The Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy on Improving Symptoms of Emotional Ambivalence and Pain Representation in Patients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Afshin Salahian 1
Sara Souri 2
Bita Nasrolahi 3
1 Assistant Professor of Psychology, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran
2 Psychology student, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran
3 PhD in Psychology, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran
10.48311/eijh.2026.116599.82807
Abstract
Background and Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) on improving symptoms of emotional ambivalence and pain representation in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Methods: The study employed a descriptive, quasi-experimental design with a pre-test-post-test control group. The statistical population consisted of all patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain in Tehran in 2022. Using convenience sampling, 40 participants who met the inclusion criteria were selected and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (20 participants each). The instruments included the Ambivalence over Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire (AEQ) by King & Emmons (1990) and the Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ) by Broadbent et al. (2006). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software (version 21) and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA).
Results: The results indicated that EFT was effective in improving symptoms of emotional ambivalence and pain representation in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the findings, EFT can be utilized to improve symptoms of emotional ambivalence and pain representation in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Keywords
Emotion-Focused Therapy
Symptoms
Emotional Ambivalence
Pain Representation
Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
Subjects