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Volume 26, Issue 2 (summer 2024)
Advances in Cognitive Sciences 2024, 26(2): 1-15 |
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Ethics code: IR.IAU.ARAK.REC.1403.096
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Beiramloei S, Monazami Tabar F, Safaei Rad I. Comparison of the effectiveness of couple therapy based on communication imagery and solution-focused couple therapy on communication patterns in conflicting couples. Advances in Cognitive Sciences 2024; 26 (2) :1-15
URL: http://icssjournal.ir/article-1-1695-en.html
URL: http://icssjournal.ir/article-1-1695-en.html
1- PhD Student, Department of Psychology, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran
2- Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Hamedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran
2- Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Hamedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran
Abstract: (672 Views)
Introduction
Family is known as the most essential unit of society, and marriage is the most basic human relationship (1). Marital conflicts are an interactive process that occurs when one person’s behavior does not match the other person’s expectations (5). Communication is one of the leading life skills, and couples with constructive communication patterns experience a stable life (7). Communication imagery therapy believes that choosing a spouse is not a conscious process; an essential part of it is unconscious, and its result is the need to complete the unfinished stages of childhood (10). The solution-focused theory has a collaborative perspective, and emphasizing the client’s abilities, leads him to create a solution and move towards a desirable future (13). If couples do not have the ability to manage conflicts, they will experience consequences, such as a collapse of life and divorce. The current research aims to investigate whether there is a difference between the effectiveness of these two therapeutic approaches on the communication patterns of conflicted couples؟
Family is known as the most essential unit of society, and marriage is the most basic human relationship (1). Marital conflicts are an interactive process that occurs when one person’s behavior does not match the other person’s expectations (5). Communication is one of the leading life skills, and couples with constructive communication patterns experience a stable life (7). Communication imagery therapy believes that choosing a spouse is not a conscious process; an essential part of it is unconscious, and its result is the need to complete the unfinished stages of childhood (10). The solution-focused theory has a collaborative perspective, and emphasizing the client’s abilities, leads him to create a solution and move towards a desirable future (13). If couples do not have the ability to manage conflicts, they will experience consequences, such as a collapse of life and divorce. The current research aims to investigate whether there is a difference between the effectiveness of these two therapeutic approaches on the communication patterns of conflicted couples؟
Methods
This research was a semi-experimental design with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up (three months) with a control group. The statistical population consists of all conflicted couples who were referred to counseling centers in Hamedan, Iran, in the years 2022-2023. Code of ethics obtained: (IR.IAU.ARAK.REC.1403.096). The sampling method was purposeful. Forty-five couples were divided into three groups (two experimental group and one control group). Treatment protocols were performed online in ten sessions of 90 minutes. Due to the withdrawal of the subjects from each experimental group, two couples were dropped, and the data using the variance analysis method with repeated measurements and software SPSS-26 was analyzed. Inclusion criteria: willingness to attend meetings, age range of 25 to 45 years, and have not taken legal action for divorce. Exclusion criteria: unwillingness to cooperate and legal action for divorce
Tools: Questionnaires of communication patterns (Christensen and Sullaway, 1983) (19) and marital conflicts (Sanaei Zaker et al., 2008) (21), Communication imagery couple therapy protocol (Hendrix and Hunt, 2013) (23), solution-focused couples therapy protocol (Macdonald, 2007) (24).
Results
In the group of communication imagery, the mean and standard deviation (SD) of the age of female participants were 32.77 and 3.22 years, and males were 36.92 and 3.15 years. In the solution-focused group, the mean and SD of the age of women were 31.85 and 3.36 years, and men were 36.38 and 3.43 years, In the control group, the mean and SD of the age of women were 33.33 and 2.77 years, and men were 37.67 and 2.41 years. The Shapiro-Wilk values indicated the normal distribution of the data. Using the Levene’s test showed that the assumption of homogeneity of error variances was established for all three communication patterns in the data. Bax’s M statistics index is not significant, and the chi-square value obtained from the Mauchly test is insignificant for all three communication patterns. Multivariate analysis test results showed that the effect of implementing treatments on communication patterns was significant. Bonferroni test showed that both couples therapies were effective in improving communication patterns, but communication imagery couples therapy was more effective than solution-focused.
Conclusion
Communication imagery therapy improved the communication patterns of conflicted couples. These results are consistent with the research (Guven and Iskandar, 2023) (14). Because the couple realized that the inconsistent behavior of the wife was caused by her trying to satisfy the unfulfilled needs of her childhood, they acted in such a way that the wife’s needs were satisfied. Solution-focused therapy improves communication patterns. These results are consistent with the research (Zak et al., 2023) (32). Using the technique of exceptional questions, couples can recall times when their marriage was free of issues. Reflecting on these moments helps them understand the dynamics of their relationship during those problem-free periods. Communication imagery therapy was more effective in improving communication patterns than solution-focused therapy. Using the scene reconstruction method, they visualized a specific incident from their lives involving a disagreement. This process led them to understand that the root of these conflicts was the presence of unfulfilled needs. Both couples therapy improves communication patterns. Nevertheless, communication imagery therapy is more effective than solution-focused therapy. Counseling centers can benefit from these approaches to couple therapy to improve couple conflicts.
