The effectiveness of group counseling based on interaction relationship analysis on marital boredom and couples’ intimacy

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 MS. in counseling, Kermanshah Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran

2 MS. in general psychology, Kermanshah Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran

3 MS. in clinical psychology, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran

4 MS. in epidemiology, Medical Education Development Center, Medical Sciences University, Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Analysis of the interaction offers us an image of human psychological structure that can be used for increasing martial intimacy and decreasing marital boredom. This study aimed to study the effectiveness of group counseling based on an analysis of the interaction relationship between marital intimacy and couples’ intimacy.
 
Materials and Methods: The statistical population of this clinical trial included all couples living in Kermanshah in 2016. Simple randomized sampling was used as sampling method. 40 people (20 couples) were selected and were randomly placed in two experimental and control groups. All subjects responded to the questions of marital boredom and couples’ intimacy questionnaire and the questions related to the demographic characteristics before and after intervention. Group counseling with interaction relationship analysis was conducted weekly in 10 sessions (60 minutes). The descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation and variance) and covariance analysis were used to analyze the data through SPSS.22mn software.
 
Results: According to univariate covariance analysis, there were significant differences between control and experimental groups in total score of marital boredom (F(1,28)=28.45, P<0.0001), physical fatigue (F(1,28)=34.49, P<0.0001), emotional fed up (F(1,28)=14.10, P<0.0001) and mental fed up (F(1,28)=11.34, P<0.0001).
 
Conclusion: The results showed that the interaction relationship analysis approach could increase the intimacy of married couples and decrease their boredom. The findings of this study can be used for education and health care programs.

Keywords

References

  1. Burleson BR, Denton WH. The relationship between communication skill and marital satisfaction: Some moderating effects. J Marr Fam 1997; 59: 884-902.
  2. Busby DM, Christensen C, Crane DR, Larson JH. A revision of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale for use with distressed and non-distressed couples: Construct hierarchy and multidimensional scales. J Marit Fam Ther 1995; 21(3): 289-308.
  3. Lashani I, Mazaheri M. Effectiveness of transactional analysis group training on reduction of prisoners’ aggression. Mediterr J Soc Sci 2016; 7(S2): 219.
  4. Dowd DA, Means MJ, Pope JF, Humphries JH. Attributions and marital satisfaction: The mediated effects of self-disclosure. J Fam Consum Sci 2005; 97(1): 22.
  5. Fincham FD, Beach SR, Davila J. Longitudinal relations between forgiveness and conflict resolution in marriage. J Fam Psychol 2007; 21(3): 542.
  6. Fincham FD, Beach SR, Davila J. Forgiveness and conflict resolution in marriage. J Fam Psychol 2004; 18(1): 72.
  7. Greeff AP. Characteristics of families that function well. J Fam Issues 2000; 21(8): 948-62.
  8. Halford WK, Snyder DK. Universal processes and common factors in couple therapy and relationship education. J Fam Ther 2012; 34(3): 229-49.
  9. Hamamci Z. Dysfunctional relationship beliefs in marital satisfaction and adjustment. Soc Behav Pers 2005; 33(4): 313-28.
  10. Lundblad AM, Hansson K. Couples therapy: effectiveness of treatment and long‐term follow‐up. J Fam Ther 2006; 28(2): 136-52.
  11. Jackson JB, Miller RB, Oka M, Henry RG. Gender differences in marital satisfaction: A meta‐analysis. J Marr Fam 2014; 76(1): 105-29.
  12. Ozden MS, Celen N. The relationship between inherent and acquired characteristics of human development with marital adjustment. Procedia Soc Behav Sci 2014; 140: 48-56.
  13. Meltzer AL, McNulty JK. Body image and marital satisfaction: evidence for the mediating role of sexual frequency and sexual satisfaction. J Fam Psychol 2010; 24(2): 156.
  14. Sandler IN, Schoenfelder EN, Wolchik SA, MacKinnon DP. Long-term impact of prevention programs to promote effective parenting: Lasting effects but uncertain processes. Ann Rev Psychol 2011; 62: 299-329.
  15. Beach SR, Hurt TR, Fincham FD, Franklin KJ, McNair LM, Stanley SM. Enhancing marital enrichment through spirituality: Efficacy data for prayer focused relationship enhancement. Psychol Relig Spirit 2011; 3(3): 201.
  16. Uziel L. Rethinking social desirability scales from impression management to interpersonally oriented self-control. Perspect Psychol Sci 2010; 5(3): 243-62.
  17. Pines AM, Neal MB, Hammer LB, Icekson T. Job burnout and couple burnout in dual-earner couples in the sandwiched generation. Soc Psychol Q 2011; 74(4): 361-86.
  18. Jose A, Daniel O’Leary K, Moyer A. Does premarital cohabitation predict subsequent marital stability and marital quality? A meta‐analysis. J Marr Fam 2010; 72(1): 105-16.
  19. Montesi JL, Conner BT, Gordon EA, Fauber RL, Kim KH, Heimberg RG. On the relationship among social anxiety, intimacy, sexual communication, and sexual satisfaction in young couples. Arch Sex Behav 2013; 42(1): 81-91.
  20. Cui M, Lorenz FO, Conger RD, Melby JN, Bryant CM. Observer, self‐, and partner reports of hostile behaviors in romantic relationships. J Marr Fam 2005; 67(5): 1169-81.
  21. Mendenhall TJ, Grotevant HD, McRoy RG. Adoptive couples: Communication and changes made in openness levels. Fam Relat 1996; 45: 222-3.
  22. O'Rourke N, Cappeliez P. Intra-couple variability in marital aggrandizement: Idealization and satisfaction within enduring relationships. Curr Res Soc Psychol 2003; 8(15): 206-25.
  23. Javady B, Hosseinian SI, Shafiabadi A. [The effectiveness of transactional analysis training on mothers to improve their family function]. Quarterly journal of family research 2009; 5: 503-17. (Persian)
  24. Känsälä M, Mäkelä L, Suutari V. Career coordination strategies among dual career expatriate couples. Int J Hum Resource Manag 2015; 26(17): 2187-210.
  25. Robles TF, Slatcher RB, Trombello JM, McGinn MM. Marital quality and health: A meta-analytic review. Psychol Bullet 2014; 140(1): 140.
  26. Tucker JS, Edelen MO, Huang W. Effectiveness of parent–child Mediation in improving family functioning and reducing adolescent problem behavior: Results from a pilot randomized controlled trial. J Youth Adolesc 2017; 46(3): 505-15.
  27. Andersson G, Cuijpers P, Carlbring P, Riper H, Hedman E. Guided Internet based vs. face to face cognitive behavior therapy for psychiatric and somatic disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. World Psychiatry 2014; 13(3): 288-95.
  28. Jackson DD, Weakland JH. Conjoint family therapy: Some considerations on theory, technique, and results. J Syst Ther 2015; 34(4): 33-53.
Journal of Fundamentals of Mental Health
Volume 19, special issue
May and June 2017
Pages 379-386

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics