Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Emotion-focused Therapy on Emotional Balance, Psychological Cohesion, and Self-efficacy in Fibromyalgia Patients

Mazloom Ghaziani, Asieh; Ghorbani, Mryam

doi:10.22055/psy.2023.43773.3033

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Emotion-focused Therapy on Emotional Balance, Psychological Cohesion, and Self-efficacy in Fibromyalgia Patients

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Asieh Mazloom Ghaziani ¹

Mryam Ghorbani ²

¹ Student of psychology department, Department of psychology, Payame Noor University, Tehran. Iran.

² Associate Professor, Department of psychology, Payame Noor University, Tehran. Iran.

10.22055/psy.2023.43773.3033

Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a complex and chronic condition marked by persistent musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and emotional disturbances. Patients often experience difficulties in emotion regulation, which intensify pain perception and reduce quality of life. Research has shown that psychotherapeutic interventions, particularly Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), may help patients process emotional experiences that contribute to chronic stress. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of EFT on emotional balance, sense of coherence, and self-efficacy in individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia. This quasi-experimental research employed a pretest-posttest control group design. Thirty female patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia based on clinical criteria were selected through purposive sampling from rheumatology clinics and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (n = 15 each). The experimental group underwent eight 90-minute sessions of EFT over four weeks. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires measuring emotional balance, Antonovsky’s Sense of Coherence Scale, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Covariance analysis (ANCOVA) was used to analyze post-intervention differences between the groups. The findings demonstrated that participants in the EFT group reported statistically significant increases in emotional balance (p < 0.01), sense of coherence (p < 0.01), and self-efficacy (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Participants described improved emotional awareness and coping, as well as greater perceived control over stressors. These results indicate that EFT can foster adaptive emotional regulation and promote psychological resilience in chronic pain patients. The observed improvements align with previous studies suggesting that emotional awareness and processing reduce autonomic arousal and physiological tension in fibromyalgia. Enhanced self-efficacy and coherence likely mediate the positive impact of EFT by strengthening patients’ internal sense of order and manageability. EFT, therefore, can be viewed as a complementary intervention alongside medical treatment. Emotion-Focused Therapy significantly improves emotional and cognitive dimensions of well-being among fibromyalgia patients. It can serve as a valuable psychotherapeutic approach for individuals struggling with chronic pain and emotion regulation difficulties.

Keywords

Emotion-Focused Therapy

Emotional Balance

Sense of Coherence

Self-Efficacy

Fibromyalgia

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