Background and Purpose: A cancer diagnosis and treatment often bring significant emotional and psychological challenges, impacting patients' resilience and hope. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of group-based emotion schema therapy (EST) in improving resilience and hope in individuals diagnosed with cancer.
Method: This quasi-experimental study employed a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with an extended control group. The study population consisted of patients with cancer referred to Shariati Hospital in Tehran. Forty individuals who volunteered and met the inclusion criteria were selected through purposive sampling. After final screening, 20 participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (EST) or the control group. The study used the Adult Hope Scale (Snyder et al., 1991) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (Connor-Davidson, 2003) for assessment. The questionnaires were completed by both groups before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and during follow-up. The intervention consisted of 12 online group sessions via Skype, each lasting two and a half hours. Data were analyzed using SPSS-24 and covariance analysis methods.
Findings: The results showed that the EST had a significant effect on resilience and life expectancy in people with cancer.
Conclusion: Group-based emotion schema therapy is effective in enhancing resilience and hope among individuals with cancer. These findings suggest that incorporating such therapeutic interventions into oncology care can provide significant psychological benefits for patients.
