The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy Based on Acceptance and Commitment ACT on Marital Violence and Desire for Separation in Couples Applying for Divorce

Background & aim: Marital violence is a social and psychological problem which has profound and negative effects on individuals' mental and physical health and can lead to a desire for separation and divorce, and consequently negative consequences for couples and children. The aim of the pr...

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Main Authors: M Sadeghi, H Bagholi, R Azarmidakht, H Javidi
Format: Article
Language:fas
Published: Yasuj University Of Medical Sciences 2024-10-01
Series:Armaghane Danesh Bimonthly Journal
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Online Access:http://armaghanj.yums.ac.ir/article-1-3580-en.pdf
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author M Sadeghi
H Bagholi
R Azarmidakht
H Javidi
author_facet M Sadeghi
H Bagholi
R Azarmidakht
H Javidi
author_sort M Sadeghi
collection DOAJ
description Background & aim: Marital violence is a social and psychological problem which has profound and negative effects on individuals' mental and physical health and can lead to a desire for separation and divorce, and consequently negative consequences for couples and children. The aim of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on marital violence and the desire for separation in couples seeking divorce. Methods: The present study applied a quasi-experimental, semi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test structure, including a control group. The statistical sample consisted of 40 individuals selected from all couples seeking divorce in Yasuj, Iran, who were referred to family counseling centers in the first three months of 2023. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned into two groups of 20, comprising the ACT-based couples therapy group (10 couples) and the control group (10 couples), which did not receive any treatment. Before and after the therapeutic interventions, participants responded to the Zarei Divorce Desire Scale and the Couple Abuse Questionnaire developed by Ghahari and colleagues. The collected data were analyzed using statistical tests, specifically Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA). Results: Results from the MANCOVA indicated that ACT-based couples therapy positively impacted the reduction of marital violence and its dimensions, including physical and emotional violence, in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). However, it did not have a significant effect on reducing sexual violence. The effect size for the reduction of marital violence was 0.281, with a greater impact observed on physical violence. Additionally, ACT-based couples therapy positively influenced the reduction of the desire for separation and its dimensions (desire to exit the relationship and desire for reconciliation) in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.05), and its effect was (0.773). Conclusion: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can effectively reduce marital violence and the desire for separation among couples by focusing on the acceptance of negative emotions and thoughts and enhancing commitment to shared values and goals. This approach provides couples with tools to address their emotional challenges in a healthier manner and improve their relationships.
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spelling doaj-art-82ed6d700ad74cfeb22503fe91db2e452025-08-20T02:50:48ZfasYasuj University Of Medical SciencesArmaghane Danesh Bimonthly Journal1728-65061728-65142024-10-01295676692The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy Based on Acceptance and Commitment ACT on Marital Violence and Desire for Separation in Couples Applying for DivorceM Sadeghi0H Bagholi1R Azarmidakht2H Javidi3 Department of Psychology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran, 2Department of Psychology, Zand institute of Higher Education, shiraz, Iran. Department of Psychology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran, 2Department of Psychology, Zand institute of Higher Education, shiraz, Iran. Department of Psychology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran, 2Department of Psychology, Zand institute of Higher Education, shiraz, Iran. Department of Psychology, Marvdasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran, 2Department of Psychology, Zand institute of Higher Education, shiraz, Iran. Background & aim: Marital violence is a social and psychological problem which has profound and negative effects on individuals' mental and physical health and can lead to a desire for separation and divorce, and consequently negative consequences for couples and children. The aim of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on marital violence and the desire for separation in couples seeking divorce. Methods: The present study applied a quasi-experimental, semi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test structure, including a control group. The statistical sample consisted of 40 individuals selected from all couples seeking divorce in Yasuj, Iran, who were referred to family counseling centers in the first three months of 2023. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned into two groups of 20, comprising the ACT-based couples therapy group (10 couples) and the control group (10 couples), which did not receive any treatment. Before and after the therapeutic interventions, participants responded to the Zarei Divorce Desire Scale and the Couple Abuse Questionnaire developed by Ghahari and colleagues. The collected data were analyzed using statistical tests, specifically Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA). Results: Results from the MANCOVA indicated that ACT-based couples therapy positively impacted the reduction of marital violence and its dimensions, including physical and emotional violence, in the experimental group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). However, it did not have a significant effect on reducing sexual violence. The effect size for the reduction of marital violence was 0.281, with a greater impact observed on physical violence. Additionally, ACT-based couples therapy positively influenced the reduction of the desire for separation and its dimensions (desire to exit the relationship and desire for reconciliation) in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.05), and its effect was (0.773). Conclusion: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can effectively reduce marital violence and the desire for separation among couples by focusing on the acceptance of negative emotions and thoughts and enhancing commitment to shared values and goals. This approach provides couples with tools to address their emotional challenges in a healthier manner and improve their relationships.http://armaghanj.yums.ac.ir/article-1-3580-en.pdfcouple therapy based on acceptance and commitment(act)marital violencedesire to separate
spellingShingle M Sadeghi
H Bagholi
R Azarmidakht
H Javidi
The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy Based on Acceptance and Commitment ACT on Marital Violence and Desire for Separation in Couples Applying for Divorce
Armaghane Danesh Bimonthly Journal
couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment(act)
marital violence
desire to separate
title The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy Based on Acceptance and Commitment ACT on Marital Violence and Desire for Separation in Couples Applying for Divorce
title_full The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy Based on Acceptance and Commitment ACT on Marital Violence and Desire for Separation in Couples Applying for Divorce
title_fullStr The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy Based on Acceptance and Commitment ACT on Marital Violence and Desire for Separation in Couples Applying for Divorce
title_full_unstemmed The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy Based on Acceptance and Commitment ACT on Marital Violence and Desire for Separation in Couples Applying for Divorce
title_short The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy Based on Acceptance and Commitment ACT on Marital Violence and Desire for Separation in Couples Applying for Divorce
title_sort effectiveness of couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment act on marital violence and desire for separation in couples applying for divorce
topic couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment(act)
marital violence
desire to separate
url http://armaghanj.yums.ac.ir/article-1-3580-en.pdf
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