Couple Therapy Research Articles

Examining the Efficacy of Couples Therapy with a Cognitive-Behavioral Approach on Marital Satisfaction of Parents and Externalized Behavioral Problems of Students Aged 10 – 15 with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Examining the Efficacy of Couples Therapy with a Cognitive-Behavioral Approach on Marital Satisfaction of Parents and Externalized Behavioral Problems of Students Aged 10 – 15 with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The Efficacy of Cognitive-Behavioral Couple Therapy on Communication Beliefs and Marital Burnout among Couples on the Verge of Divorce

Objective: The purpose of the current research was to determine the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral couple therapy on communication beliefs and marital burnout among couples on the verge of divorce. Methods and Materials: The study employed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group. The population consisted of couples seeking divorce who visited counseling clinics in Tehran in the year 2022, with 32 individuals being conveniently selected and randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group, each comprising 16 members. Data were collected using the Communication Beliefs Questionnaire and the Marital Burnout Questionnaire. The cognitive-behavioral couple therapy intervention for the couples in the experimental group was conducted over eight weekly sessions, each lasting an hour and a half, while the control group was placed on a waiting list. Findings: The findings indicated that there were significant differences in post-test scores between the experimental and control groups in terms of communication beliefs and marital burnout. Conclusion: Therefore, cognitive-behavioral couple therapy has an effect on communication beliefs and marital burnout among couples on the verge of divorce.

Efficacy of Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy on Intimacy, Marital Adjustment, and Forgiveness among Couples with a History of Extramarital Affairs

Objective: The current study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) on intimacy, marital adjustment, and forgiveness among couples with a history of extramarital affairs. Methods: The research design was a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest with a control group. The study population included all women in Tehran who were affected by their husbands' extramarital relationships in 2022. A sample of 30 women affected by such relationships and visiting counseling centers in District 2 of Tehran was selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group in equal numbers. The research instruments included the Thompson and Walker (1983) Intimacy Scale, the Spanier (1976) Marital Adjustment Questionnaire, and the Rye et al. (2001) Forgiveness Questionnaire. The experimental group received EFCT in eight 60-minute sessions over a month; the control group was placed on a waiting list. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance with the aid of SPSS version 23 software. Findings: The findings indicated that EFCT significantly improved intimacy (p < 0.01), marital adjustment (p < 0.01), and marital forgiveness (p < 0.01). Conclusion: It can be concluded that Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy effectively enhances intimacy, adjustment, and forgiveness in couples with a history of extramarital affairs.

Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Couples Therapy on Psychological Well-being and Distress Tolerance among Couples

Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Couples Therapy on Psychological Well-being and Distress Tolerance among Couples

Effectiveness of Therapist-Assisted Couple Therapy on Psychological Well-being, Negotiation Increase, and Aggression Reduction in Women Victims of Partner Violence

Objective: The current study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of therapist-assisted couple therapy on psychological well-being, negotiation increase, and aggression reduction in women victims of partner violence. Methods and Materials: This research was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test, post-test design with a control group. The study population included couples visiting counseling and psychotherapy centers in Qom city during the second half of the year 2021, among whom 30 couples were randomly assigned to two groups after controlling for entry criteria: the therapist-assisted intervention (15 couples) and the control group (15 couples). Research instruments included the Conflict Tactics Scale by Straus et al. (1979) and the Psychological Well-being Scale by Ryff (1989), administered to the female victims of violence in three stages: pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. The intervention group received an educational package by Aghayousefi et al. (2020) over eight sessions, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Findings: Results indicated that therapist-assisted couple therapy was effective in reducing aggression, increasing negotiation, and enhancing the psychological well-being of women victims of violence (P<0.05), with these effects being stable at the follow-up stage. Conclusion: The findings suggest that therapist-assisted couple therapy is an appropriate method for resolving conflicts and improving psychological well-being.

