The effectiveness of emotion-focused couple therapy on depressive symptoms and sexual function in Women affected by infidelity

Subject Areas : Woman and family

Solmaz Ammari ¹ , Ezat Deyreh ² , Moloud Keikhosravani ³ , Kamran Gangi ⁴

1 - PhD Student in General Psychology, Bushehr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran.
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Bushehr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran (Corresponding Author) [e-mail]
3 - Associate Professor, Department of General Psychology, Bushehr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran.
4 - Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Malayer Branch, Islamic Azad University, Malayer, Iran.

Received: 2021-09-15 Accepted : 2021-12-11 Published : 2022-05-22

Keywords: Depression, sexual function, Women Affected by Infidelity, Emotional couple therapy,

Abstract :

Background and Aim: Achieving a healthy society depends on the health of families, which is also related to having normal mental health conditions and good communication Between the couples. Marital infidelity is one of the most important factors threatening the performance, stability and continuity of marital relationships. Marital infidelity refers to any sexual or emotional relationship beyond the framework of a committed relationship between two spouses. It is the subject of marital infidelity that causes mood disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress and dysfunction of couples, which has caused the concern about family mental health and its impact on the growth and performance of children. Method: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of emotion-based couple therapy on the depressive symptoms and sexual function in women affected by infidelity. The present study was a quasi-experimental study in which a pretest-posttest design with a control group was assessed by baseline after intervention and 3-month follow-up. A total of 105 women affected by infidelity referred to counseling centers and psychological service clinics of Bushehr Welfare Office in the period from May to September in 1398, taking into account the inclusion criteria, 30 of those who wished to participate in the study (With written consent) were selected and randomly assigned to the experimental group (emotion-based therapy (n = 15 and control group (n = 15)). The sexual function scale was completed and measured in three stages: The sessions of the mentioned treatments, i.e. the emotion-oriented couple therapy (8 sessions of 2.5 hours) was done in groups. Hypotheses about the effectiveness of research were tested using analysis of variance. Results: The results of the present study showed that the mean of depression and sexual function in the pre-test stage was not significantly different between the two groups, which indicates the homogeneity of the two groups in the pre-test stage, but there was a significant difference between the groups in the post-test and follow-up stages. It could indicate the effectiveness of the intervention on the mentioned variables and the stability of effectiveness in the follow-up phase (P <0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the mentioned treatment can be used as a psychological intervention in reducing depression and improving the sexual function of affected women.

References:

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8. ملک عسگر, سعاده, مظاهری, محمدعلی, فتی, لادن, موتابی, فرشته, محمود, حیدری. (1399). دیدگاه طرح‌واره درمانگران نسبت به نقش مولفه‌های طرح‌واره‌ای در سبب‌شناسی خیانت زناشویی: یک مطالعه کیفی. خانواده پژوهی, 16(2), 199-216.


9. قره داغی, علی, سید میرزائی, سیده مریم. (1399). اثربخشی درمان مبتنی بر پذیرش و تعهد بر علایم PTSD عاطفی در زنان آسیب دیده از خیانت زناشویی. خانواده پژوهی, 16(2), 217-229.


10. خزائی, محمود, شهیدی, شهریار, موتابی, فرشته, مظاهری, محمدعلی, پناغی, لیلی, فریدزاده, رائد. (1398). نقد بخشودگی خیانت زناشویی از منظر فلسفه "هم سخنی" مارتین بوبر. خانواده پژوهی, 15(3), 375-391.


11. حسینی، مرضیه (1393). رابطه بین مؤلفه‌های جنسی و مهارت‌های ارتباطی با رضایت زناشویی در زنان متأهل شهر گچساران. پایان نامه کارشناسی ارشد. دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی. واحد ارسنجان.


12. تقی یار, زهرا, پهلوان زاده, فرشاد, رفاهی, ژاله. (1397). مدل معادلات ساختاری تعهد زناشویی و سبک‌های عشق ورزی با صمیمیت زناشویی با توجه به نقش میانجی رضایت جنسی. زن و مطالعات خانواده, 11(42), 91-104.


13. Soltanzadeh Rezamahalleh, M. (2021). Predicting Attitudes toward Marital Infidelity Based on Attachment and Perfectionism Styles. Journal of Modern Psychology, 1(1), 51-64.


14. Sarmadi, Y., & Ahmadi, K. (2021). The Extent of Injuries Caused by Marital Infidelity. Journal of Family Research, 17(1), 81-98.