Ethical Consideration
Compliance with ethical guidelines
The current research has received approval number (IR.IAU.ARAK.REC.1403.096) by the Research Ethics Committee. The couples participated in the research after obtaining informed consent, the objectives of the research were explained, and identity information remained confidential. Besides, the participants were free to withdraw at any stage of this study.
Authors’ Contributions
Topic selection, conceptualization, research design, and resource collection: Saber Beiramloei and Fariba Monazami Tabar; Implementation, writing, and drafting of the article: Saber Beiramloei; Data analysis and processing: Saber Beiramloei and Fariba Monazami Tabar; Revising and editing the article: Fariba Monazami Tabar and Iraj Safaei Rad.
Funding
In conducting this research, no financial aid was received from any institution or organization.
Acknowledgments
This research is derived from the first author’s PhD Dissertation at Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch. The authors express their gratitude to all the dear ones who helped the authors in conducting the research.
Conflict of interest
According to the authors, this research has no conflict of interest.
This research was a semi-experimental design with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up (three months) with a control group. The statistical population consists of all conflicted couples who were referred to counseling centers in Hamedan, Iran, in the years 2022-2023. Code of ethics obtained: (IR.IAU.ARAK.REC.1403.096). The sampling method was purposeful. Forty-five couples were divided into three groups (two experimental group and one control group). Treatment protocols were performed online in ten sessions of 90 minutes. Due to the withdrawal of the subjects from each experimental group, two couples were dropped, and the data using the variance analysis method with repeated measurements and software SPSS-26 was analyzed. Inclusion criteria: willingness to attend meetings, age range of 25 to 45 years, and have not taken legal action for divorce. Exclusion criteria: unwillingness to cooperate and legal action for divorce
Tools: Questionnaires of communication patterns (Christensen and Sullaway, 1983) (19) and marital conflicts (Sanaei Zaker et al., 2008) (21), Communication imagery couple therapy protocol (Hendrix and Hunt, 2013) (23), solution-focused couples therapy protocol (Macdonald, 2007) (24).
Results
In the group of communication imagery, the mean and standard deviation (SD) of the age of female participants were 32.77 and 3.22 years, and males were 36.92 and 3.15 years. In the solution-focused group, the mean and SD of the age of women were 31.85 and 3.36 years, and men were 36.38 and 3.43 years, In the control group, the mean and SD of the age of women were 33.33 and 2.77 years, and men were 37.67 and 2.41 years. The Shapiro-Wilk values indicated the normal distribution of the data. Using the Levene’s test showed that the assumption of homogeneity of error variances was established for all three communication patterns in the data. Bax’s M statistics index is not significant, and the chi-square value obtained from the Mauchly test is insignificant for all three communication patterns. Multivariate analysis test results showed that the effect of implementing treatments on communication patterns was significant. Bonferroni test showed that both couples therapies were effective in improving communication patterns, but communication imagery couples therapy was more effective than solution-focused.
Conclusion
Communication imagery therapy improved the communication patterns of conflicted couples. These results are consistent with the research (Guven and Iskandar, 2023) (14). Because the couple realized that the inconsistent behavior of the wife was caused by her trying to satisfy the unfulfilled needs of her childhood, they acted in such a way that the wife’s needs were satisfied. Solution-focused therapy improves communication patterns. These results are consistent with the research (Zak et al., 2023) (32). Using the technique of exceptional questions, couples can recall times when their marriage was free of issues. Reflecting on these moments helps them understand the dynamics of their relationship during those problem-free periods. Communication imagery therapy was more effective in improving communication patterns than solution-focused therapy. Using the scene reconstruction method, they visualized a specific incident from their lives involving a disagreement. This process led them to understand that the root of these conflicts was the presence of unfulfilled needs. Both couples therapy improves communication patterns. Nevertheless, communication imagery therapy is more effective than solution-focused therapy. Counseling centers can benefit from these approaches to couple therapy to improve couple conflicts.
Ethical Consideration
Compliance with ethical guidelines
The current research has received approval number (IR.IAU.ARAK.REC.1403.096) by the Research Ethics Committee. The couples participated in the research after obtaining informed consent, the objectives of the research were explained, and identity information remained confidential. Besides, the participants were free to withdraw at any stage of this study.
Authors’ Contributions
Topic selection, conceptualization, research design, and resource collection: Saber Beiramloei and Fariba Monazami Tabar; Implementation, writing, and drafting of the article: Saber Beiramloei; Data analysis and processing: Saber Beiramloei and Fariba Monazami Tabar; Revising and editing the article: Fariba Monazami Tabar and Iraj Safaei Rad.
Funding
In conducting this research, no financial aid was received from any institution or organization.
Acknowledgments
This research is derived from the first author’s PhD Dissertation at Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch. The authors express their gratitude to all the dear ones who helped the authors in conducting the research.
Conflict of interest
According to the authors, this research has no conflict of interest.
Keywords: Communication imagery couple therapy, Solution-focused couple therapy, Communication patterns, Couple conflict
Type of Study: Research |
Received: 2024/06/26 | Accepted: 2024/08/29 | Published: 2024/11/3
Received: 2024/06/26 | Accepted: 2024/08/29 | Published: 2024/11/3
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