Comparison of the Effectiveness of Emotional Efficacy Therapy and Suffering Management Therapy on Self-Control and Meaning in Life in Individuals with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Abstract

The use of psychological therapies for individuals with irritable bowel syndrome can enhance their capabilities. Accordingly, the present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of emotional efficacy therapy and suffering management therapy on self-control and meaning in life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. This research employed a quasi-experimental design with three stages: pre-test, post-test, and follow-up, along with a control group. The statistical population included all patients with irritable bowel syndrome who referred to gastroenterology clinics in Isfahan during the winter of 2025. From this population, 60 patients were purposefully selected and assigned to three groups (20 participants per group). The Self-Control Scale (Tangney et al., 2004) and the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (Steger et al., 2006) were used to measure the dependent variables. The two intervention groups each underwent 8 treatment sessions lasting 75 to 95 minutes, while the control group did not receive any treatment. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and the Bonferroni post hoc test via SPSS version 26. The results indicated that for both self-control and meaning in life, there was a significant difference between the emotional efficacy therapy and suffering management therapy groups compared to the control group (p < .05). However, there was no significant difference between the two therapies themselves (p > .05). This means that the effectiveness of emotional efficacy therapy and suffering management therapy in improving self-control and meaning in life was equal. Considering the equal effectiveness of both therapies on self-control and meaning in life in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, it is possible to use these therapies alongside medical treatments for these patients.