Comparing the Effectiveness of Forgiveness Therapy, Writing Therapy, and Positive Psychology on the Symptoms of Somatization and Mental Rumination of Housewives in Shiraz City

Introduction: Somatization disorder is a quasi-somatic disorder that medical examinations cannot explain its cause and generally cure, and it creates a lot of mental preoccupations such as mental rumination for patients. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the difference in the effectiveness of forgiveness therapy, writing therapy, and positive psychology techniques on reducing somatization and rumination of housewives. Materials and methods: This research was a semi-experimental study with pre-test, post-test and control groups. The statistical population included all women with somatization disorder and mental rumination who have referred to counseling centers, from among them a sample of ۱۰۰ people was selected according to the available method, and they were randomly divided into three experimental groups and one control group. The tools of data collection were SSC Cheng, Hamid (۱۹۹۶), Somatization Questionnaire and Nolen Hoeksma and Marlow Rumination Test. The first experimental group received forgiveness therapy intervention, the second experimental group received writing therapy, and the third experimental group received positive psychology therapy during ۱۲ ۹۰-minute sessions, and the control group did not receive any type of intervention. Findings: The results showed a significant difference in the somatization and rumination disorder scores of the experimental and control groups (P<۰.۰۵).Three approaches have been effective in reducing somatization and rumination. Also, the results of the Bonferroni post hoc test showed that positive psychology treatment had a far greater effect on somatization and rumination than the other two treatments. Conclusion: The use of forgiveness therapy, writing therapy and positive psychology interventions in counseling centers can be considered as an effective treatment to reduce the symptoms of somatization and rumination disorders.