The Effectiveness of Emotion- Focused Couple Therapy on Mental Well-being and Performance of Couples Referring to Counseling Centers

Amir Keshavarzi; Mehdi   Zare Bahramabadi; Shohreh   Shiroudi; Seyed Ali   Hoseini Al-Madani

doi:10.18502/qjcr.v20i79.7349

Amir Keshavarzi Ph.D. Student of Consultation , Islamic Azad University ,Tehran Branch , Central Tehran ,Iran.
Mehdi Zare Bahramabadi Associate Professor,Department of Behavioral Sciences, Institute for Research and Development in the Humanities,SAMT. Tehran ,Iran.
Shohreh Shiroudi Associate Professor ,Counseling Department, Islamic Azad University, Tehran North Branch, Tehran , Iran.
Seyed Ali Hoseini Al-Madani Assistant professor, Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University , Tehran North Branch,Tehran Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/qjcr.v20i79.7349

Keywords: Emotional-focused couple therapy, mental well-being, family function.

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of emotion focused couple therapy on mental well-being and performance of maladapted couple referred to counselling centers.

Methods: the present study had a quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest, and a control group. The statistical population of the study consisted of all incompatible couples (n=30 couples) who had referred to counseling centers in shiraz in 1397, which were selected through available sampling method. Out of these 30 couples, 15 couples were randomly substituted as experimental group and 15 couples as control groups; and individuals in both groups were evaluated using questionnaires before performing the intervention in the experimental group. Data collection tools included the Great Oral and Magyar-Moe Welfare Family Performance Scale, the experimental group received ten 90-minute sessions of emotional treatment, while the control group did not receive any treatments. Data were analyzed by one–way analysis of covariance.

Findings: The results of one-way analysis of covariance on the mean scores of post-test of mental well-being and family dysfunction of experimental and control groups with pre- test control, respectively (p<0.0001, F=40.77) and (p<0.0001, F=172.59), which indicates the significance of the effect of emotion-focused couple therapy.

Conclusion: The analysis showed the effectiveness of emotion-focused couple therapy in increasing mental well-being and performance of conflicted couples.