Effectiveness of Imago Therapy-Based Couples Therapy on the Improvement of Communication Skills, Conflict Resolution, and Sensitivity to Rejection among Couples

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Imago therapy-based couples therapy on improving communication skills, conflict resolution, and sensitivity to rejection among couples attending counseling centers in Masjed Soleyman. Methods: This quasi-experimental research was conducted with a pre-test, post-test, control group design, and follow-up. The population of this study included all couples visiting counseling centers in Masjed Soleyman in 2019, with twenty couples (40 individuals) randomly divided into experimental and control groups (10 couples per group). Participants in the experimental group underwent ten two-hour training sessions, while the control group did not receive any training. Participants were assessed using the Quinndom Communication Skills questionnaire, the Sanayi Zaker et al.'s Standard Sensitivity to Rejection, and the Downey and Feldman Marital Conflict questionnaire. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance via SPSS software version 22. Findings: The results showed that training based on Imago therapy significantly altered the experimental group's communication skills, conflict resolution, and sensitivity to rejection compared to the control group. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, Imago therapy training can be considered an effective method for improving communication skills, conflict resolution, and sensitivity to rejection among couples.

The Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy on Marital Commitment, Love Schemas, and Emotional Schemas in Couples with Extramarital Affairs

The Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy on Marital Commitment, Love Schemas, and Emotional Schemas in Couples with Extramarital Affairs

Effectiveness of Integrative Couple Therapy on Sexual Function, Marital Intimacy, and Impulsivity in Women Affected by Marital Infidelity

Objective: One of the most significant factors that can disrupt family health is the breaking of commitment and exclusivity in emotional and sexual relationships and the creation of extramarital relationships, namely marital infidelity. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of integrative couple therapy on sexual function, marital intimacy, and impulsivity in women affected by marital infidelity. Materials and Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental research with a pre-test, post-test, and three-month follow-up design, accompanied by a control group. The study population included all women affected by marital infidelity who sought help from Yarigar and Organic counseling centers in Tehran during the first six months of 2023. According to the counseling centers' officials, the total number of these individuals was 93. The study sample consisted of 30 women affected by marital infidelity who referred to counseling centers in District 2 of Tehran in 2023, selected through purposive sampling and then randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Data were collected using the Marital Intimacy Scale, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, and the Female Sexual Function Index. In this study, the experimental group underwent emotion-focused therapy in 9 sessions (one 90-minute session per week). Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance and SPSS software version 22. Findings: The results showed that integrative couple therapy effectively increased sexual function (F=54.5, P<0.001), marital intimacy (F=9.00, P<0.001), and decreased impulsivity (F=7.09, P<0.001) in women affected by marital infidelity. Conclusion: It can be concluded that integrative couple therapy is effective in improving sexual function, marital intimacy, and impulsivity in women affected by marital infidelity and can be used to reduce the psychological problems of these women.

Comparing the Efficacy of Bowen Family Systems Therapy and Couple Therapy Based on Integrated Behavioral Systems on Marital Intimacy and Family Functions

Comparing the Efficacy of Bowen Family Systems Therapy and Couple Therapy Based on Integrated Behavioral Systems on Marital Intimacy and Family Functions

Investigating the Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Approach Couple Therapy on the Internalized Behavioral Problems of Children Aged 10 - 15 with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Investigating the Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Approach Couple Therapy on the Internalized Behavioral Problems of Children Aged 10 - 15 with Autism Spectrum Disorder

A Study on the Narrative Case of Counseling for Middle-Aged Couples Using Transactional Analysis Theory

A Study on the Narrative Case of Counseling for Middle-Aged Couples Using Transactional Analysis Theory

Challenges Associated with Marriages in Ghana: Implications for Counselling on Marital Satisfaction

The purpose of this study was to explore the challenges related to inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic marriages and how the challenges affect the level of marital satisfaction. The study employed the qualitative phenomenological design and sampled 10 inter and inter-ethnic married couples in the Kumasi metropolis using to convenience sampling procedure. Data was collected with the aid of researcher designed semi-structured interview guide. Data collected were analysed using the six-step thematic analysis approach suggested by Braun and Clarke (2006). The findings revealed that the challenges experienced by spouses in inter-and intra-ethnic marriages were not the same. The findings also, revealed that children’s upbringing was a challenge due to the gender-stereotypic nature of spouse. It was concluded that most spouses in intra-ethnic marriages faced challenges with regard to children upbringing, decision-making and household production. It is recommended that married couples: both inter and intra-ethic couples should seek marital counselling services during their marriage in order to help them deal effectively with the various challenges such as children up-bringing, decision-making and household production that have the capacity of negatively affecting their marriage and marital satisfaction.