15. Bashirpour, M., Shafi'abadi, A., & Doukaneifard, F. (2020). Factors affecting the tendency to marital infidelity: A grounded theory study. Journal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences, 8(4), 16-27.


16. Balderrama-Durbin, C., Stanton, K., Snyder, D. K., Cigrang, J. A., Talcott, G. W., Smith Slep, A. M., ... & Cassidy, D. G. (2017). The risk for marital infidelity across a year-long deployment. Journal of Family Psychology, 31(5), 629.


17. Yuan, S., & Weiser, D. A. (2019). Relationship dissolution following marital infidelity: comparing European Americans and Asian Americans. Marriage & Family Review, 55(7), 631-650.


18. Elhaei, H., Kazemianmoghadam, K., & Haroon Rashidi, H. (2020). The effect of schema therapy on sexual function and relationship attributions among women damaged by marital infidelity. Journal of Psychological Studies, 16(2), 125-140.


19. Shiri, F., Goudarzi, M., Moradi, O., & Ahmadian, H. Effectiveness of Self-Regulation-Attachment Couple Therapy on Marital Commitment and Sexual Function of Women with Extramarital Affair. Journal of Counseling Research, 0-0.


20. Chisari, C., Monajemi, M. B., Scott, W., Moss‐Morris, R., & McCracken, L. M. (2021). Psychosocial factors associated with pain and sexual function in women with Vulvodynia: A systematic review. European Journal of Pain, 25(1), 39-50.


21. Castelo-Branco, C., & Naumova, I. (2020). Quality of life and sexual function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a comprehensive review. Gynecological Endocrinology, 36(2), 96-103.


22. Holanda, J. B. D. L., Richter, S., Campos, R. B., Trindade, R. F. C. D., Monteiro, J. C. D. S., & Gomes-Sponholz, F. A. (2021). Relationship of the type of breastfeeding in the sexual function of women. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, 29.


23. Wiesel, I., Shahar, B., Goldman, R. N., & Bar‐Kalifa, E. (2021). Accuracy and Bias in Vulnerability Perceptions of Partners Undergoing Emotion‐Focused Therapy for Couples. Family process, 60(2), 377-392.


24. Greenberg, L. S., & Goldman, R. N. (2019). Clinical handbook of emotion-focused therapy (pp. xiv-534). American Psychological Association.


25. Timulak, L., & Keogh, D. (2020). Emotion-focused therapy: A transdiagnostic formulation. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 50(1), 1-13.


26. McKinnon, J. M., & Greenberg, L. S. (2017). Vulnerable emotional expression in emotion focused couples therapy: Relating interactional processes to outcome. Journal of marital and family therapy, 43(2), 198-212.


27. Beck, A. , Steer, R.A., Brown, G.  K. (1966).  Beck Depression Inventory – 2nd Edition Manual. The Psychological Corporation, San Antonio


28. Beck, A. , Ward, C.  H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J.  E., & Erbaugh, J.  (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychology, 4, 561–571.


29. Teymouri, Z., Mojtabaei, M., & Rezazadeh, S. M. R. (2020). The Effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy on Emotion Regulation, Anger Rumination, and Marital Intimacy in Women Affected by Spouse Infidelity. Caspian Journal of Health Research, 5(4), 78-82.

 

1. سرمدی, یاسمن, احمدی, خدابخش. (1400). میزان آسیب های ناشی از خیانت زناشویی زوجین. خانواده پژوهی, 17(1), 81-98.


2. ملک عسگر, سعاده, مظاهری, محمدعلی, فتی, لادن, موتابی, فرشته, محمود, حیدری. (1399). دیدگاه طرح‌واره درمانگران نسبت به نقش مولفه‌های طرح‌واره‌ای در سبب‌شناسی خیانت زناشویی: یک مطالعه کیفی. خانواده پژوهی, 16(2), 199-216.


3. قره داغی, علی, سید میرزائی, سیده مریم. (1399). اثربخشی درمان مبتنی بر پذیرش و تعهد بر علایم PTSD عاطفی در زنان آسیب دیده از خیانت زناشویی. خانواده پژوهی, 16(2), 217-229.


4. خزائی, محمود, شهیدی, شهریار, موتابی, فرشته, مظاهری, محمدعلی, پناغی, لیلی, فریدزاده, رائد. (1398). نقد بخشودگی خیانت زناشویی از منظر فلسفه "هم سخنی" مارتین بوبر. خانواده پژوهی, 15(3), 375-391.


