marital/couples issues

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of emotionally-focused couple therapy (EFCT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in the quality of interpersonal relationships among couples with marital conflicts.

Materials and Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and delayed follow-up. The study population consisted of 39 couples with marital conflicts referring to Behzisti counseling centers in Tayebad, Iran, within the second half of 2018 and first half of 2019. The participants, including 13 couples receiving EFCT, 13 couples receiving ACT, and 13 couples as the control group, were selected using convenience sampling. For the experimental groups, nine EFCT sessions and eight ACT sessions were held, and the control group was not subjected to any intervention. The research tools were Sanaei's Marital Conflicts Questionnaire and Pierce’s Quality of Interpersonal Relationships Questionnaire that the couples of the three groups completed in three stages, namely pretest, posttest, and follow-up. Repeated measures analysis of variance, Bonferroni test, and SPSS statistical software (version 23) were used to analyze the data.

Results: Repeated measures analysis of variance showed that ACT was more effective in the quality of interpersonal relationships among couples with marital conflicts than EFCT (P<0.001).

Conclusion: The obtained results of the present study revealed that ACT was more effective than EFCT in the improvement of the quality of interpersonal relationships among couples with marital conflicts.

پژوهش حاضر با هدف مقایسه اثربخشی زوج‌درمانی مبتنی بر طرح‌واره ‌درمانی و زوج‌درمانی مبتنی بر پذیرش و تعهد در تاب‌‌آوری خانواده زوجین انجام شد. پژوهش از نوع آزمایشی با طرح پیش‌‌آزمون- پس‌‌آزمون سه گروهی بود. جامعه آماری، شامل کلیه زوجین متعارض و مراجعه‌‌کننده به مراکز مشاوره بود که از بین آن‌‌ها 120 نفر به‌تصادف انتخاب و پس از اجرای اولیه آزمون غربال‌‌گری، تعداد 48 نفر که دارای کم‌‌ترین سطح تاب‌‌آوری خانوادگی بودند، انتخاب و به‌تصادف در سه گروه (دو گروه آزمایشی و یک گروه کنترل) جایگزین شدند. ابزار سنجش، پرسشنامه تاب‌آوری خانواده سیکسبی بود و داده‌‌ها از طریق تحلیل کوواریانس مورد تحلیل قرار گرفتند. یافته‌‌ها نشان داد زوج‌درمانی مبتنی بر طرح‌واره (p <0/05) و زوج‌درمانی مبتنی بر پذیرش و تعهد (p <0/05) به‌‌طور معناداری موجب افزایش سطح تاب‌‌آوری خانواده زوجین شده است. همچنین، در مقایسه زوج‌درمانی بر مبنای طرح‎واره ‌درمانی با زوج‌درمانی مبتنی بر پذیرش و تعهد، مشخص گردید که زوج‌درمانی بر مبنای طرح‎واره‌ درمانی تأثیر بیشتری نسبت به زوج‌درمانی مبتنی بر پذیرش و تعهد دارد (p <0/05). به‌طورکلی نتایج نشان داد هر دو رویکرد زوج‌‌درمانی در تاب‌‌آوری خانواده تأثیر دارند. لیکن، نتایج به نفع اثربخشی بیشتر زوج‌درمانی بر مبنای طرح‌واره ‌درمانی در تاب‌‌آوری خانواده بود.

The present study was done with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of schema-based couple therapy and couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment on family resiliences of couples. The study was experimental, with three group pre-test-post-test. The statistical population was conflicting couples referred to counseling centers, of which 120 couples were randomly selected and after the primary screening exam, 48 couple with the least level of family resilience were chosen and randomly assigned into three groups (two experimental groups and one control group). The research instrument was Sixbey questionnaire on family resiliency and data was analyzed by analysis of covariance. The results showed that couple therapy based on schema therapy (p < 0.05) and couples therapy based on acceptance and commitment (p < 0.05) significantly increased the family resilience of couples. Also, in comparing the effectiveness of schema-based couple therapy and couples therapy based on acceptance and commitment, couple therapy based on schema therapy was more effective than couples therapy based on acceptance and commitment in family resilience of couples (p < 0.05). Generally, the results showed that both couple therapies are effective on family resilience, although showing schema-based couple therapy as being more effective.