Evaluation and treatment of the family of a twelve-year-old boy

This article gives a detailed account of a twelve-year-old boy and his parents, seen from the perspective of both the child's and the couple's therapists, and then from that of visiting teachers and a commentator in the Continuous Training Course in Family and Couple Therapy carried out with The Beijing Zhi-Dao-Zhong-He Medical Institute, which is directed by our collaborator, Fang Xin. The referral concerns a twelve-year-old boy who we will call Haitao (not his real name), whose symptoms included compulsive hand washing, social isolation, difficulty making decisions, and hesitation in answering questions and in initiating actions. He was initially referred for individual therapy. After his individual therapist met with the family, she suggested parent therapy at the same time that she initiated weekly child therapy. There was instability in his therapy because when his first therapist became pregnant, he was referred to a second therapist who met twice with him before resigning and referring him to a third therapist, who then recommended that he return to his first therapist. We all noted from the outset that this therapeutic instability had a negative effect on the family's adaptation to Haitao's therapy. This case report details a consultation to two difficult therapies for a neuroatypical boy and his parents.

Mubadalah Marriage Guidance to Prevent Divorce in Pekalongan City

Divorce in the city of Pekalongan is becoming a trend. The divorce rate is always increasing, even during the covid-19 pandemic and post pandemic. This paper intends to develop an appropriate formulation of mublah marriage guidance to prevent divorce in the city of Pekalongan, by emphasizing the understanding of the mubadalah concept through 5 pillars of marriage: (a) commitment to a strong bond of promise as a mandate from Allah (mitsaq ghalizh), (b) the principle of in pairs and mutually (zawaj), (c) mutual comfort behavior (taradh), (d) treat each other well (muasyaroh bil ma'ruf), (e) the habit of mutual discussion together (deliberation). The purpose of this study was to obtain the right formulation of mubadalah marriage guidance to prevent divorce. This study uses the Research and Development method, with three tests, (1) expert judgement (rational test), with valid results (model can be used), (2) limited scale trial (empirical test) with effective results in increasing understanding of the concepts of mubadalah for prospective bridal couples, and (3) broad-scale trial with effective results increases understanding of the concept of mubadalah for prospective bridal couples. The result of this research is that the formulation of mubadalah marriage guidance is found to be effective in increasing the understanding of the mubadalah concept in the prospective bride and groom, preventing divorce and forming a good (sakinah) family. The results of the limited trial and the effective broad-scale trial were both effective, as seen from the Wilcoxon statistical test which was declared significant (probability < 0.05).

COMUNICATION PATTERN AND INFIDELITY AS PREDICTORS OF MARITAL DESERTION AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL INSTRUCTORS IN KWARA STATE

This study looked at secondary school instructors in Kwara State's communication patterns and infidelity as potential indicators of marital desertion. The study employed an ex-post facto descriptive research design. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed in order to choose 281 participants. Six state-selected secondary schools provided the respondents. The appropriate, standardised instrument was used to measure the responses, and the data collected was subjected to a Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) analysis. A pair of conjectures were developed and examined at the significance level of 0.05. The findings indicated that there was a significant correlation between infidelity and marital desertion (r=.671; p<0.05) and between communication patterns and marital desertion (r=.736; p<0.05). In view of these findings, the study stressed that Counseling psychologists should always provide marital counselling to couples before and after marriage as essential factors towards avoiding marital desertion.

Peran Penting Bimbingan dan Konseling dalam Menangani Tantangan Pernikahan Dini: Strategi untuk Membangun Hubungan yang Sehat

