Marital Adjustment Research Articles

Examining the Effectiveness of the Imago Therapy Approach on Marital Adjustment and Love Styles in Married Students with Early Marriages

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the Imago therapy approach on marital adjustment and love styles in married students with early marriages. Methods and Materials: The research employed a semi-experimental method with a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical population studied included second-year high school students from vocational and technical schools in Mashhad during the 2021-2022 academic year. A purposive sampling method was used, and the participants were randomly assigned to a 15-member experimental group and a 15-member control group. The experimental group underwent 10 sessions of Imago therapy intervention and training. Subsequently, post-tests were conducted using questionnaires on both groups, and follow-up tests were administered at the end. To measure the level of marital adjustment, the Spanier Marital Adjustment Questionnaire (1976) was used, and to assess attitudes toward love, the Hendrick Love Attitudes Scale (1986) was utilized. The data were analyzed using inferential statistics through the SPSS statistical software. Findings: The results of the covariance analysis indicated that the Imago therapy model was effective in increasing marital adjustment and love styles, suggesting that this approach can be used in therapeutic and counseling sessions. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that Imago therapy significantly improves marital adjustment and love styles in married students with early marriages. Post-intervention scores in the experimental group showed a meaningful increase in marital adjustment and strong attitudes toward love compared to the control group. Thus, Imago therapy is an effective intervention for enhancing marital satisfaction and relationship quality in this population.

Exploring Childlessness: A Cross-Sectional Examination of Marital Adjustment and Mental Health Status among Men and Women in Northeast India

ABSTRACT Introduction: Childlessness has been characterized as a syndrome with multiple causes, a disease’s effect, or manifestation rather than the disease itself, a biological impairment, a psychosomatic disorder, a condition that affects a couple rather than an individual, a failure to produce, and a failure to satisfy the individual’s desire to have children. Aim: This study assessed mental health and marital adjustment and examined the relationship between mental health and marital adjustment among childless men and women in northeast India. Materials and Methods: The present study employed a cross-sectional research design to examine a sample of 72 childless men and women residing in the northeastern states of India, all of whom had been married for a minimum of 5 years. Out of the total sample, there were 21 men (29.2%) and 51 women (70.8%). Among these participants, it was found that 18 individuals (25.0%) were currently undergoing treatment. The participants were chosen using the snowball sampling approach. The study employed two research instruments, including the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21, the Marital Adjustment Questionnaire, and a sociodemographic data sheet. Results: It was found that 29.2% of childless men and women had moderate levels of depression, 13.9% had severe anxiety, and 43.1% had mild stress. Out of 72 childless men and women, 29.2% of respondents described good levels of marital adjustment. While 15.3% felt poor marital adjustment and 07.0% felt a very poor marital adjustment. Furthermore, it was observed that marital adjustment had a negative relationship with depression (r = −0.215, P < 0.05), anxiety (r = −0.105, P > 0.05), and stress (r = −0.020, P < 0.01). Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of enhancing marital satisfaction to improve mental health among childless couples, suggesting a need for psychological support interventions.

Predicting Marital Adjustment by Self-Compassion and Marital Self-Regulation

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the predictive roles of self-compassion and marital self-regulation on marital adjustment among married women attending counseling centers in Tehran in 2023. It sought to enrich the understanding of how these psychological constructs contribute to marital satisfaction and stability. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of 350 married women selected through available sampling from various counseling centers in Tehran. Measures included the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) to assess marital adjustment, the Self-Compassion Scale developed by Neff (2003) for evaluating self-compassion levels, and a 16-item scale by Wilson et al. (2005) for measuring marital self-regulation. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 27, with linear regression analyses performed to explore the relationships between the constructs. Findings: The findings revealed that both self-compassion and marital self-regulation significantly predicted marital adjustment among the participants. Specifically, higher levels of self-compassion and marital self-regulation were associated with better marital adjustment. The regression model explained 37% of the variance in marital adjustment scores, highlighting the substantial impact of these factors on marital satisfaction. Conclusion: This study underscores the critical importance of self-compassion and marital self-regulation in fostering marital adjustment. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing these psychological resources could contribute significantly to improving marital satisfaction and relationship stability among couples, particularly those seeking counseling services.

