Applied Psychology
Year:2019 | Volume:13 | Issue:3 (51) |Papers Count:8

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of transactional analysis and brief strategic family therapy (BSFT) on verbal conflicts, neglect and misconduct of couples. Method: The present study was a quasiexperimental study with two experimental groups, a control group, and a pretest-posttest and a two-month follow-up design. The statistical population included 45 couples referring to the consulting center of Petroleum Engineering and Development Company (PEDEC) in 2017. From this population, 30 couples who obtained the highest score with a cut-off point of 120 in the Marital Conflict Resolution Strategies Inventory (Strauss 1979) were selected and randomly assigned to each of the three groups at 60 individuals. Coronel, Degraff, Newton and Tannisson's (2016) Behavioral Analysis, and Hurigian, Robbins and Sazposnick's (2004) Brief Strategic Family Therapy were taught to experimental groups at eight 90-minute sessions once a week in group form. Data were analyzed using mixed-design analysis of variance with repeated measures. Results: The results of this study indicated that transactional analysis and brief strategic family therapy interventions had an effect on verbal conflict (F= 18. 59, P= 0. 001), (F= 14. 78, P= 0. 003), neglect (F= 10. 31, P= 0. 006), (F= 6. 64, P= 0. 014) and misconduct (F= 4. 24, P= 0. 03), (F= 10. 52, P= 0. 006) and that this effect had remained constant in the follow-up phase. BSFT was more effective than TA therapy in verbal conflict and there was no difference between the two approaches in neglect and misconduct. Conclusion: Since both methods lead to reduction of verbal conflicts, negligence and misconduct in couples, they can be used as effective intervention techniques to solve conflict and improve relationship between couples.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to predict marital disaffection of women based on the tendency toward dark personality in their husbands and their sexual attitude. Method: The research method was descriptive-correlational and the statistical population of the study included couples of areas two and three of Tehran‘ s eighth district in 2017(N = 2911065 households). Out of these, 160( based on (N>50+ (8M) formula) were selected by two-phase random sampling in such a way that in the first stage, two regions 2 and 3, and in the second stage, four streets and two parks and gardens were randomly selected. The study tools were Couple Burnout measure by Pines 2004; the measure of the dark triad by Jonason & Webster (2010) and Sexual Attitude Questionnaire by Azgoli, Tork zahrani, Vallaee & Khoshabi (2000). After omitting 4 distorted questionnaire and 2 outlier participant, the data were analyzed using hierarchical regression analysis. Results: The results showed that among the components of dark triple personality, psychopathy regression coefficient (β = 0. 192, P= 0. 001) and Machiavelli (β = 0. 299, P= 0. 001) with marital disaffection of women were significant and regression coefficient positive and sexual attitude (β = 0. 291, P= 0. 001) with marital disaffection of women were significant and negative. Conclusion: Considering the importance of quality of life of married women and the determinant role of sexual attitude and their spouse's personality traits in predicting marital disaffection, the importance of informing women about knowledge and sexual attitude and raising desirable personality traits is necessary.

Aim: This study purpose was to determine the relationship between fear of body image and cognitive emotion regulation strategies with fear of first delivery in pregnant women. Methods: The Research method was correlation and statistical population included 239 women with the first experience of pregnancy in their last trimester in Kermanshah city in 2017. Based on Kerjcie-Morgan table 1970, a sample of 144 was estimated and 158 individuals were selected through available sampling after considering the admission criteria among pregnant women referring to Samen-ol-aemmeh Comprehensive Health Services Centers, shahid rajaee, Haj-afghanian, shahid motahhari, vahdat and sajjadieh. The instruments were Littleton Fear of Body Image Questionnaire (2005), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ; Garnefski, Kraaij, & Spinhoven, 2001), and Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire (1998). After excluding 12 unclear questionnaires, the data of 146 individuals were analyzed by stepwise regression method. Results: The results showed that the variables explaining the variance of fear of delivery were respectively; fear of body image (β = 0. 384, P= 0. 01), negative strategies of cognitive emotion regulation (β = 0. 231, P= 0. 01) and positive strategies of cognitive emotion regulation (β = 0. 172, P= 0. 01). Conclusion: The more pregnant women with first experience worry about their body image and use to the negative strategies of cognitive emotion regulation, the more they will experience fears of delivery. Therefore, it is recommended that psychotherapists and counselors with modifying this group’ s attitude about their body image and teaching them applying positive strategies of cognitive emotion regulation, reduce their fear of delivery and the resulted injuries.

Aim: purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of Attributional Retraining Program on married women’ s cognitive appraisals, conflict resolution strategies and marriage adjustment. Method: was quasiexperimental design with pretest-posttest, a two-month-follow-up and control-group. Statistical population consisted of 200 married women referred to “ Better Life” counseling center, in Tehran city in 2018. 30 married women were selected through convenient sampling in experimental and control groups; each group contained 15 members randomly. Instruments: were Stress Appraisal Measure-Revised (SAM-R, Rowley, Roesch, Jurica & Vaughn, 2005), Conflict Resolution Strategies Questionnaire (CRSQ, Kurdek, 1994) and Marriage Adjustment Scale (MAS, Walker & Allen, 1983) were administered for both groups and attributional retraining program, developed by Steinhardt and Dolbier in 2008, was performed in the experimental group in 10 two-hour-sessions once a week. Data were analyzed using repeated measures mixed analysis of variance. Results: The statistical results of mixed ANOVA indicated that attributional retraining program was effective in increasing challenging appraisal (F=4. 994, P=0. 014), resource appraisal (F=6. 065, P=0. 001), positive problem solving strategy (F=4. 764, P=0. 002) and marriage adjustment (F=5. 861, P=0. 001) and in decreasing threat appraisal (F=7. 536, P=0. 001) and negative resolution styles consisting of conflict engagement (F=4. 865, P=0. 002), conflict withdrawal (F=6. 492, P=0. 001) and compliance (F=4. 764, P=0. 02); the effects were stable in follow-up stage. Conclusion: attributional retraining program by improving positive thinking strategies, adaptive management skills, Interpersonal conflicting experiences and enrichment of interpersonal relationships skills could result in improvement of multiple indicators of marriage relations quality in married women.

