The Effectiveness of Psychodrama on Improving Cognitive Flexibility, Communication Beliefs, and Rumination in Individuals with Marital Dissatisfaction
Keywords:
psychodrama, cognitive flexibility, communication beliefs, rumination, marital dissatisfactionAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of psychodrama in enhancing cognitive flexibility, communication beliefs, and reducing rumination among individuals with marital dissatisfaction. Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population included individuals with marital dissatisfaction in Bojnourd in 2024 who were referred to welfare counseling centers. A total of 40 participants were selected through available sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (20 each). The experimental group underwent 10 sessions (90 minutes each, twice a week) of group psychodrama based on Navabinejad's protocol (2013), while the control group received no intervention. Measurement tools included the Cognitive Flexibility Questionnaire (Dennis & Vander Wal, 2010), the Communication Beliefs Inventory (Eidelson & Epstein, 1981), and the Rumination Questionnaire (Nolen-Hoeksema, 1991). Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANCOVA with SPSS23. Findings: The results demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in cognitive flexibility among participants in the experimental group compared to the control group (F = 35.20, p < 0.001, η² = 0.59). Psychodrama also had a significant positive effect on communication beliefs (F = 56.16, p = 0.027, η² = 0.29), indicating a marked enhancement in participants' relational cognition. Additionally, rumination levels significantly decreased in the experimental group (F = 33.85, p < 0.001, η² = 0.64). These results suggest that psychodrama not only facilitates cognitive restructuring and communication reappraisal but also helps in cognitive-emotional disengagement from negative repetitive thoughts. Conclusion: Psychodrama proved to be an effective intervention in improving cognitive flexibility, enhancing constructive communication beliefs, and reducing rumination in individuals experiencing marital dissatisfaction. Its experiential and interactive nature allows individuals to reframe interpersonal conflicts and internal distress, making it a viable therapeutic option in couple-oriented interventions.
Downloads
References
Abolghasemi, S. (2014). Determining the effectiveness of drama therapy (psychodrama) on the happiness and self-confidence of pre-university girls with low self-confidence in Babolsar city. Social Work Quarterly, 3(10), 22-39. https://socialworkmag.ir/article-1-47-fa.html
Afrini, Y., & Hosseini, E. (2018). Investigating the effect of psychodrama on the treatment of depression in recovered substance abusers. Horizon of Knowledge Quarterly, 24(2), 96-102. https://elmnet.ir/article
Braithel, D., & Allaouna, R. (2025). Employing Psychodrama as a therapeutic method to reduce aggressive behavior among adolescents (Experimental Study). Lessons in Deviant Psychology, 9(2), 262-2472. https://asjp.cerist.dz/en/article/261252
Dehnavi, S., Ayazi Nafouti, M., & Bajalan, M. (2015). The effectiveness of psychodrama on reducing the level of depression and preventing recurrence in opioid-dependent men. Addiction Research Quarterly, 34, 111-121. https://etiadpajohi.ir/browse.php?a_id=660&slc_lang=en&sid=1&printcase=1&hbnr=1&hmb=1
Farvardin, R., Benisi, P., & Vatankhah. (2022). Effectiveness of Psychodrama Training on Coping Strategies and Rumination in Couples Affected by COVID-19. Studies and Research in Behavioral Sciences, 11(4), 45-56. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.jobssar.ir/fa/downloadfilepdf-19fb65600f23f4d743f7ff36385c6fbe&ved=2ahUKEwjz27Kyts2JAxUrgf0HHRtJLvgQFnoECBUQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1AP-MRDSowV3FKVs6egjQ9
Jafari, Z., Golparvar, M., & Atashpour, H. (2023). Comparing the effectiveness of the psychodrama approach with the emotion-focused approach and the emotion-focused mindful psychodrama training on fear of intimacy and emotion self-regulation in divorced women. Journal of Community HealthVL - 17(3), 47-58. https://www.sid.ir/paper/1360982/fa
Kabusi, M., Nasab, S. A. R., Saber, E., Ivanbagha, R., Khedri, B., Khezerlou, Z., Bardsiri, T. I., Shafiei, Z., Roodposhti, M. E., Zandi, A., Hoseyni, H., Torbati, A. G., Eshaghzadeh, M., & Eshaghzadeh, S. (2023). Assessing the Effects of Acceptance-Commitment and Psychodrama Therapies in Nurses With Social Anxiety Disorder. Iranian Rehabilitation Journal, 21(2), 223-230. https://doi.org/10.32598/irj.21.1.763.3
Karimi, A., Karbalai, A., & Rohani, R. J. (2023). The Effect of Psychodrama Therapy on Body-Image Deficit Among Iranian University Students. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2911321/v1
Nazemi, M., Shah Nazari, M., Ranjbaripour, T., Moshayekh, M., & Yousefi Kashi, A. S. (2023). Effectiveness of Positive Psychotherapy and Psychodrama on Resilience in Breast Cancer Patients. Mashhad University of Medical Sciences Journal, 66(4). https://mjms.mums.ac.ir/article_23696.html?lang=en
Norouzi Homayoun, M. R., Hatami Nejad, M., & Sadri Damirchi, E. (2023). The effectiveness of psychodrama group therapy and cognitive-behavioral play therapy on executive functions (working memory, response inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and emotional self-regulation) in male students with social anxiety disorder. Neuropsychology, 9(35). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/386321195_The_Effectiveness_of_Psychodrama_Group_Therapy_and_Cognitive_Behavioral_Play_Therapy_on_Executive_Functions_Working_Memory_Response_Inhibition_Cognitive_Flexibility_and_Emotional_Self-_Regulation_in_B
Örnek, B. Y., & Şimşek, B. K. (2023). The effects of group psychodrama on the ruminative thinking style, dysfunctional attitudes, anxiety and depressive symptoms: a quasi-experimental study. Archives of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, 3, 84-93. https://doi.org/10.12740/APP/166563
Pedaran, N. (2021). Evaluation of The Effectiveness of Psychodrama on Behavioral Improvement and Marital Relationship. International Journal of Medical Investigation, 10(3), 103-110. http://intjmi.com/article-1-661-en.html
Polat, S., & Ceylan, B. (2023). Impact of Psychodrama on Emotional Awareness and Psychological Well-Being in University Students. Kırıkkale Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi, 25(3), 463-471. https://doi.org/10.24938/kutfd.1356005
Pylypenko, N., Radchuk, H., Shevchenko, V., Horetska, O., Serdiuk, N., & Savytska, O. (2023). The psychodrama method of group psychotherapy. BRAIN. Broad Research in Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience, 14(3), 134-149. https://doi.org/10.18662/brain/14.3/466
Saifulah, D., Rellyta, N., & Saputro, H. (2024). Effectiveness of Psychodrama Model Group Activity Therapy on Anxiety Levels in The Elderly. Open Access Health Scientific Journal, 5(2), 29-37. https://doi.org/10.55700/oahsj.v5i2.54
Tahvilian, M. (2023). Effects of Psychodrama and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Assertiveness Skills of Women With Marital Conflicts. Journal of Multidisciplinary Care, 12(2), 97-103. https://doi.org/10.34172/jmdc.1172
Ulusoy, Y., Sumbas, E., & Sertkaya, B. (2023). Psychodrama as an intervention management instrument for internal/external adolescent problems: A systematic literature review. The Arts in Psychotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2023.102000
Yanli, C., Wang, H., Li, J., & Yi, S. (2023). The Application of Psychodrama in Students’ Mental Health Education. 1804-1810. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-092-3_231
Downloads
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Ali Yahoui (Author); Masoumeh Eslami; Mahmoud Azadi (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
