Comparing the Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Couple Therapy and Couple Therapy Based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Improving Marital Quality of Non-clinical Couples

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student in General Psychology, Department of psychology, Bandar Abbas Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Counseling and Psychology, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran

3 Associated Professor, Department of psychology, Bandar Abbas Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran

4 Professor, Department of Educational Psychology, Allameh Tabatabai University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Marital quality is not limited to troubled couples; instead, it is a vital issue that should be considered even in normal couples who do not report severe clinical problems. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral couple therapy (CBCT) and acceptance and couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in improving the marital quality of non-clinical couples in Bandar Abbas.
Method: This study was quasi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test, follow-up, and a control group. The statistical population of the study included all non-clinical (normal) couples in Bandar Abbas. The sample was selected by convenience sampling and included 48 individuals (24 couples). Each group included 16 individuals (eight couples). The data were collected by the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (Busby et al., 1995) and analyzed by MANCOVA using SPSS19.
Results: The results revealed that the CBCT and ACT intervention groups had higher means in all aspects of marital quality compared to the control group (p <0.05). The results further showed that only in the post-test the consensus subscale, the mean of the ACT group was significantly higher than the CBCT group (p <0.05); however, no significant difference was found in the follow-up stage. Also, in other subscales of marital quality, i.e., satisfaction and cohesion subscales, no significant difference was found in the post-test and follow-up stages.
Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that both CBCT and ACT approaches can be used to improve the marital quality of non-clinical couples.