Background: The assessment of young couples' marital relationship has received considerable attention in recent years. The present study aimed to make a comparison between the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in the enhancement of marital satisfaction and sexual intimacy in couples referred to counseling centers in Khorramabad.

Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental was conducted based on a pre-posttest design with a control group. For the purpose of the study, a total of 60 couples were selected using volunteer sampling out of the entire couples who referred to counseling centers in Khorramabad due to marital disorders in 2018. The couples were randomly assigned to three groups of 20, namely ACT, CBT, and the control group. The data collection tools included the ENRICH marital satisfaction inventory and Battalion sexual intimacy scale. Before the commencement of the intervention (presenting the independent variable), the three groups were provided with the two questionnaires (pre-test). Thereafter, the experimental group received eight two-hour sessions of ACT and eight two-hour sessions of CBT. On the other hand, the control group did not receive any training. Upon the completion of the training sessions, marital satisfaction and sexual intimacy were assessed in the three groups (post-test). Data were analyzed in SPSS software(version 22) using the multivariate analysis of covariance.

Results: The obtained results were indicative of the significant effect of both treatments on the enhancement of marital satisfaction (P<0.001) and sexual intimacy (P<0.001) in couples. Moreover, it was found that CBT exerted a more profound effect on marital satisfaction and sexual intimacy, compared to ACT.

Conclusion: As evidenced by the obtained results, it can be concluded that both CBT and ACT were effective in the promotion of marital satisfaction and sexual intimacy in couples. Nonetheless, CBT demonstrated more dramatic effects, compared to ACT.

INTRODUCTION: Infertility by creating a disturbing and debilitating condition is considered as an important individual, public, and social health problem. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of counseling based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on mental health and quality of life in infertile couples.

METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, 54 infertile couples referring to the Sanandaj-Iran Infertility Clinic were assigned into two groups of counseling and control by random blocking with a 1:1 ratio. The consulting group received 8 weekly 90-min sessions of group counseling based on ACT. The General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) and Fertility Quality of Life were completed before and 1 month after the completion of the intervention. Primary outcome measures were mean score of mental health and quality of fertility life. Independent t-test, ANCOVA, and Mann–Whitney U-test were used to analyze data.

RESULTS: There was no significant intergroup difference in demographic information (P > 0.05). One month after the end of the intervention, the mean overall mental health score in the couples of the counseling group was significantly less than the control group (adjusted mean difference [aMD]: −8.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −10.4–−6.4; P< 0.001). Furthermore, the mean overall score of quality of life in the counseling group couples was significantly more than the control group (aMD: 14.8; 95% CI: 11.8–17.9; P< 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Based on the effectiveness of counseling based on ACT on mental health and quality of life in infertile couples, it can be used in the infertility clinics. Health-care providers and counselors should train in the ACT courses to improve the mental health and quality of life of infertile couples.

Background: The present study assessed the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for couples on couples’ quality of life (QOL), emotional regulation, marital satisfaction, general health, and mindfulness.

Methods: This semi-experimental study was performed on 50 couples selected from among 150 couples referring to Zehn Agah Clinic, Bonyad-e Shahid Centre, and the counseling center of Kargarnezhad Hospital in Kashan, Iran, in 2015. The subjects were divided into 2 equal groups including ACT and treatment as usual (TAU). The first group received psychological treatment while the second did not receive any intervention. QOL was assessed in both groups using the Short Form-12 (SF-12) and the ENRICH marital satisfaction questionnaire during pretest and posttest.

Results: A significant differences was observed in the mean scores of marital satisfaction and QOL between the two groups (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: It can be concluded that ACT for couples can enhance marital satisfaction and QOL. It appears that ACT for couples is an effective intervention for the treatment of clients with marital problems.

Background & objectives: Marriage is the start point in the family formation and it has been approved as the highest social practice to achieve emotional and security needs for adults. Although satisfactory marriage is an important factor in mental health but poor and unsatisfactory marriages can lead to unhappy couples which has negative and irreversible effects on both wives and husbands. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment based on Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) on marital satisfaction among couples who were married.

Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest study design was used to conduct this study. The population consisted of all students of Islamic Azad University of Bandar Abbas who were married, during 2015 and 2016. Based on acceptance and commitment therapy protocol a 12-session intervention was conducted over a period of 3 months. Enrich marital satisfaction assessment questionnaire was used to collect data. The subjects responded to questionnaires before intervention and 1 month after intervention. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA using were used for data analysis in SPSS V.20.