Predicting Marital Adjustment by Psychological Flexibility and Frustration Discomfort

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the predictive roles of psychological flexibility and frustration discomfort on marital adjustment among married women. Specifically, it sought to assess how these psychological constructs influence marital satisfaction and cohesion. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional design was employed, sampling 350 married women from various counseling centers in Tehran in 2023. Participants completed standardized questionnaires measuring marital adjustment (Dyadic Adjustment Scale), psychological flexibility (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire – II), and frustration discomfort (Frustration Discomfort Scale). Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted using SPSS version 27 to explore the predictive value of psychological flexibility and frustration discomfort on marital adjustment, adjusting for potential confounders such as age and gender. Findings: The results revealed that both psychological flexibility (β = 0.25, p < 0.01) and frustration discomfort (β = 0.29, p < 0.01) significantly predicted marital adjustment, accounting for 42% of the variance in marital adjustment scores. These findings indicate that higher levels of psychological flexibility and lower levels of frustration discomfort are associated with better marital satisfaction and cohesion. Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of psychological flexibility and frustration discomfort in influencing marital adjustment. It suggests that interventions aimed at enhancing psychological flexibility and reducing frustration discomfort may contribute to improving marital satisfaction and stability. These findings highlight the need for a holistic approach in marital counseling and therapy that considers these psychological constructs.

The Role of Psychological Flexibility, Acceptance, and Commitment in Marital Adjustment Among Couples

Objective: The present study aimed to determine the role of psychological flexibility, acceptance, and commitment in marital adjustment among couples. Method: This study was applied and descriptive-correlational in nature. The population included couples (both women and men) from Amol County, who were studied using a convenience sampling method involving 126 couples. Data were collected using the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory by Dennis and Vander Wal (2010), the second version of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire by Bond et al. (2007), and the Spanier Dyadic Adjustment Scale (1976). For the analysis of data in the inferential statistics section, simultaneous multiple regression was conducted using SPSS version 21. Findings: The findings indicate that psychological flexibility, acceptance, and commitment can explain 16.9% of the variance in marital adjustment. The t-tests for significance in regression for the coefficient of psychological flexibility (β = 0.191) and acceptance and commitment (β = 0.285) were significant. Acceptance and commitment have a greater unique contribution in predicting marital adjustment among couples (α = 0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, the most significant influences on marital adjustment are acceptance and commitment, followed by psychological flexibility. It is recommended that the findings of this research be utilized to enhance marital adjustment among both women and men.

The Mediating Role of Resilience and Self-Compassion in the Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Psychological Distress with Marital Adjustment During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of resilience and self-compassion in the relationship between perceived stress and psychological distress with marital adjustment among individuals attending counseling centers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This research was conducted using a descriptive-correlational methodology through the structural equation modeling approach. The population included all individuals with marital discord attending private counseling centers in Isfahan during the winter of 2021, who were experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 150 people were selected through convenience sampling and responded to the research instruments. Research Instruments: The instruments included the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (Kessler et al., 2003), the Spanier Marital Adjustment Scale (Spanier, 1976), the Self-Compassion Scale by Neff et al. (2011), the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (Connor & Davidson, 2003), and the Perceived COVID-19 Stress Scale by Campo-Arias et al. (2020). Data were analyzed using PLS software and structural equation modeling. Findings: The results indicated that the effect of stress on resilience was significant (t=7.61), stress on self-compassion (t=3.91), resilience on adjustment (t=9.34), compassion on marital adjustment (t=2.09), psychological distress on resilience (t=5.4), and psychological distress on self-compassion (t=2.56) were significant (p≤0.05), and resilience and self-compassion played mediating roles between the variables. Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, reducing perceived stress and psychological distress impacts increasing resilience and self-compassion, and with the enhancement of self-compassion and resilience, marital adjustment improves.

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.

Investigating the Relationship between Irrational Beliefs and Marital Adjustment among Couples with Chronic Disease

Investigating the Relationship between Irrational Beliefs and Marital Adjustment among Couples with Chronic Disease

The Effectiveness of Positive Mindfulness Therapy on Covert Relational Aggression and Marital Life Quality of Women Suffering from Marital Maladjustment

Background and Objective: Women suffering from marital maladjustment face many problems in their married life, especially in psychological fields, including covert relational aggression and marital life quality. The present research was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of positive mindfulness therapy on covert relational aggression and marital life quality of women suffering from marital maladjustment. Methods and Materials: This research was a semi-experimental with a pretest and posttest design with a control group. The research population were all women suffering from marital maladjustment who referred to counseling centers in the three cities of Tehran city in the autumn season of 2023 year; So that the sample size for each group was considered to be 20 people and these people after checking the inclusion criteria were selected by purposeful sampling method and randomly assigned into two equal groups. The experimental group underwent 10 sessions of 90 minutes of positive mindfulness therapy and the control group remained on the waiting list for therapy. To collect data were used from scales of covert relational aggression (Nelson and Carroll, 2006), marital quality life (Zhang et al., 2013) and marital adjustment (Spanier, 1976), and for data analysis were used from multivariate analysis of covariance in SPSS version 26 software. Findings: The results showed that positive mindfulness therapy significantly reduced the covert relational aggression and increased the marital life quality of women suffering from marital maladjustment (P<0.001). Conclusion: According to the mentioned results, therapists, counselors and psychologists can use positive mindfulness therapy to reduce the covert relational aggression and increase the marital life quality of vulnerable groups, including women suffering from marital maladjustment.

