The effectiveness of couple therapy based on integrated behavioral system on marital conflicts, couple intimacy and family functions in couples referring to counseling centers

Subject Areas : Tectonostratigraphy

Sara Baghere ¹ (Ph.D. Student in Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.)
Reza Pasha ² (Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.)
Zahra Eftekhar ³ (Assistant Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.)
Fariba Hafezi ⁴ (Assistant Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.)
Farah Nadri ⁵ (Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.)

Received: 2020-12-06 Accepted : 2022-07-13 Published : 2022-04-21

Keywords: Couples, Marital Conflict, Integrated Behavior Therapy, Couples Intimacy, Family Functions,

Abstract :

Target: The aim of this study was the effectiveness of couple therapy based on integrated behavioral system on marital conflicts, couple intimacy and family functions in couples referring to counseling centers in Mahshahr. The present study was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest and posttest design with a control group. The statistical population of this study consisted of all couples who referred to counseling centers in Mahshahr in 2019-20 due to marital problems. From the statistical population, 60 couples were selected by available sampling method, and then this number was paired by random sampling method in two experimental groups (40 pairs) and one control group (20). For a group therapy group based on integrated behavioral system, 10 sessions of 90 minutes were performed weekly. In order to collect research data, Marital Conflict Questionnaire (MCQ), Marital Intimacy (MQI) and Family Functioning Questionnaire (FAD) were used. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to analyze the data. Results: The results of the analysis of research findings showed that couple therapy based on integrated behavioral system has been effective in reducing marital conflicts, improving couple intimacy and family functions (P <0.05). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it can be said that couple therapy based on integrated behavioral system is one of the effective treatments in reducing marital conflicts, improving couples intimacy and family functions of couples referring to counseling center.

References:

1- Ahmadi Khoei, S., Mahdad, A., Keshti Arai, N., (2019). Develop a training package to prevent divorce and determine its effectiveness on intimacy and quality of couples' relationship. Iranian Social Science Studies. 58 (15): 5-23.

2- Amini, R. (2015). Comparison of marital conflict in the structure of power distribution in the family. Cultural-Educational Quarterly of Women and Family. 2015; 10 (15): 41-52.

3- Barraca Mairal, J. (2015). Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) as a third-wave therapy. Psicothema. 27(1): 13-8.

4- Cao, H., Zhou, N., Fang, X., Fine, M., (2017). Marital well-being and depression in   Chinese marriage: going beyond satisfaction and ruling out critical confounders. Journal of family psychology: JFP : journal of the division of family psychology of the American psychological association (Division 43). 31(6): 775-84.

5- Falahzade, H., Sanai Zaker, B., Farzad, V. (2013). A Study on the Effectiveness ofEmotionally Focused Couple Therapy and Integrated Systemic Couple Therapy on reducing Intimacy Anxiety.; 32 (8): 465-482.

6- Ghaffari, F., Rafiey, H., Sanai, M. B. (2009). The Effectiveness of “Bowen’s Family System Therapy” on Differentiation and the Functions of Families with Addicted Child. 3 (12): 19-30.

7- Hatfield, E., Bensman, L., Rapson, R.L. (2010). Love and Intimacy. New York: Academic Press. 550-6 p.

8- Jomepour, M., Mahmoudipour, M., (2019). The effectiveness of marital life enrichment program education on balanced emotional empathy and responsibility of the couples; 2 (8): 29-42.

9- Karimian, N., Zarei, A., Mohammadi, K., Christensen, A., (2017). Integrative treatments, Sex and Couple Therapy: study and comparison of the effectiveness of integrative behavioral couple therapy and redecision therapy in improvement of marital commitment of competing couples. Journal of Family Counseling & Psychotherapy. (2 22): 21-38.

10- Karimian, N. (2017). Evaluation and comparison of the effectiveness of eclectic behavioral couple therapy (IBCT) and re-decision treatment on modulating the initial maladaptive schemas, marital commitment and marital turmoil of conflicting couples. Thesis to receive a doctorate in family orientation counseling. Hormozgan University.

11- Khosravi, Z., Biliad, M.R., Nahidpour, F., Azadi, S., (2011). Investigating the Relationship between Attachment Styles, Forgiveness and Marital Conflicts in Couples Referred to Counseling Centers in Karaj. 3 (5): 61-79.

12- Kõu, A., Bailey, A., (2017). Some people expect women should always be dependent’: Indian women’s experiences as highly skilled migrants. Geoforum. 85 (2): 178-86.

13- Montesi, J.L., Conner, B.T., Gordon, E.A., Fauber, R.L., Kim, K.H., Heimberg, E., (2013). on the relationship among social anxiety,intimacy,sexual sommunication, and sexual satisfaction in young couples. Archives of Sexual Behavior. 42(1): 81-91.

14- Nazoktabar, H., Sahrbat Oghley Asl, H., (2019). Comparison of Family Function, Mental Health and Self-Esteem among Successful and Unsuccessful Women to Quit Addiction: A Case Study of Patients in District 1 Medical Centers of Tehran Municipality. Bimonthly Quarterly Journal of Women and Family.; 7 (2): 177-192.

15- Parvandi, A., Arefi, M., Moradi, A., (2016). The role of family functioning and couples communication patterns in marital satisfaction. Pathology, counseling and family enrichment. 2 (1): 54-65.

16- Poursardar Sadeghi, M., Goodarzi, C., Roozbehani, M., (2019). Comparing the Efficacy of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy in Improving the Symptoms of Emotional Regulation in Couples with Marital Conflict. J Mazandaran Univ Med Sci. 29 (173): 50-63.

17- Sevier, M., Eldridge, K., Jones, J., Doss, B.D., Christensen, A., (2008). Observed Communication and Associations with Satisfaction during Traditional and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy. Behavior Therapy. 39(2):137-50.

18- Shonkoff, J., Phillips, D., (2014). From neurons to neighborhoods: The science of early childhood development. Washington, DC. National Academic Press.

19- Shockley, K.M., Allen, T.D. (2018). It's not what I expected: The association between dual-earner couples' met expectations for the division of paid and family labor and well-being. J Vocat Behav. 104 (5): 240-60.

20- Snyder, D.K., Balderrama-Durbin, C., (2012). Integrative approaches to couple therapy: implications for clinical practice and research. Behavior Therapy. 43(1): 13- 24.

21- Soberal, M.P., Teixeira, C.P., Costa, M.E., (2014). Fear of intimacy among couples:dyadic and mediating effects of parental inhibition of exploring and individuality and partner attachment. Journal of Family Science. 6(1):380-388.

22- Soheili, N., Zahrakar, K., Asadpour, S., Mohsenzadeh, F., (2019). Effectiveness of Group Counseling Based on Integrative Behavioral Therapy on Quality of Marital Relationship of Female Nurses. IJPN. 7 (5) :72-78.

23- Sudani, M., Dastan, N., Khojasteh Mehr, R., Rajabi, G., (2015). Comparison of the effectiveness of narrative couple therapy and combined behavioral couple therapy on conflict resolution tactics of women victims of spousal violence. Journal of Women and Society. 3(4): 34-46.

24- Taggart, T.C., Bannon, S.M., Hammett, J.F., (2019). Personality traits moderate the association between conflict resolution and subsequent relationship satisfaction in dating couples. Personality and Individual Differences. 139 (8): 281-289.

25- Wheeler, J.C., Christensen, A., Jacobsen, N.S., (2008). Couple Distress in: david, H. Barlow.(Ed.). Clinical Handbook of Psychology Disorders, (4th ed). 662-689. New York: Guilford Press.

26- Yoselyani, Gh., Habibi, M., Soleymani, S., (2011). The relatio nship between discipline desired behavior and family functioning, locus of control and self-esteem of students. Journal of school psy c h ology. 1(2): 114-134.

27- Yousefzadeh, P., Farzad, W.A., Nawabi Nejad, SH., Nouranipour, R. (2018). Comparison of the effectiveness of behavioral-integrated couple therapy and systemic-behavioral couple therapy on increasing couples' psychological well-being. Ibn Sina Scientific Journal. 1 (3): 13-27.

28- Zhang, H., Spinrad, T.L., Eisenberg, N., Luo, Y., Wang, Z., (2017). Young adults’ internet addiction: Prediction by the interaction of parental marital conflict and respiratory sinus. arrhythmia. International Journal of Psychophysiology. 120 (1): 148-158.