Volume 12, Issue 3 (September 2025)
Avicenna J Neuro Psycho Physiology 2025, 12(3): 0-0 |
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Ethics code: IR.BPUMS.REC.1404.249
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Kianpour Barjoee L, Mousavi S A, Keykhosrovani M. The Effectiveness of Problem-Focused Couple Therapy and Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy on Marital Burnout and Emotional Empathy in Couples with Marital Conflicts. Avicenna J Neuro Psycho Physiology 2025; 12 (3)
URL: http://ajnpp.umsha.ac.ir/article-1-549-en.html
URL: http://ajnpp.umsha.ac.ir/article-1-549-en.html
1- Department of Psychology, Bu.C., Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran
2- Department of Psychology, Bu.C., Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran ,mousaviseyyeda@gmail.com
2- Department of Psychology, Bu.C., Islamic Azad University, Bushehr, Iran ,
Abstract: (16 Views)
Background and Objective: Marital conflicts, driven by poor communication, occupational stress, and global changes, contribute to family dysfunction, negative interactions, emotional detachment, and marital burnout with diminished emotional empathy. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of emotionally focused couple therapy (EFT) and problem-focused couple therapy (PFCT) in reducing marital burnout and enhancing emotional empathy among couples with marital conflicts. extensive
Methods: A quasi-experimental design with pretest, posttest, and three-month follow-up assessments was employed, including a waiting-list control group. A total of 60 couples seeking services in Ahvaz, Iran, in 2025 and diagnosed with marital conflicts were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to three groups (n = 20 each): EFT, PFCT, and control. Interventions consisted of eight 90-minute sessions delivered per standardized protocols. Data were collected using the Pines Marital Burnout Questionnaire and the Emotional Empathy Questionnaire and analyzed via repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post-hoc tests in SPSS software (version 27).
Results: Both EFT and PFCT significantly reduced marital burnout (large effect sizes, η² ranging from 0.70 to 0.79) and increased emotional empathy (large effect sizes, η² ranging from 0.52 to 0.72) relative to the control group (P < 0.001), with effects sustained at three-month follow-up. No significant differences emerged between the two interventions.
Conclusion: Both EFT and PFCT demonstrated comparable effectiveness in alleviating marital burnout and fostering emotional empathy in conflicted couples, offering flexible evidence-based options for clinical practice.
Methods: A quasi-experimental design with pretest, posttest, and three-month follow-up assessments was employed, including a waiting-list control group. A total of 60 couples seeking services in Ahvaz, Iran, in 2025 and diagnosed with marital conflicts were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to three groups (n = 20 each): EFT, PFCT, and control. Interventions consisted of eight 90-minute sessions delivered per standardized protocols. Data were collected using the Pines Marital Burnout Questionnaire and the Emotional Empathy Questionnaire and analyzed via repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post-hoc tests in SPSS software (version 27).
Results: Both EFT and PFCT significantly reduced marital burnout (large effect sizes, η² ranging from 0.70 to 0.79) and increased emotional empathy (large effect sizes, η² ranging from 0.52 to 0.72) relative to the control group (P < 0.001), with effects sustained at three-month follow-up. No significant differences emerged between the two interventions.
Conclusion: Both EFT and PFCT demonstrated comparable effectiveness in alleviating marital burnout and fostering emotional empathy in conflicted couples, offering flexible evidence-based options for clinical practice.
Keywords: Emotional empathy, Emotionally focused couple therapy (EFT), Marital burnout, Marital conflict, Problem-focused couple therapy (PFCT)
Article Type: Research Article |
Subject:
Health Education and Promotion
Received: 2025/11/9 | Accepted: 2026/01/25 | Published: 2025/09/26
Received: 2025/11/9 | Accepted: 2026/01/25 | Published: 2025/09/26
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