Examining Menstrual Irregularity and Marital Adjustment in Women with Covid-19 Disease

Examining Menstrual Irregularity and Marital Adjustment in Women with Covid-19 Disease

Factors Associated With Marital Adjustment in Couples: A Narrative Review

Factors Associated With Marital Adjustment in Couples: A Narrative Review

Adult Attachment Functioning and Marital Quality: A Psychosocial Study on Early & Middle Adults

Marital quality, adjustment and post-marital family harmony have been considered to be significant precursors to adult well-being. The research aimed to find out gender differences, if any, among early and middle-adult participants. It also sought interactions/ interconnections between adult attachment style, stressful life events and marital quality of male and female early and middle adults aged between 25 and 45 years. Each participant individually filled out selfreport measures such as the Relationship Structure Scale and the Marital Quality Scale. Snowball sampling was used to collect data from a sample of 45 couple participants aged 25 to 45 years. Statistical analyses were done. Statistical analyses revealed no significant gender difference in the marital quality of the participants. Global Avoidance, Global Anxiety and Anxious Attachment Styles are the predictors of high scores on the Marital Quality Scale (higher score indicates poorer marital quality). Discussion and implications throw light on policy-making in the area of family and marital therapy and the rights and well-being of children.

Structural Equation Modeling of Marital Adjustment with Early Maladaptive Schemas Considering the Mediating Role of Marriage Styles in Men

Structural Equation Modeling of Marital Adjustment with Early Maladaptive Schemas Considering the Mediating Role of Marriage Styles in Men

Kematangan emosi dengan penyesuaian pernikahan pada pelaku perkawinan usia dini

This research aims to determine the relationship between emotional maturity and marital adjustment in couples who marry at an early age. Participants in this research were women in early marriage who had been married for more than 3 years in Kendit. The sampling technique used in this research is non-probability sampling using incidental sampling. The analysis of this research data used the Spearman rho correlation test. The results of the correlation test show that there is a positive and significant correlation between emotional maturity and marital adjustment in 34 couples who married at an early age. These results can be interpreted as meaning that the higher an individual's emotional maturity, the higher the marital adjustments they will make.

An explanatory model of quality of life in high-risk pregnant women in Korea: a structural equation model.

This study aimed to develop and validate a structural model for the quality of life (QoL) among high-risk pregnant women, based on Roy's adaptation model. This cross-sectional study collected data from 333 first-time mothers diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy in two obstetrics and gynecology clinics in Cheonan, Korea, or participating in an online community, between October 20, 2021 and February 20, 2022. Structured questionnaires measured QoL, contextual stimuli (uncertainty), coping (adaptive or maladaptive), and adaptation mode (fatigue, state anxiety, antenatal depression, maternal identity, and marital adjustment). The mean age of the respondents was 35.29±3.72 years, ranging from 26 to 45 years. The most common high-risk pregnancy diagnosis was gestational diabetes (26.1%). followed by preterm labor (21.6%). QoL was higher than average (18.63±3.80). Above-moderate mean scores were obtained for all domains (psychological/baby, 19.03; socioeconomic, 19.00; relational/spouse-partner, 20.99; relational/family-friends, 19.18; and health and functioning, 16.18). The final model explained 51% of variance in QoL in high-risk pregnant women, with acceptable overall model fit. Adaptation mode (β=-.81, p=.034) and maladaptive coping (β=.46 p=.043) directly affected QoL, and uncertainty (β=-. 21, p=.004), adaptive coping (β=.36 p=.026), and maladaptive coping (β=-.56 p=.023) indirectly affected QoL. It is essential to develop nursing interventions aimed at enhancing appropriate coping strategies to improve QoL in high-risk pregnant women. By reinforcing adaptive coping strategies and mitigating maladaptive coping, these interventions can contribute to better maternal and fetal outcomes and improve the overall well-being of high-risk pregnant women.

Physio –Socio Effects of Divorce: Special Reference with Children

The present society is characterized, among other things, by the declining importance of all primary groups including the family. The family acts simultaneously as an educative unit and a socio-cultural agency. The sex and hunger urges, economic compulsions and the cultural traditions have provided the theoretical justification for the existence of the family. The famous philosopher, Confucius, thought that happiness and prosperity would prevail if everyone would behave ‘correctly’ as a family member. You must have read about the importance of family as a unit in earlier chapter. A family does not consist simply of a number of individuals. Rather, it includes the complex interactions occurring among them. The traditional image of ‘home’ and family as a cosy nest of love, security, togetherness and never-ending happiness has been severely battered in recent times. This is also proved by an abundance of statistical evidence based on empirical studies that family discord and divorce is continuously on the rise. Undergoing the process of divorce and the consequences of divorce is a mentally as well as economically shattering experience for the partners. The after-effects of divorce, especially for the children, have a damaging effect when the issue of taking the custody arises. The practice of awarding custody primarily to one parent is bad for everyone-involved child, father and the mother. Studies have proved that the emotional experience for the children leads them towards deviant behaviour, which may lead even to crime. In a study by Kirkpatrick in 1951, it was found that parental divorce showed greater influence than bereavement on the marital adjustment of grown up offspring. This study shows that the children face long term effect on their life because of parental discord and dissolution of the marriage.