5. حسینی، مرضیه (1393). رابطه بین مؤلفه‌های جنسی و مهارت‌های ارتباطی با رضایت زناشویی در زنان متأهل شهر گچساران. پایان نامه کارشناسی ارشد. دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی. واحد ارسنجان.


6. تقی یار, زهرا, پهلوان زاده, فرشاد, رفاهی, ژاله. (1397). مدل معادلات ساختاری تعهد زناشویی و سبک‌های عشق ورزی با صمیمیت زناشویی با توجه به نقش میانجی رضایت جنسی. زن و مطالعات خانواده, 11(42), 91-104.

 

References

7. Soltanzadeh Rezamahalleh, M. (2021). Predicting Attitudes toward Marital Infidelity Based on Attachment and Perfectionism Styles. Journal of Modern Psychology, 1(1), 51-64.


8. Sarmadi, Y., & Ahmadi, K. (2021). The Extent of Injuries Caused by Marital Infidelity. Journal of Family Research, 17(1), 81-98.


9. Bashirpour, M., Shafi'abadi, A., & Doukaneifard, F. (2020). Factors affecting the tendency to marital infidelity: A grounded theory study. Journal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences, 8(4), 16-27.


10. Balderrama-Durbin, C., Stanton, K., Snyder, D. K., Cigrang, J. A., Talcott, G. W., Smith Slep, A. M., ... & Cassidy, D. G. (2017). The risk for marital infidelity across a year-long deployment. Journal of Family Psychology, 31(5), 629.


11. Yuan, S., & Weiser, D. A. (2019). Relationship dissolution following marital infidelity: comparing European Americans and Asian Americans. Marriage & Family Review, 55(7), 631-650.


12. Elhaei, H., Kazemianmoghadam, K., & Haroon Rashidi, H. (2020). The effect of schema therapy on sexual function and relationship attributions among women damaged by marital infidelity. Journal of Psychological Studies, 16(2), 125-140.


13. Shiri, F., Goudarzi, M., Moradi, O., & Ahmadian, H. Effectiveness of Self-Regulation-Attachment Couple Therapy on Marital Commitment and Sexual Function of Women with Extramarital Affair. Journal of Counseling Research, 0-0.


14. Chisari, C., Monajemi, M. B., Scott, W., Moss‐Morris, R., & McCracken, L. M. (2021). Psychosocial factors associated with pain and sexual function in women with Vulvodynia: A systematic review. European Journal of Pain, 25(1), 39-50.


15. Castelo-Branco, C., & Naumova, I. (2020). Quality of life and sexual function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a comprehensive review. Gynecological Endocrinology, 36(2), 96-103.


16. Holanda, J. B. D. L., Richter, S., Campos, R. B., Trindade, R. F. C. D., Monteiro, J. C. D. S., & Gomes-Sponholz, F. A. (2021). Relationship of the type of breastfeeding in the sexual function of women. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, 29.


17. Wiesel, I., Shahar, B., Goldman, R. N., & Bar‐Kalifa, E. (2021). Accuracy and Bias in Vulnerability Perceptions of Partners Undergoing Emotion‐Focused Therapy for Couples. Family process, 60(2), 377-392.


18. Greenberg, L. S., & Goldman, R. N. (2019). Clinical handbook of emotion-focused therapy (pp. xiv-534). American Psychological Association.


19. Timulak, L., & Keogh, D. (2020). Emotion-focused therapy: A transdiagnostic formulation. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 50(1), 1-13.


20. McKinnon, J. M., & Greenberg, L. S. (2017). Vulnerable emotional expression in emotion focused couples therapy: Relating interactional processes to outcome. Journal of marital and family therapy, 43(2), 198-212.


21. Beck, A. , Steer, R.A., Brown, G.  K. (1966).  Beck Depression Inventory – 2nd Edition Manual. The Psychological Corporation, San Antonio


22. Beck, A. , Ward, C.  H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J.  E., & Erbaugh, J.  (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychology, 4, 561–571.


23. Teymouri, Z., Mojtabaei, M., & Rezazadeh, S. M. R. (2020). The Effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy on Emotion Regulation, Anger Rumination, and Marital Intimacy in Women Affected by Spouse Infidelity. Caspian Journal of Health Research, 5(4), 78-82.