Comparing the Effectiveness of Cognitive-Emotional Regulation Training and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Difficulty in Regulating Emotions, Rumination and Quality of Life in Divorced Women

Abstract

Background: Divorced women often experience emotional dysregulation, increased rumination, and a decline in quality of life. Cognitive-emotional regulation training (CERT) and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) have been explored as potential interventions to address these challenges. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of CERT and tDCS in reducing difficulties in regulating emotions, decreasing rumination, and improving the quality of life among divorced women.Methods: This was a semi-experimental study involving three groups across three phases: pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. The statistical population includes all divorced women who visited counseling and psychotherapy centers in Ardabil, Iran during the Winter of 2024. A total of 45 participants were purposefully sampled and then randomly assigned to three groups. The research tools include Gratz and Roemer's Difficulty Regulation Scale (2004), John Weir's Short-Form Quality of Life Questionnaire (1992), and Nolen-Hoeksma and Morrow's Rumination Questionnaire (2008), along with interventions such as an 8-session (60 minutes each) emotional regulation training protocol and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation.Results: In the post-test, the mean±standard deviation for difficulty in emotion regulation, rumination, and quality of life in the CERT group were 48.21±8.44, 27.38±9.19, and 55.34±10.98, respectively. In the tDCS group, the scores were 51.34±10.37, 33.67±11.47, and 52.37±11.81, showing significant differences compared with the control group where the scores were 59.09±12.64, 39.12±9.82, and 48.90±12.24 (P=0.001). The results indicated that both CERT and tDCS have reduced difficulty in emotion regulation and rumination and increased quality of life (P<0.001).Conclusion: This study demonstrated that both (CERT) and (tDCS) effectively improved emotion regulation, reduced rumination, and enhanced quality of life in divorced women, with CERT showing slightly superior results. These findings support the use of CERT as a non-pharmacological intervention to improve psychological well-being in this population.