Aims: Difficulty in emotion regulating is one of the important factors in creating marital conflict. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of reality therapy and schema therapy on emotion regulation in women with marital conflict.

Materials & Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted with a pre-test, post-test and one-month follow-up among all women with marital conflict who referred to the Dispute Resolution Council and Counseling Centers of Varamin, Iran in the winter of 2019. Of all the female clients, 120 were selected in the desired time frame. Among the participants, 45 were selected using the targeted sampling method and were randomly divided into two experimental groups and a 15-member control group. Gratz and Roemer's emotion regulation questionnaire was then administered. Members of the first and second experimental groups received two months of reality treatment, and treatment plans, respectively. No intervention was made on the control group. After the course of medical interventions, post-test and follow-up were performed for one month. Data analysis was performed using ANOVA with repeated measure and Bonferroni post hoc test in SPSS 24 software.

Findings: The mean emotion regulation of the reality therapy group was 126.07±2.05 for the experimental group, 127.4±4.84 for the treatment and treatment plan group, and 128.13±3.56 control group. The marital adjustment index of women with marital conflict in the group of reality therapy (91.47±4.86) and the treatment plan (90.47±12.43) compared to the control group (126.73±2.93) decreased significantly after the test. (p=0.001). In the follow-up phase, the effect of reality therapy and schema therapy on persistent emotion regulation (p<0.05). The effect of reality therapy and treatment plan on emotion regulation was similar in the post-test and follow-up stages (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Reality therapy and schema therapy are effective in regulating the excitement of women with marital conflict.