Results: The results of the analysis showed that the average post-test scores of between two groups in the components of marital satisfaction including sexual satisfaction (experimental, 24.45; control, 19.83), communications (experimental, 22.10; control, 19.81), solving conflict (experimental, 20.35; control, 17.15) and idealistic distortion (experimental, 16.65; control, 14.55) which the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Based on the positive effect of acceptance and commitment therapy on marital satisfaction of the couples, this method is recommended to be used alongside other interventions for improving marital satisfaction of couples.

Full text: https://hcjournal.arums.ac.ir/article-1-706-en.html

Introduction: The family is the bedrock of the child’s physical and psychosocial well-being and is the factor of realization of the physical, psychological and social balance of human beings. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of group counseling based on acceptance and com-mitment approach on couple’s marital adjustment in Kermanshah city.

Methods: This research is a type of experimental research (pre-test-post-test). The statistical popu-lation consisted of all couples in Kermanshah City who referred to counseling centers in 2016. Avail-able sampling method was used to select the sample. Then, referring to these centers, 40 people (20 couples) were selected and randomly divided into two groups: experimental and control. To conduct the research, all subjects before and after the ac-ceptance and commitment therapy for the experi-ment group, answered marital adjustment ques-tionnaires (Spanier, 1976) and questions related to demographic characteristics.

Findings: The mean indices and standard devia-tion in inferiority analysis, analysis of multivariate variance (MANOVA) and analysis of multivariate covariance (MANCOVA) were used to analyze ac-cording to the results of single-variable covariance analysis. There was a signifcant difference be-tween the scores of post-test of marital satisfaction and marital adjustment with pre-test scores. The effect of group on expression of affection is not sta-tistically signifcant (partial n2=0.01, P>0.05, F (1 & 244) = 3.76).

Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that acceptance and commitment approach could in-crease marital adjustment of couples. At the theo-retical level, the results of this research can conrm the results of previous research. At the practical level, the fndings of this study can be used to de-velop educational and therapeutic programs.

Divorce is a fact that family institution has been experiencing it in today's world. In Iran society due to the importance of family, any damage to this institution is unfortunate. The aim of current study was the surveying of effect of acceptance and commitment based training on psychological well being and marital satisfaction in divorce applicants couples. The design of the study is as experimental research with pretest and post test with control group. Statistical population was all clients who exposed to divorce and confer to the courts in Arak city. Samples were selected at first by available sampling method and after completing psychological well being questionnaire and marital satisfaction questionnaire, and obtaining score for enter to research, were placement using random sampling method in two experimental and control groups (10 couples in each group). The results showed that acceptance and commitment based training could significantly affect psychological well-being and marital satisfaction of Divorce Applicants Couples. According to these results, the acceptance and commitment training is affective on improving of psychological well being and marital satisfaction of divorce applicants couples.

Full text: http://jrh.gmu.ac.ir/article-1-767-en.pdf

Introduction: MARITAL HAPPINESs is one of the most important factors of marital relationship quality. It shows the degree of couples´ happiness regarding different aspects of their relation.It could be said that, more MARITAL HAPPINESs indicates less marital conflicts and dissatisfaction. Regarding ongoing increasing of marital conflicts and divorce, using effective interventions is necessary for improving the quality of marital relationship.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of cognitive-behavioral couple therapy and ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY on MARITAL HAPPINESs of the couples who are not satisfied with their relationship.Method: The method of this research was single-subject design. The study was carried out based on multiple baselines with an initiation of treatment. Sampling procedure of the study was convenience. Considering inclusion criteria, six couples were randomly assigned in two experimental groups. Independent variables were cognitive-behavioral couple therapy and ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY that were presented in six sessions. The research instrument was MARITAL HAPPINESs Questionnaire.

Results: Based on significant differences between the intervention and baseline situations, the results showed that cognitive-behavioral couple therapy and ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY have increased MARITAL HAPPINESs. Also the results of the Repeated Measures Anova showed that there are no significant differences between the effects of these two therapies on increasing of MARITAL HAPPINESs.

Conclusion: cosidering these results, couple therapists can use the effective interventions of theses two therapeutic methods to increase MARITAL HAPPINESs of couples especially those who have experienced some kind of dissatisfaction in their relations.

Full text: https://www.sid.ir/en/journal/ViewPaper.aspx?id=568467