Couple Therapy Research Articles

Predicting Marital Conflicts through the Dark Triad of Personality with the Mediation of Ego Strength in Women Seeking Divorce

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between distress tolerance, Dark Triad personality traits, and marital conflict, with ego strength as a mediating variable, in women seeking divorce. Methods and Materials: The study utilized a descriptive-correlational design and included a sample of women seeking divorce who visited marital counseling clinics in District 3 of Tehran during the spring of 2024. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires: the Marital Conflict Questionnaire, the Short Dark Triad Personality Questionnaire (SD3), and the Psychological Ego Strength Inventory (PIES). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed for data analysis. Findings: The results revealed that distress tolerance had an indirect and significant effect on marital conflict through the mediation of ego strength (β = -0.366, p = 0.001). Among the Dark Triad traits, Machiavellianism showed an indirect and significant effect on marital conflict (β = 0.170, p = 0.001), while psychopathy and narcissism did not exhibit significant indirect effects. Narcissism had a direct positive effect on marital conflict (β = 0.275, p = 0.000), whereas psychopathy and Machiavellianism did not have direct effects. Ego strength had a significant negative effect on marital conflict (β = -0.595, p = 0.000). Conclusion: Machiavellianism indirectly influences marital conflict through the reduction of ego strength, while narcissism has a direct positive effect on conflict. Ego strength plays a key role in reducing marital conflict, suggesting that interventions aimed at enhancing ego strength and addressing manipulative personality traits may be effective in mitigating marital conflict among women.

The Effectiveness of Strength-Based Intervention on Attitude Toward Marital Infidelity and Sexual Self-Concept in Women with Marital Conflict

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a strength-based intervention on altering attitudes toward marital infidelity and enhancing sexual self-concept among women experiencing marital conflict. Methods: A randomized controlled trial design was employed with 30 women from the Mehravar Counseling Center in Tehran, divided equally into intervention and control groups. The intervention consisted of eight 75-minute sessions based on strength-based principles. Data were collected at three points using the Attitudes Towards Infidelity Scale (ATIS) and the Sexual Self-Concept Inventory (SSCI). Statistical analysis was conducted using ANOVA with repeated measurements and Bonferroni post-hoc tests, utilizing SPSS-27. Findings: The intervention group showed significant improvements in both measured outcomes. Attitudes toward marital infidelity decreased from a pre-test mean of 42.53 (SD = 5.67) to 37.82 (SD = 5.12) at follow-up. Sexual self-concept increased from a pre-test mean of 30.88 (SD = 4.45) to 35.64 (SD = 3.72) at follow-up. The ANOVA results revealed significant time effects and time x group interactions for both variables (p < .001). Conclusion: The strength-based intervention was effective in significantly improving attitudes toward marital infidelity and sexual self-concept among women with marital conflicts. These findings suggest that such interventions can be beneficial in marital counseling settings, offering a promising approach for enhancing marital satisfaction and individual well-being.

Games, Guidance and Gender Gaps: Insights from a Dual-Approach Couple Counseling Trial

Games, Guidance and Gender Gaps: Insights from a Dual-Approach Couple Counseling Trial

Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment-Based Couple Therapy on Communication Patterns and Marital Infidelity in Married Individuals

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment-Based Couple Therapy (ACT) on communication patterns and marital infidelity among married individuals in Yazd. Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental. The population consisted of all married individuals attending psychological counseling and service centers in Meybod. Using questionnaires on communication patterns and marital infidelity, and employing purposive sampling, 20 couples with higher scores were selected from a pool of 50 couples. They were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (10 couples) or the control group (10 couples). The experimental group underwent Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, while the control group received no treatment. Post-tests were administered to both groups. Results, analyzed using covariance analysis. Findings: Findings showed that Acceptance and Commitment-Based Couple Therapy significantly impacts the communication patterns of married individuals. Additionally, it significantly affects marital infidelity among married individuals. Conclusion: Thus, ACT can be used to enhance couple’s relationship and prevent infidelity and divorce.

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy: reliable clinical change analysis

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy: reliable clinical change analysis

The Effectiveness of Gottman's Systemic Cognitive Couple Therapy on Marital Conflicts, Communication Patterns, and Alexithymia in Couples with Marital Conflict

The Effectiveness of Gottman's Systemic Cognitive Couple Therapy on Marital Conflicts, Communication Patterns, and Alexithymia in Couples with Marital Conflict

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy Based on Attachment Injury Model and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Positive Feelings Toward Spouse and Withdrawal from Divorce

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy based on the Attachment Injury Model and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on positive feelings toward the spouse and withdrawal from divorce in working women in the healthcare sector affected by marital infidelity in Lorestan Province during the COVID19 pandemic. Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study was conducted using a pre-test and post-test design with control and experimental groups. The statistical population included working women in the healthcare sector of Lorestan Province who had sought counseling due to their spouse's marital infidelity during the COVID-19 period. Thirty women were randomly divided into three groups: Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy, ACT, and a control group. Data collection tools included the Positive Feelings Toward Spouse Questionnaire and the Roselt Divorce Desire Questionnaire. The therapeutic interventions were conducted over eight 90-minute sessions across two months. Findings: The results indicated that both approaches, Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy and ACT, significantly increased positive feelings toward the spouse and reduced the desire for divorce compared to the control group. Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy relatively showed more effectiveness in enhancing positive feelings toward the spouse. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated significant differences between groups and interactive effects of time and group. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that both therapeutic approaches, Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy and ACT, can effectively improve positive feelings toward the spouse and reduce the desire for divorce in working women in the healthcare sector affected by marital infidelity. These findings can aid counselors and therapists in providing more effective interventions and facilitate the improvement of quality of life and marital relationships.

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.