درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a forgiveness-based intervention in enhancing marital commitment and restoring trust among married individuals experiencing relational distress. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 30 married participants from Indonesia, randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n = 15) or a control group (n = 15). The intervention group received six structured forgiveness-based therapy sessions over six weeks, while the control group received no intervention. Standardized measures of marital commitment and trust were administered at three time points: pre-test, post-test, and five-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni post-hoc tests, with SPSS version 27. Findings: Results from repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant time × group interaction effects for marital commitment (F(2, 54) = 17.12, p < .001, η² = .39) and trust (F(2, 54) = 19.68, p < .001, η² = .42). Bonferroni post-hoc analyses indicated that both marital commitment and trust significantly increased from pre-test to post-test (p < .001) and were maintained at the five-month follow-up (p < .001), with no significant decline between post-test and follow-up (p > .05). Conclusion: The therapeutic gains were not only immediate but also sustained over time, supporting the use of structured forgiveness interventions in marital counseling settings. These findings highlight the potential of forgiveness as a valuable tool in relationship repair and emotional healing.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on internalized shame, marital disaffection, and inclination toward divorce in couples who had experienced infidelity. Methods: This research was conducted using a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test and a control group. The statistical population of this study consisted of all couples who, due to experiencing infidelity by their spouses, referred to licensed counseling and psychotherapy centers of the Iranian Psychological and Counseling Organization, the State Welfare Organization, or psychiatrists licensed by the Iranian Medical Council (Anis Andisheh Clinic) in District 3 of Tehran, during the first quarter of 2024. In this study, the sample size for each of the experimental groups and the control group was 16 people (8 women and 8 men), and a total of 32 individuals were selected. According to the quasi-experimental design, they were chosen through convenience sampling from among volunteers and then randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups by lottery. Data collection instruments included the Internalized Shame Scale by Cook (1993), the Marital Disaffection Scale by Kaiser (1993), and the Inclination Toward Divorce Scale by Rusbult et al. (1986). In this study, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy consisted of eight weeks of two-hour sessions based on the mindfulness-based cognitive therapy protocol by Crane. Findings: The results of data analysis indicated that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy had an effect on internalized shame, marital disaffection, and inclination toward divorce in couples who had experienced infidelity. Conclusion: Considering the results, it can be stated that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy influences the research variables. It is suggested that further studies be conducted in this area to enhance external validity.

Objective: This study was conducted with the aim of analyzing the phenomenon of divorce from the perspective of expert family therapists. Method: The research method was qualitative, based on grounded theory (Charmaz, 2014). The research setting included all family therapists in the city of Isfahan in the year 2024, and the participants consisted of ten of the most prominent therapists who were purposefully selected. The research tool was interviews conducted in the form of focus groups. The collected data were analyzed using Charmaz’s (2014) method: first, coding was carried out, followed by conceptualization. Then, during the process of integration, categories were extracted, and finally, the core categories were identified and the theory was formed. Results: The results indicated that the phenomenon of divorce includes three main categories: (1) the reasons behind the occurrence of divorce: the activators of divorce causes, with categories such as changes in cultural and social structures and the prioritization of individuality over couplehood; (2) the nature of divorce causes: causes of divorce categorized as changes in family roles and authority, poor spouse selection, inappropriate communication, and individual problems; and (3) the process through which the causes interconnect: integrators of divorce causes (disturbance-power, disturbance-intimacy, and boundary disturbances). Conclusion: Based on the findings, this study suggests that in order to reduce divorce, the activators of divorce cannot be ignored, as they render society more prone to facilitating the grounds for divorce rather than preserving family stability. Additionally, the identified causes of divorce indicate that many revolve around the philosophy of individualism. Therefore, society and societal discourse must reinforce the value of collectivism so that this value can function as a socio-psychological superstructure acting as a barrier to divorce.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral interventions using coaching and self-learning methods on marital satisfaction and couple intimacy. Methods and Materials: This semi-experimental study followed a pre-test–post-test design with a control group and two experimental groups (coaching and self-learning). The statistical population consisted of couples who visited family counseling centers in District 8 of Tehran in 2022 and reported low levels of marital satisfaction and intimacy. A purposive sampling method was used to select 45 participants, who were equally divided into three groups of 15. The coaching group received eight 90-minute cognitive-behavioral sessions, while the self-learning group was given a structured 73-page manual to follow independently over two months. The control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Thompson and Walker Marital Intimacy Scale. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) were used to analyze the results. Findings: ANCOVA results indicated that cognitive-behavioral interventions using the coaching method significantly improved marital satisfaction (η² = 0.30, p < .01) and couple intimacy (η² = 0.372, p < .01), compared to the control group. Similarly, the self-learning method showed significant improvement in marital satisfaction (η² = 0.19, p < .01) and intimacy (η² = 0.23, p < .01), although the effect sizes were smaller. Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral interventions, particularly through coaching, are effective in enhancing marital satisfaction and intimacy. The presence of a coach facilitates deeper understanding, accountability, and behavioral change, making it a more impactful approach compared to self-directed learning.