Investigating the Effectiveness of Schema Therapy on Referential Thinking and Its Dimensions in Nurses with Job Burnout

Introduction: This study examines the impact of referential thinking, cognitive fusion, and Job burnout on individual functioning. The goal is to determine the effectiveness of schema therapy on referential thinking and its dimensions (including core beliefs, perceived failure, and cognitive capacity hijacking) in female nurses experiencing job burnout. Additionally, the study will assess the longevity of the therapy's effects over time.Method: The research employed a semi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and a ۳-month follow-up phase. The study included all the female nursing staff at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran in ۲۰۲۱. Random sampling was used to select ۴۰ participants from the population. After accounting for sample attrition, ۵۴ individuals remained in the study. The experimental group underwent eight sessions of ۹۰-minute schema therapy, while the control group received no intervention and remained on the waiting list. Data were collected during the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up stages using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ). Data analysis was performed using SPSS version ۲۴, encompassing descriptive and inferential statistics multivariate analysis of covariance, repeated measures analysis of variance, and Bonferroni post hoc test.Results: The results indicated that both mentioned treatments were significantly effective in reducing referential thinking and job burnout compared to the control group in the post-test and follow-up stages (p < ۰.۰۵).Conlusion: Based on the findings of this research, schema therapy can be used as a therapeutic approach to reduce referential thinking and job burnout in counseling centers and psychological services.