Aim: The aim of this research was to determine the causal relationship between time perspective and marital instability considering the mediation role of communication patterns. Method: The research method was correlational descriptive. Statistical population of six thousands married men and women at least three years after their marriage who referred to counseling centers located in District 2 of Tehran city between May and September 2018. 11 centers were randomly selected among the above centers and According to Howit & Cramer, 2004, 308 qualified volunteers were selected as the sample through convenient method. Instruments: were marital instability questionnaires by Edwards, Johnson and Booth 1980, communication patterns by Christensen and Sallavy 1984 and time perspective by Zimbardo and Boyd 1999. Data were analyzed applying path analysis. Results: results showed that negative past dimension (β = 0. 272, P= 0. 001) prospects marital instability positively meanwhile, future dimensions (β =-0. 33, P= 0. 001), positive past dimension (β =-0. 245, P= 0. 001), Hedonistic present (β =-0. 095, P= 0. 005), and mutual constructive communication pattern (β =-0. 240, P= 0. 001) predict it negatively. Also indirect path’ s coefficients showed a positive relationship between negative past dimension and marital instability (β = 0. 51, P= 0. 001), and a negative relationship between future dimensions (β =-0. 090, P= 0. 001), Hedonistic present (β =-0. 035, P= 0. 005), and marital instability. It is clear that the communication patterns mediate between the dimensions of negative past, future, and Hedonistic present and marital instability. Conclusion: Based on findings of the present research, it is suggested that family counselors in order to develop and improve marital stability, consider a shift in couples’ time perspective and also train constructive communication patterns to couples in their counseling sessions.

Aim: Purpose of the study was construction, questionnaire reliability and validation for measurement of patterns and premarital injuries. Method: The research method was the testing. The statistical population was all of the engaged couples from 26 Iran provinces in 2018. Sample were selected through purposive sampling and according to Brown (2006), 550 people including 357 girls and 193 boys who were about to get married have electronically completed the questionnaire of Evaluation of Premarital Patterns and Injuries of Rostami, Navabinejad & Farzad 2018. After deleting 38 unclear questionnaires, 521 people were analyzed by using the content validity index and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis indicated that 79 items were classified into 5 factors; the first factor was the inefficient relationship patterns with the explained variance value of 10. 50; the second factor was the inefficient relationship management patterns with the explained variance value of 6. 84; the third factor was the value system of the couples with the explained variance value of 6. 49; the fourth factor was the schematic mentality with the explained variance value of 6. 43, and the fifth factor was the destructive effects of the main family with the explained variance value of 5. 19, which represented 35. 47% of the total variance of the questionnaire. Except χ 2 index that was equal to 1200. 65, the fitting indicators of the confirmatory factor analysis were also significant at the level of 0. 001. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients were respectively as follows: 0. 92 for the inefficient relationship patterns, 0. 90 for the inefficient relationship management patterns, 0. 91 for the value system of the couples, 0. 89 for the schematics mentality, and 0. 87 for the destructive effects of the main family, and these values for retest process with a 45-day-interval respectively were; 0. 86, 0. 87, 0. 91, 0. 85 and 0. 90. Conclusion: The designed questionnaire is valid and reliable. It can be used to diagnose premarital patterns and injuries in order to identify the relationship patterns, the value system of the couples and the schematic mentality of each couple.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between marital satisfaction and conflict resolution in couples based on the mediatory role of their psychological capital. Method: The research method was correlation. Statistical population of the study included 167832 students of all branches of Islamic Azad Universities of Tehran Province in 2018. Sample consisted of 135 couples (270 subject) who were selected through clustered random sampling method. In the first stage, two branches of “ Science and Research” , and “ Central Tehran” , and in the second stage faculties of Law, Divinity and Political Sciences and Technology and Engineering in “ Science and Research” branch and Economics and Accounting and Foreign Languages in “ Central Tehran” were randomly selected. Instruments: instruments were Couple Satisfaction Scale by Afrooz, 2008; Psychological Capital Questionnaire by Luthans, Avolio, Avey & Norman (2007) and Conflict Resolution Questionnaire by McClellan, 1997. Data were analyzed after removing 8 incomplete questionnaires and 2 outliers using structural equation modeling. Results: The results showed that the direct path coefficient between psychological capital and conflict resolution was positive (β = 0. 552, P= 0. 001), also the total path coefficient that is total of direct and indirect path coefficients between marital satisfaction and conflict resolution (β = 0. 423, P= 0. 001) was positive and the indirect path coefficient between marital satisfaction and conflict resolution (β = 0. 225, P= 0. 001) was positive. Conclusion: Family therapists are suggested to training conflict resolution manner and resolving common life problems that probably are the source of repeated conflicts among them to provide marital satisfaction and help them to establish relationships that are full of psychological capital from which both marital satisfaction is influenced and influencing it, and be capable of resolving positive conflict.