Evaluating the effectiveness of the combination of systemic and solution-focused couple therapies on marital satisfaction and family relationships of couples

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD student in counseling, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, isfshan, iran.

2 Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Education and Psychology, Islamic Azad University Isfahan (khorasgan) Branch, Isfahan, Iran.

3 Assistant professor of Clinical Psychology, Department of Education and Psychology, Islamic Azad University Isfahan (khorasgan) Branch, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the combination of systemic and solution-focused couple therapies on marital satisfaction and family relationships of couples in Isfahan. The present study was a quasi-experimental study with pre-test, post-test and follow-up and with experimental and control groups. The statistical population of the study included all married couples who had conflict and referred to counseling centers in District 12 of Isfahan 2019-2020. Among them, a sample of 40 people was selected by using a convenience sampling and they were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Barnes and Olson Family Relationships Questionnaire (FRQ) were used to collect data. Both research groups were evaluated by research tools three times before, after and 45-day follow-up. The control group did not receive any intervention, but the experimental group received the combination of systemic and solution-focused couple therapies. The collected data were analyzed by using analysis of variance with repeated measures, Tukey post hoc test and SPSS-23 software. The results showed that the combination of systemic and solution-focused couple therapies had a significant effect on improving marital satisfaction and its dimensions and family relationships (P <= 0.05). Based on the present results, this combined method can be used to improve marital satisfaction and family relationships.

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