The effectiveness of emotion-focused couple therapy on improving sexual self-efficacy and reducing marital conflict in women affected by infidelity

Authors

  • ammari, solmaz Ph.D. Student of Psychology Department, Bushehr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran.
  • Deyreh, Ezat Assistant Professor of Psychology Department, Bushehr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran.
  • Ganji, Kamran Associate Professor of Psychology Department, Malayer Branch, Islamic Azad University, Malayer, Iran.
  • Keykhosrovani, Moloud Assistant Professor of Psychology Department, Bushehr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran.
Abstract:

Introduction & Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of emotion-oriented couple therapy on sexual self-efficacy and marital conflict in women affected by infidelity. A fundamental hypothesis in the emotion-focused approach is that until each couple is unable to share their attachment needs in the areas of satisfaction and security with each other, marital conflicts begin to form. The emphasis of emotion-oriented couple therapy is on the method of adaptive attachments, through care, support and mutual attention to the needs of the individual and the spouse. The goal of emotion therapy is to reconstruct interactions and thus create new cycles of relationship engagement by helping spouses access the underlying emotions and underlying needs of relationship supportive reactions. This approach encourages people to talk about their emotions, discuss the relevant topic in therapy sessions, and emphasize the reconstruction of emotions into bonds of secure attachment between spouses. Emotional responses can lead to the satisfaction of the individual's needs and therefore the main purpose of such treatment is to improve the person's awareness of emotions. During the three decades of formulating and developing the model and application of emotion therapy, this type of therapy has been considered as one of the couples therapy models that has had the most research support empirically. EFT proposes that emotions themselves have an innately adaptive potential that if activatedcan help clients change problematic emotional states or unwanted self-experiences. This viewof emotion is based on the belief, now gaining ample empirical support, that emotion, at itscore, is an innate and adaptive system that has evolved to help us survive and thrive. Emotionsare connected to our most essential needs. They rapidly alert us to situations important to ourwell-being. They also prepare and guide us in these important situations to take action towardsmeeting our needs. Emotion thus set a basic mode of processing in action. Clients are helped in therapy to better identify, experience, explore, makesense of, transform and flexibly manage their emotions. As a result, clients become more skill-ful in accessing the important information and meanings about themselves and their world thatemotions contain, as well as become more skillful in using that information to live vitally andadaptively. The research findings of Zakarini, Johnson, Dalgish and Makinan (2013) show that emotion-based couple therapy is effective in forgiving and reconciling couples and creating emotional correlation between them. Tai and Paulson (2013) also found emotional couple therapy to be effective in increasing marital adjustment. Holchock (2012) applied the emotion-oriented approach to eighteen couples complaining of marital distress and found that couples developed less emotional disorder, higher marital adjustment, more trust and support, and a safer attachment style after receiving emotional therapy. They gave. Greenberg, Varvar, & Malcolm (2010) examined the effectiveness of emotional couple therapy in facilitating forgiveness and resolving couples' emotional trauma, including anger and resentment over infidelity, abandonment, or insult. According to what was said, the aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of emotion-oriented couple therapy on improving sexual self-efficacy and reducing marital conflict in women affected by infidelity. Method: The research design was quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test with a control group. The statistical population included women affected by the infidelity of their husbands in Bushehr who in 1397 in order to solve their marital problems referred to the counseling centers of the Welfare Office and under the supervision of that office in Bushehr. From this population, 30 couples were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The emotion-focused couple therapy protocol was developed based on Johnson (2012) in eight 90-minute sessions. Both groups answered the questionnaires of sexual self-efficacy (Vaziri and Lotfi Kashani, 2013) and marital conflict (Barati and Sanaei, 1996) in the pre-test and post-test stages. Results: The results of multivariate analysis of covariance showed that emotion-oriented couple therapy had a significant effect on sexual self-efficacy and marital conflict (Partial η2 = 0.690, P <0.001, F = 27.855). The ETA coefficient showed that 69% of the variance of the dependent variables of sexual self-efficacy and marital conflict can be explained by the independent variable of emotion-oriented couple therapy. Conclusion: The results showed that the rate of marital conflict in couples after emotionally oriented couple therapy sessions significantly decreased and sexual self-efficacy improved. Findings of this study can provide useful information for counselors and psychotherapists about the effectiveness of emotional couple therapy on sexual self-efficacy and marital conflict. In this study, the effectiveness of emotion-oriented couple therapy on improving sexual self-efficacy and reducing marital conflict in women affected by infidelity was investigated. The results showed that the rate of marital conflict in couples after emotionally stimulated couple therapy sessions significantly decreased and sexual self-efficacy improved. Findings of this study can provide useful information for counselors and psychotherapists about the effectiveness of emotional couple therapy on sexual self-efficacy and marital conflict. From the achievements of this research, it can be concluded on both theoretical and practical levels. At the theoretical level, the results of this research can confirm the results of previous research. At the practical level, the findings of the present study can be used to develop educational and treatment programs. The present study has some limitations that should be considered in generalizing the results. The sample of the present study is available and the sample members have been selected from the couples who have referred to the counseling and divorce reduction department of Bushehr Welfare Office, therefore the generalization of the results to other couples should be done carefully. Self-reporting of the tools used and small sample size are other limitations of the present study. Therefore, it is recommended that this research be performed on a larger sample size to confirm or refute the hypotheses more strongly. Since this treatment was performed with couples in Bushehr, it is recommended to study its effectiveness on couples in other areas as well. It is suggested that studies compare the effectiveness of the emotion-oriented approach with other therapeutic approaches in the field of couple and family in order to get a clearer picture of the effectiveness of this treatment.

