) were held in 8 90-minute sessions, two days a week, and the sessions of the Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) protocol by Greenberg et al. (2009) were held in 8 40-minute sessions, one session a week. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (analysis of covariance) were used to analyze the data. The results showed that emotion-focused psychotherapy has an effect on childbirth stress in pregnant women with an effect size of 0.42. And reduces childbirth stress. Emotion-focused psychotherapy has an effect on self-esteem in pregnant women with an effect size of 0.46 and increases self-esteem. Mindfulness-based psychotherapy has an effect on childbirth stress in pregnant women with an effect size of 0.47. And reduces childbirth stress. Mindfulness-based psychotherapy has an effect on self-esteem in pregnant women with an effect size of 0.49 and increases self-esteem. Conclusion: The effectiveness of mindfulness treatment on childbirth stress variables has a greater effect on self-esteem.