Parental marital quality and adolescents’ online social addiction: Influences of adolescents’ interpersonal sensitivity and peer relationships

This study explored interpersonal sensitivity and peer relationships as mechanisms in the parental marital quality and adolescents’ online social addiction. Participants were 914 Chinese middle school students (females = 53.39%; mean age = 13.95, SD = 1.89 years). They completed measures of the Marital Adjustment Test, the Interpersonal Relationship Sensitivity Subscale of SCL-90, the Peer Relationships Scale for Children and Adolescents, and the Online Interpersonal Relationship Addiction Scale. Path analysis results showed that higher parental marital quality was associated with lower adolescents’ risk for online social addiction. Interpersonal sensitivity played a partial mediating role in the relationship between adolescents’ parental marital quality and online social addiction, to explain only some of the adolescents’ online social addiction. Peer relationships had a moderating effect on the relationship between adolescents’ parental marital quality and online social addiction so that as peer relationships improved, parental marital quality effects on adolescents’ online social addiction declined. These findings are consistent with social compensation theory and contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that shape adolescent Internet addiction.

Patterns, prevalence and risk factors of intimate partner violence and its association with mental health status during COVID-19: a cross-sectional study on early married female adolescents in Khulna district, Bangladesh

ObjectivesThis study was designed to identify the patterns, prevalence and risk factors of intimate partner violence (IPV) against female adolescents and its association with mental health problems.DesignCross-sectional survey.SettingsDumuria Upazila (subdistrict)...

Implementation of Marriage Policy and Catin's Attitudes Regarding Marriage Counseling on the Performance of Suscatin Mentors in Realizing Family Marriage Adjustments

This research aims to investigate the impact of marriage policies and the attitudes of prospective brides and grooms towards marriage counseling on the performance of pre-marital counselors in achieving marital adjustments within Garut Regency. Employing an exploratory analysis method, the study focused on the leaders of the Marriage Advice, Development, and Preservation Agency in Garut Regency, including the Chairperson and Vice-Chairpersons, totaling 86 individuals, utilizing a census sampling technique.
 Data collection encompassed questionnaires, interviews, observations, and documentary research. Statistical path analysis was the chosen technique to address the research hypotheses. The primary hypothesis testing revealed that the implementation of marriage policies and the attitudes of prospective brides and grooms influenced pre-marital counselor performance in achieving adjustments by 12.79%, with the remaining 87.21% attributed to other factors. Further sub-hypothesis testing demonstrated that marriage policies and prospective brides' and grooms' attitudes toward marriage counseling accounted for 25.43%, while other factors constituted 74.57%. Intriguingly, the implementation of marriage policies and attitudes toward marriage counseling did not significantly impact marital adjustments (path coefficient of 0.0364). Pre-marital counselor performance also had limited effects on marital adjustments (path coefficient of 0.1526). Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the implementation of marriage policies and the attitudes of prospective brides and grooms toward marriage counseling (partial correlation coefficient of 0.6783). The research identified key issues, such as suboptimal policy implementation, lack of awareness and motivation among prospective brides and grooms, ineffective interagency collaboration, and a shortage of skilled staff among pre-marital counselors. In light of these findings, it is recommended to improve policy implementation, enhance interagency cooperation, and increase awareness among prospective brides and grooms regarding the significance of pre-marital counseling for successful marriages. These measures are essential for addressing the prevalent marital issues and lack of warmth and affection in young couples' family lives in Garut Regency.

Sexual quality of life and marital adjustment in pregnant women

In a cross-sectional study, researchers investigated pregnant women’s quality of sexual life and marital adjustment. The sample consisted of 312 pregnant women admitted to the gynecology and obstetrics outpatient clinic of State Hospital between June and November 2020. Data were collected using a personal information form, the Quality Scale-Female (SQLQ-F), and Marriage Adjustment Test (MAT). Participants with one child had a significantly higher median SQLQ-F score than those with three or more children. Participants with 8–12 wk of pregnancy had a significantly higher median SQLQ-F score than those with 25 wk of pregnancy or longer (p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between SQLQ-F and MAT scores (r = 0.447. p < 0.001), suggesting that the higher the quality of sexual life, the better the marital adjustment. Health care professionals should be aware of the effect of sexual life on marital adjustment.