Mrs Ghazaleh Khamrniyai, Mrs Sima Zarei, Mrs Mahdieh Farahabadi, Mrs Yalda Amirsasan, Mrs Mahya Sadat Mirmasoomi, Dr Ebrahim Arkani,
Volume 11, Issue 2 (Winter 2025)
Abstract
Introduction: People with bulimia nervosa face many psychological problems and experience low psychological well-being. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of schema therapy on cognitive flexibility and self-esteem in women with bulimia nervosa.
Methods: The current study was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of this research was all women suffering from bulimia nervosa who visited nutrition clinics in Mashhad city in the first quarter of 2023. Among them, 30 people were divided into two groups of 15 people: experimental and control. They were randomly assigned, and the subjects answered self-esteem and cognitive flexibility questionnaires. Data analysis was done using covariance analysis using SPSS-26 software.
Results: Comparison of pre-test and post-test scores showed that schema therapy significantly increased self-esteem and cognitive flexibility scores in the experimental group compared to the control group in the post-test (P≤0.05).
Conclusion: It can be said that schema therapy is effective on the self-esteem and flexibility of people with bulimia nervosa, and as a result, mental health professionals, especially psychotherapists, are recommended to use this therapy to improve mental health in these people.
Keywords: Schema therapy, Cognitive flexibility, Self-worth, Bulimia nervosa