Upgrade to premium to download articles

Sign up to access the full text

Already have an account?login

similar resources

The effectiveness of emotionally-focused couple therapy on differentiation and emotion regulation of women affected by marital infidelity

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of emotionally-focused couple therapy (EFCT) on differentiation and emotion regulation of women affected by marital infidelity. The method of the study was semi-experimental with pre-test and post-test with a control group. The statistical population included all women affected by marital infidelity who were referred to counseling centers...

full text

Comparing the Effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Couple Therapy on Forgiveness and Marital Intimacy of Women Affected by Infidelity in Mashhad

Background: The experience of infidelity is very painful and leads to serious negative consequence among couples. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of emotionally focused couple therapy (EFT) and cognitive-behavioral couple therapy (CBT) on forgiveness and marital intimacy of women affected by infidelity. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-posttest desi...

full text

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy and Self-compassion-based Therapy On Emotion Regulation In Women Affected by Infidelity

Background: Marital infidelity is a crisis for couples and families and one of the main reasons for divorce and family breakdown, which causes significant turmoil for the committers and their spouses. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of emotion-based couple therapy and self-compassion-based therapy on emotion regulation in women affected by infidelity. Methods...

full text

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Emotion – Focused Therapy and Acceptance – Commitment Therapy on Self – Compassion in Women with Marital Conflict

Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of emotional focused therapy and acceptance – commitment therapy on self-compassion couples with marital conflict. Methods: Research method was quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest and follow-up test with a control group. The statistical population of the women was referring to Tayebad Behzisti counseling centers. The sta...

full text

effectiveness of emotion oriented couple therapy on reducing the damage caused by marital infidelity

aim and background: emotion focused couple therapy is one of the methods that has focused on the negative cycles of interaction caused from deep emotional vulnerability. the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of emotionally focused couple therapy on reducing the damage caused by marital infidelity. methods and materials: the statistical sample included 30 couples that were select...

full text

The Comparing Effectiveness of Narrative Exposure Therapy and Emotion- Focused Couple Therapy on Loneliness and Marital Intimacy among Women Affected Infidelity

Introduction: Marital infidelity is a source of intense distress for personal and interpersonal couples life and destroyer their relationships. The purpose of this study was to effectiveness of narrative exposure therapy and emotion- focused couple therapy on loneliness and marital intimacy among women affected by marital infidelity. Method: This semi-experimental study was conducted with a pre...

full text

My Resources

Save resource for easier access later

Save to my library Already added to my library

{@ msg_add @}


Journal title

volume 29  issue 2

pages  0- 0

publication date 2022-04

By following a journal you will be notified via email when a new issue of this journal is published.

Keywords

No Keywords

Hosted on Doprax cloud platform doprax.com

copyright © 2015-2023