Keywords

References

1.    Umberson D, Williams K, Powers DA, Chen MD, Campbell AM. As good as it gets? A life course perspective on marital quality. Social Forces. 2005;84(1):493-511. doi: 10.1353/sof.2005.0131.
2.    KavehFarsani Z, rjabi G, amanelahi a, Khojasteh Mehr R. Developing a native marital quality model: A Qualitative Research Based on Grounded Theory. Knowledge & Research in Applied Psychology. 2020;21(1):60-71. doi: 10.30486/jsrp.2019.576024.1507.
3.    Robles TF, Slatcher RB, Trombello JM, McGinn MM. Marital quality and health: a meta-analytic review. Psychological bulletin. 2014;140(1):140-87. doi: 10.1037/a0031859.
4.    Khojasteh Mehr R, Aghaei Z, Omidian M. Meta-analysis of the relationship among approach and avoidance motives for sacrifice and marital quality. JOURNAL OF FAMILY COUNSELING & PSYCHOTHERAPY. 2019;9(1 (27) ):89-108.  https://www.sid.ir/en/Journal/ViewPaper.aspx?ID=743176.
5.    Gurman AS, Lebow JL, Snyder DK. Clinical handbook of couple therapy: Guilford Publications; 2015.
6.    Hayes SC, Strosahl K, Wilson KG, Bissett RT, Pistorello J, Toarmino D, et al. Measuring experiential avoidance: A preliminary test of a working model. The psychological record. 2004;54(4):553-78. doi: 10.1007/BF03395492.
7.    Knapp SJ, Lott B. Forming the central framework for a science of marital quality: An interpretive alternative to marital satisfaction as a proxy for marital quality. Journal of Family Theory & Review. 2010;2(4):316-33. doi: 10.1111/j.1756-2589.2010.00064.x.
8.    Umberson D, Williams K, Powers DA, Liu H, Needham B. You make me sick: Marital quality and health over the life course. Journal of health and social behavior. 2006;47(1):1-16. doi: 10.1177/002214650604700101.
9.    Zhang H. Wives’ Relative Income and Marital Quality in Urban China: Gender Role Attitudes as a Moderator. Journal of Comparative Family Studies. 2015;46(2):203-20. doi: 10.3138/jcfs.46.2.203.
10. Isanejad O, Bagheri A. Marital quality, loneliness, and internet infidelity. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. 2018;21(9):542-8. doi: 10.1089/cyber.2017.0602.
11. Allendorf K, Ghimire DJ. Determinants of marital quality in an arranged marriage society. Social science research. 2013;42(1):59-70. doi: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2012.09.002.
12. Nurhayati SR, Faturochman F, Helmi AF. Marital Quality: A Conceptual Review. Buletin Psikologi. 2019;27(2):109-24. doi: 10.22146/buletinpsikologi.37691.
13. Moorman SM. Dyadic perspectives on marital quality and loneliness in later life. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. 2016;33(5):600-18. doi: 10.1177/0265407515584504.
14. Luo S, Klohnen EC. Assortative Mating and Marital Quality in Newlyweds: A Couple-Centered Approach. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2005;88(2):304-26. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.88.2.304.
15. Tracy EL, Utz RL. For Better or for Worse: Health and Marital Quality during Midlife. Journal of Aging and Health. 2020:0898264320948305. doi: 10.1177/0898264320948305.
16. Yeh H-C, Lorenz FO, Wickrama K, Conger RD, Elder Jr GH. Relationships among sexual satisfaction, marital quality, and marital instability at midlife. Journal of family psychology. 2006;20(2):339. doi: 10.1037/0893-3200.20.2.339.
17. Khanjani Veshki S, Shafiabady A, Farzad V, Fatehizade M. A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Cognitive–Behavioral Couple Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Couple Therapy in the Couple’s Conflict in the City of Isfahan. Journal of Research in Behavioural Sciences. 2016;9(3):464-71. doi: 10.5812/jjhs.43085.
18. Soheili N, Zahrakar K, Asadpour S, Mohsenzadeh F. Effectiveness of Group Counseling Based on Integrative Behavioral Therapy on Quality of Marital Relationship of Female Nurses. Iranian Journal of Psychiatric Nursing. 2019;7(5):72-8.  http://ijpn.ir/article-1-1383-en.html.
19. Zadhoosh S, Doust H, Kalantari M, Tabatabaee S. Comparison of the efficacy of cognitive-behavior group therapy with religious advice and classic cognitive-behavior group therapy on the quality of marital relationship of women. Journal of Family Research. 2011;7(1):55-68.  https://jfr.sbu.ac.ir/index.php/humanrights/article_95881_7eb4e78ef371f748ded1a727a3d3e663.pdf.
20. Mahintorabi s. The effect of cognitive-behavioral training on modification of irrational expectation, emotional maturity and marital dissatisfaction in women. International Journal of Behavioral Sciences. 2011;5(2):127-33.  http://www.behavsci.ir/article_67721_a99d7c69e8d38c75b5cbed5d3425c992.pdf.
21. Peterson BD, Eifert GH, Feingold T, Davidson S. Using acceptance and commitment therapy to treat distressed couples: A case study with two couples. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice. 2009;16(4):430-42. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpra.2008.12.009.
22. Lappalainen R, Lehtonen T, Skarp E, Taubert E, Ojanen M, Hayes SC. The Impact of CBT and ACT Models Using Psychology Trainee Therapists:A Preliminary Controlled Effectiveness Trial. Behavior Modification. 2007;31(4):488-511. doi: 10.1177/0145445506298436.
