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Volume 18, Issue 4 (Iranian Journal of Breast Diseases 2026)                   ijbd 2026, 18(4): 73-87 | Back to browse issues page

Research code: IR.IAU.NAJAFABAD.REC.1403.186
Clinical trials code: IRCT20250113064368N1

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Biriyai D, Montazeri Z, Jouzi M, Rabbani S, Badihi M, Shokrolahi M. Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy in a Group Setting on Death Anxiety and Distress Tolerance Among Women with Breast Cancer. ijbd 2026; 18 (4) :73-87
URL: http://ijbd.ir/article-1-1227-en.html
1- Department of Psychology, Ragheb Esfahani Institute of Higher Education, Isfahan, Iran
2- 2. Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Nain Branch, Isfahan, Iran.
3- 3. Department of Nursing, Nursing and Midwifery Sciences Development Research Center, Na.C., Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran , minajouzi@yahoo.com
4- Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Badrud Branch, Badrud, Iran
5- Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Electronics Branch
6- Department of Psychology and Counselling, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract:   (242 Views)
Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the most common health problems in women. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of emotion-focused group therapy on death anxiety and distress tolerance in women with breast cancer.
Methods: This clinical trial was conducted using two intervention and control groups, with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design. The statistical population included all women with breast cancer in 2024 in Najafabad, Iran, of which 30 women were selected through convenience sampling and by referring to the clinic of Shahid Montazeri Hospital in Najafabad and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. The experimental group received emotion-focused group therapy for 12 weekly sessions. The instruments used included the Templer Death Anxiety Questionnaire (2005) and the Simmons and Gaher Distress Tolerance Questionnaire (1970), which were completed in three stages of the study. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 22) and the repeated-measures analysis of variance statistical method.  
Results: The results showed that group emotion-focused therapy significantly improved death anxiety (p<0.05) and distress tolerance (p<0.05) in the experimental group.  
Conclusion: The present study showed that group emotion-focused therapy has a significant impact on the mental health of breast cancer patients, including their death anxiety and distress tolerance, and it is suggested that this type of therapy be used to help cancer patients.
Full-Text [PDF 633 kb]   (96 Downloads)    
Type of Study: Research | Subject: Nutrition, psychology, sport
Received: 2025/11/18 | Accepted: 2025/12/29 | Published: 2026/01/18

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