Determining the effectiveness of a compassion-focused therapy-based intervention in reducing feelings of defeat and improving character strengths in divorced women.
Design
A randomized, double-blind, phase II controlled clinical trial will be conducted on 30 divorced women, and the RAND function in Excel software will be used for randomization.
Settings and conduct
In this study, a field experimental research method of the pretest-posttest design with a control group, parallel groups, and a double-blind procedure will be used. This study will be conducted in counseling centers in the city of Ahvaz. All clinical caregivers and evaluators who interpret the data will be blinded, all information will be kept confidential, and abbreviated names will be assigned to the participants.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Being between 20 and 50 years of age.
At least one year having passed since the divorce.
Holding at least a high school diploma.
Exclusion Criteria:
History of using psychotropic substances or narcotics.
Presence of psychiatric disorders or the use of psychiatric medications.
Having any type of physical condition that interferes with the research process.
Intervention groups
Intervention group: Compassion-focused therapy is a form of evidence-based therapy that specifically aims to cultivate compassion. This therapy emphasizes strengthening the ability to be aware of suffering, as well as the motivation and ability to alleviate or prevent it. In this study, the experimental group will undergo an intervention consisting of 8 sessions of 90-minute compassion-based therapy based on Gilbert’s theory and derived from the book Compassion-Focused Therapy in Weekly Sessions (Russell Kolts et al., 2016).
Control group: They will not receive any intervention.
Main outcome variables
Feelings of defeat؛ Character strengths
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20260531069592N1
Registration date:2026-06-28, 1405/04/07
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2026-06-28, 1405/04/07
Update count:0
Registration date
2026-06-28, 1405/04/07
Registrant information
Name
Naim ghalandeh
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 916 936 5260
Email address
naeem.ghandale@iau.ir
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-07-11, 1405/04/20
Expected recruitment end date
2026-08-06, 1405/05/15
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
The effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy-based intervention on reducing feelings of defeat and improving character strengths in divorced women
Public title
The effectiveness of an intervention based on compassion-focused therapy
Purpose
Education/Guidance
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Being between 20 and 50 years of age.
At least one year having passed since the divorce.
Holding at least a high school diploma.
Willingness to participate in the course.
Exclusion criteria:
History of using psychotropic substances or narcotics.
Presence of psychiatric disorders or the use of psychiatric medications.
Having any type of physical condition that interferes with the research process.
Age
From 20 years old to 50 years old
Gender
Female
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
Care provider
Outcome assessor
Data analyser
Sample size
Target sample size:
30
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
In this study, in order to ensure completely random allocation and eliminate any researcher interference or bias, the simple randomization method will be used. First, a complete list of women مراجعهکننده to the counseling center who will meet the study inclusion criteria will be prepared. Then, each of these individuals will be assigned an initial numerical identification code. These codes will be entered into the Random Number Generator software. The software will generate a unique random number for each individual. After the numbers are generated, the participants will be listed in ascending order based on the value of the random number. Then, sequentially, the first to the fifteenth individuals on the list will be assigned to the experimental group, and the sixteenth to the thirtieth individuals will be assigned to the control group. This process will be designed in such a way that the order of entry or the researcher’s familiarity with the participants will have no role in the allocation procedure, and it will not be possible to predict any individual’s group before the completion of the randomization process.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Double blinded
Blinding description
In this study, the clinical caregivers, the outcome assessor, and the data analyst will be blinded to the allocation of the study groups.
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics Committee of Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz
Street address
Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz, Farhang Shahr
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6134937333
Approval date
2025-10-14, 1404/07/22
Ethics committee reference number
IR.IAU.AHVAZ.REC.1404.590
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Divorce-related problems
ICD-10 code
Z63.5
ICD-10 code description
Disruption of family by separation and divorce
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Feelings of defeat
Timepoint
before performing the intervention and two weeks after completion of the intervention
Method of measurement
Gilbert and Allan’s (1998) Defeat Scale Questionnaire
2
Description
Character strengths
Timepoint
before performing the intervention and two weeks after completion of the intervention
Method of measurement
Peterson and Seligman’s (2004) Character Strengths Questionnaire
Secondary outcomes
empty
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention group: The intervention group in this study will consist of divorced women who participate in eight 90-minute sessions of compassion-focused therapy. This intervention is designed based on Gilbert’s theory and adapted from the book Compassion-Focused Therapy in Weekly Sessions by Russell Kolts et al. (2016). Compassion-focused therapy is an evidence-based approach that, with the aim of cultivating compassion for oneself and others, focuses on increasing awareness of suffering, strengthening the motivation to alleviate it, and preventing the continuation of psychological injuries. Within this framework, self-compassion is defined as a three-component construct consisting of mindfulness, self-kindness, and a sense of common humanity. In the first session, initial communication with the group members is established, and the concept of compassion, the structure of sessions, and the general principles of treatment are introduced. In the second session, the three emotion regulation systems and their roles in individuals’ emotional experiences are explained, and the competitors of compassion and the necessity of the need for it are examined. In the third session, participants become familiar with the concepts of the old brain, new brain, and mindful mind, mindfulness skills are taught, and a mindful eating assignment is presented. In the fourth session, the six attributes of compassion—including sensitivity, care for well-being, empathy, sympathy, non-judgmentalism, and distress tolerance—are taught, and the characteristics of a compassionate individual, such as wisdom, responsibility, warmth, and courage, are explained. In the fifth session, compassionate reasoning and compassionate attention are taught, and compassionate self-imagery and the compassionate letter technique are introduced. In the sixth session, compassionate imagery and compassionate sensory experience are taught, emphasizing the power of imagery and its relationship with the three emotion regulation systems. In the seventh session, compassionate feeling is strengthened through practicing kindness toward oneself and others. Finally, in the eighth session, compassionate behavior—including nurturance, opportunity, structure, and challenge—is taught, and a final summary of the session content is conducted.
Category
Behavior
2
Description
Control group: They do not receive any intervention or treatment.
Category
N/A
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Hami Counseling Center
Full name of responsible person
Naim ghalandeh
Street address
Unit 204, 2nd Floor, Iran Clinic Medical Complex, East Taleghani St., Next to Hosseiniyeh Sarallah
City
اهواز
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6194974862
Phone
+98 916 936 5260
Email
naeem.ghandale@iau.ir
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Aslan Egdarnejad
Street address
Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz, Farhang Shahr.
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6134937333
Phone
+98 61 3334 8421
Email
a_eigder@yahoo.com
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Islamic Azad University
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Naim ghalandeh
Position
Master’s student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Family Counseling
Street address
Sheikh Zahrav Village, Dehkadeh Rural District, Central District, Hamidiyeh County
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6143143136
Phone
+98 916 936 5260
Fax
Email
naeem.ghandale@iau.ir
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Naim Ghalandeh
Position
Master’s student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Family Counseling
Street address
Sheikh Zahrav Village, Dehkadeh Rural District, Central District, Hamidiyeh County
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6143143136
Phone
+98 916 936 5260
Fax
Email
naeem.ghandale@iau.ir
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Islamic Azad University
Full name of responsible person
Naim Ghalandeh
Position
Master’s student
Latest degree
Bachelor
Other areas of specialty/work
Family Counseling
Street address
Sheikh Zahrav Village, Dehkadeh Rural District, Central District, Hamidiyeh County
City
Ahvaz
Province
Khouzestan
Postal code
6143143136
Phone
+98 916 936 5260
Fax
Email
naeem.ghandale@iau.ir
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Justification/reason for indecision/not sharing IPD
Participant data is completely confidential and I do not intend to publish it.
Study Protocol
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
No - There is not a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available