23. Amani A, Isanejad O, Alipour E. Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment group therapy on marital distress, marital conflict and optimism in married women visited the counseling center of Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation in Kermanshah. Shenakht Journal of Psychology and Psychiatry. 2018;5(1):42-64. doi: 10.29252/shenakht.5.1.42.  http://shenakht.muk.ac.ir/article-1-425-en.html.
24. Fatolahzadeh N, Rostami M, Darbani A, Karazeh S. The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on quality of life and marital satisfaction housewife mothers. Rooyesh-e-Ravanshenasi Journal (RRJ). 2018;7(7):17-32.  http://frooyesh.ir/article-۱-۵۱۸-fa.html.
25. Narimani A, Hobbi MB. The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on dyadic adjustment in women. JOURNAL OF FAMILY COUNSELING & PSYCHOTHERAPY. 2018;8(1 (25)):-. doi: 20.1001.1.22516654.1397.8.1.9.6.
26. Sharif F, Soleimani S, Mani A, Keshavarzi S. The effect of conflict resolution training on marital satisfaction in couples referring to counseling centers in Shiraz, southern Iran. International Journal of Community Based Nursing & Midwifery. 2013;1(1):26-34.  https://ijcbnm.sums.ac.ir/article_40637.html.
27. Kardan-Souraki M, Hamzehgardeshi Z, Asadpour I, Mohammadpour RA, Khani S. A review of marital intimacy-enhancing interventions among married individuals. Global journal of health science. 2016;8(8):74. doi: 10.5539/gjhs.v8n8p74.
28. Ahmady K, Karami G, Noohi S, Mokhtari A, Gholampour H, Rahimi A-A. The efficacy of cognitive behavioral couple’s therapy (CBCT) on marital adjustment of PTSD–diagnosed combat veterans. Europe’s Journal of Psychology. 2009;5(2):31-40.  https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v5i2.265.
29. Alizadeh M, AkbariTorkestani N, Oohadi B, Mehrabirazveh F. Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Counseling Based on Film Therapy on the Marital Satisfaction of Women with Low Sex Drive. Preventive Care in Nursing and Midwifery Journal. 2018;8(1):19-27.  http://zums.ac.ir/nmcjournal/article-1-554-en.html.
30. Afshariniya K, Hooshyar F. Comparison of the Effectiveness of Behavioral Couple Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment-Based Therapy on the Quality of Marital Relationships in Adolescent Couples in Shiraz City. Quarterly Journal of Women and Society. 2020;11(42):1-18.  http://jzvj.miau.ac.ir/article_4183_en.html?lang=en.
31. Norouzi M, Zargar F, Akbari H. The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Reduction of Interpersonal Problems and Experiential Avoidance in University Students. Journal of Research in Behavioural Sciences. 2017;15(2):168-74.  http://rbs.mui.ac.ir/article-1-529-fa.html.
32. Yousefi N. Investigation of Psychometric Properties of the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scales (RDAS). Research in Clinical Psychology and Counseling. 2012;1(2):183-200.  https://www.sid.ir/en/Journal/ViewPaper.aspx?ID=245095.
33. Azimifar S, Fathizadeh M, Bahrami F, Ahmadi A, Abedi A. Comparing the effects of cognitive-Behavioral couple therapy & acceptance and commitment therapy on marital happiness of dissatisfied couples. 2016.  http://shenakht.muk.ac.ir/article-1-134-en.html.
34. Bigdelimojarad F, Entesar Foumany, Gholamhossein, Hejazi M. The effectiveness of sex therapy based on Cognitive-Behavioral (Sexual Relationship) training on reducing marital burnout and increasing marital quality of married nurses. Iranian Journal of Nursing Research. 2020;15(3):1-9.  http://ijnr.ir/article-1-2347-fa.html.
35. Shokoohi-Yekta M, Akbari Zardkhaneh S, Alavinezhad S, Sajjadi Anari S. Teaching emotion regulation skills based on cognitive-behavioral approach and its efficacy on marital satisfaction and couple’s happiness. Journal of psychologicalscience. 2019;18(80):887-96.  http://psychologicalscience.ir/article-1-483-en.html.
36. Sheppard SC, Forsyth JP, Hickling EJ, Bianchi J. A novel application of acceptance and commitment therapy for psychosocial problems associated with multiple sclerosis: Results from a half-day workshop intervention. International Journal of MS Care. 2010;12(4):200-6. doi: 10.7224/1537-2073-12.4.200.
37. Muto T, Hayes SC, Jeffcoat T. The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy bibliotherapy for enhancing the psychological health of Japanese college students living abroad. Behavior therapy. 2011;42(2):323-35. doi: 10.1016/j.beth.2010.08.009.
38. Williams C, Martinez R. Increasing Access to CBT: Stepped Care and CBT Self-Help Models in Practice. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy. 2008;36(6):675-83. doi: 10.1017/S1352465808004864.
39. Hinton DE, Patel A. Cultural Adaptations of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2017;40(4):701-14. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2017.08.006.
40. Naeem F. Cultural adaptations of CBT: a summary and discussion of the Special Issue on Cultural Adaptation of CBT. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist. 2019;12:e40. doi: 10.1017/S1754470X19000278.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 29 December 2020
  • Revise Date: 12 March 2021
  • Accept Date: 18 July 2021

Share

How to cite

Statistics