Marriage is considered the basis for carrying out better social engineering and is one of society's most important basic principles of life. Quality family building is considered to foster a superior generation for a nation. However, happiness in marriage is not always easy to achieve, sometimes, the partner's expectations do not match the reality of domestic life. The inability of a prospective bride and groom to prepare provisions to build family resilience can cause various problems. Early marriage, which occurs among teenagers under the age of 20, is still a phenomenon in Indonesia. Factors such as economics, parental influence, and local community customs contribute to the practice of early marriage. Couples who marry at a young age often face problems due to a lack of maturity in managing communication, conflict and emotions. Pre-marital guidance is considered an effort to overcome a couple's inability to build family resilience. Marriage counseling is a necessary solution for families experiencing disharmony, intending to minimize problems and achieve happiness in married life. Marriage counselors, as trained professionals, aim to help couples resolve their marital problems. Marriage counseling aims to help couples understand and accept their differences, create good relationship patterns, and resolve conflicts. This literature study concludes that early marriage can cause various problems, and marriage counseling has an important role in overcoming these conflicts. Counseling helps couples understand, accept, and resolve their differences, minimize problems, and achieve happiness in marriage.

Competing Risk Model to Determine the Prognostic Factors for Patients with Gliosarcoma

BackgroundGlioma (GSM) is a highly aggressive variant of brain cancer with an extremely unfavorable prognosis. Prognosis is not feasible by traditional methods due to lack of staging criteria, and the present study aims to screen more detailed demographic factors to predict the prognostic factors of the tumors. MethodsFor this study, we extracted data of diagnosed with GSM from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2000 and 2019.. To account for the influence of competing risks, we employed a cumulative incidence function (CIF). Subsequently, univariate analysis was conducted to evaluate the individual variables under investigation. Specifically for GSM patients, we generated cumulative risk curves for specific mortality outcomes and events related to competing risks. Additionally, we utilized both univariate and multivariate Cox analysis to account for non-GSM-related deaths that may potentially confound our research. ResultsThe competing risk model revealed that age, marital, tumor size, and adjuvant therapy were prognostic factors in GSM-related death. The analysis results showed that older age (60-70 years, ≥ 71 years) and larger tumor size (≥ 5.3 cm) significantly increased the risk of GSM-related death. Conversely, surgical intervention, chemotherapy and being single were identified as protective factors against GSM-related death. ConclusionOur study using a competing risk model provided valuable insights into the prognostic factors associated with GSM-related death. Further research and clinical interventions targeted at minimizing these risk factors and promoting the utilization of protective measures may potentially contribute to improved outcomes and reduced mortality rates for GSM patients.

Gender Justice: Construction of Family Guidance and Counseling by the Islamic Religious Extension Communication Forum

This paper aims to look at the construction of gender equality in family guidance and counselling. The construction of gender equality in the family aims as a preventive measure against family problems. This is a pattern and strategy to respond to various family problems caused by gender inequality, such as domestic violence. Through this problem, the Islamic Religious Extension Communication Forum (FKPAI) has a gender equality-based family guidance and counselling curriculum. In order to see the pattern and construction of gender equality in family guidance and counselling by FKPAI, this paper uses a qualitative method through a case study presented through descriptive techniques and content analysis as a data analysis method. The findings in this paper show that the pattern of guidance and counselling of FKPAI of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Tulungagung and Trenggalek Regency prioritises the approach aspect. The construction of gender equality in marriage guidance and counselling by FKPAI is based on the fact that gender equality has been able to become a preventive aspect of family problems.

Marriage Guidance for Prospective Brides from The Perspective of Maslahah Mursalah (Case Study at the Office of Religious Affairs, Wonoasri District, Madiun Regency)

Marriage Guidance for Prospective Brides from The Perspective of Maslahah Mursalah (Case Study at the Office of Religious Affairs, Wonoasri District, Madiun Regency)

Urgensi Bimbingan Perkawinan Bagi Calon Pengantin Dalam Mewujudkan Keluarga Harmonis


 One of the goals of marriage is to create a harmonious family. The process of realizing a harmonious family requires the attitude of the married couple in living a household life. So the need for marriage guidance for prospective brides. In this study, researchers describe that with the urgency of marriage guidance for prospective brides followed by prospective brides, it is hoped that it will make a harmonious family so that it can form a family that can realize the defense of its family and can face and solve problems in the mahligai household. The method in this research uses a qualitative approach to the literature study method. The result of this study is that from the marriage guidance of prospective brides conducted by the two prospective spouses has urgency in realizing the household mahligai that every individual desires, namely a harmonious family, where families can get peace, comfort, compassion, and love and others.
 Keywords: Marriage Guidance, Bride-to-be, Family, Harmony