Target: The aim of this study was the effectiveness of couple therapy based on integrated behavioral system on marital conflicts, couple intimacy and family functions in couples referring to counseling centers in Mahshahr. The present study was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest and posttest design with a control group. The statistical population of this study consisted of all couples who referred to counseling centers in Mahshahr in 2019-20 due to marital problems. From the statistical population, 60 couples were selected by available sampling method, and then this number was paired by random sampling method in two experimental groups (40 pairs) and one control group (20). For a group therapy group based on integrated behavioral system, 10 sessions of 90 minutes were performed weekly. In order to collect research data, Marital Conflict Questionnaire (MCQ), Marital Intimacy (MQI) and Family Functioning Questionnaire (FAD) were used. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used to analyze the data. Results: The results of the analysis of research findings showed that couple therapy based on integrated behavioral system has been effective in reducing marital conflicts, improving couple intimacy and family functions (P <0. 05). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it can be said that couple therapy based on integrated behavioral system is one of the effective treatments in reducing marital conflicts, improving couples intimacy and family functions of couples referring to counseling center.
Extended Abstract Introduction Marriage and family formation is one of the most important and superior social customs that in the case of the normal functioning of the members, in addition to meeting the different needs of individuals, can lead to their comprehensive growth (Jomepour & Mahmoudipour, 2019). One of the dimensions of the spouses’,relationship that is important in the outcome of marital relationships is the level of conflict in the relationship and their constructive or non-constructive management (Snyder & Balderrama-Durbin, 2012). Marital conflict refers to the interaction between couples with contradictory interests, views, and beliefs (Amini, 2015). Today, the main reasons for marriage and the expectations of spouses from each other have changed dramatically, and the need for love and intimacy, intimate relationships, and satisfaction of emotional and psychological needs are among the main reasons for marriage. Intimacy is essential for the stability of marriage and a high level of intimacy has a tremendous effect on achieving happiness in the couples (Kõ, u & Bailey, 2017). Abundant research evidence suggests that many factors affect marital intimacy. One of these factors is family functioning (Yoselyani, Habibi, & Soleymani, 2011). Family functioning is a joint effort to maintain and keep balance in the family and the ability to coordinate change, resolve conflicts and engagements, solidarity between members and success in applying disciplinary patterns, respecting boundaries between individuals, and enforcing the rules and principles governing this organization with aiming to protect the entire family system (Parvandi, Arefi, & Moradi, 2016). To improve the psychological features of couples, various treatment programs have been designed and used by therapists and researchers in the field of marriage and family using different approaches to couple therapy. One of these approaches is integrated couple therapy. Behavioral couple therapy is a combination of traditional couple therapy and has used the concepts and techniques of emotional acceptance to overcome some of the limitations of traditional behavioral couple therapy (Soheili, Zahrakar, Asadpour & Mohsenzadeh, 2019). Due to the increasing marital conflict and divorce in the current era and the risk of separation and its negative impact on the mental health of couples and their children, therapists have provided theories and programs to help them and each approach has suggested different therapeutic and educational methods based on their specific explanations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of couple therapy based on integrated behavioral systems on marital conflicts, couple intimacy, and family functions in couples referring to counseling centers in Mahshahr. Method The method of this study is quasi-experimental with a control group and a pretest and posttest design. The statistical population of this study consisted of all couples who were referred to counseling centers in Mahshahr for their marital problems in 2019-2020. From the statistical population, 60 couples who met the inclusion criteria and volunteered to participate in the study were selected through convenience sampling, then all 60 couples were randomly assigned into three groups (40 pairs in the two experimental groups and 20 pairs in the control group). Initially, all three groups were pre-tested. Then, the two experimental groups were trained in couple therapy based on the integrated behavioral system for 10 sessions of 90 minutes, which were presented weekly according to the therapy package, but the control group was on the waiting list and did not receive any training. At the end of the intervention, all three groups were post-tested and then, two months after the post-test, a follow-up test was performed. To analyze data, descriptive statistical methods (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics of multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) were applied using SPSS software Results The mean scores of marital conflict, intimacy, and family functioning in the pre-test stage for the experimental group were 130. 30, 185. 10, and 146. 40, respectively, and after the implementation of couple therapy based on the integrated behavioral system, these values changed to 123, 200. 50, and 163. 80, respectively, and after performing the follow-up stage, the values of 125. 75, 199. 60 and 168. 80 were obtained. Also in the control group, these values in the pre-test stage were equal to 130. 55, 185. 55, and 146. 40, and in the post-test stage were 129. 80, 183. 45, and 144. 01, respectively, and after performing the follow-up stage, the values of 146. 40, 185. 30, and 146. 02, were obtained, respectively. According to the results, the effect of measurement time on the variable of marital intimacy is statistically significant (P <0. 001, F = 13. 29),in other words, marital intimacy has increased in the follow-up compared to the pre-test stage. The effect of time interacting with the group was also significant in this variable (F=392. 73, P <0. 001), that is, there is a significant difference between the two groups in the rate of increase in marital intimacy scores. The results show that the effect of group interaction and time is established, i. e. the effect of the independent variable on marital intimacy in the experimental group is significant and has continued in the follow-up and has led to a 0. 88% increase in marital intimacy. The effect of measurement time on marital conflict was also significant (F = 3. 76, P <0. 001),in other words, marital conflict is reduced in the follow-up compared to the pre-test stage. Also, the effect of group interaction and time was significant (F = 779. 42, P <0. 001), i. e. there was a significant difference between the two groups in reducing marital conflict from pre-test session to follow-up, and the interactive effect of group and time is established and couple therapy training based on integrated behavioral system led to a 76% reduction in marital conflict in the experimental group. The effect of measurement time on family functioning was also significant (F = 17. 36, P <0. 001),in other words, family functioning increased in the pre-test to follow-up stage. Also, the effect of group interaction and time was significant (F <161. 57, P <0. 001), i. e. there was a significant difference between the two groups in increasing family function from pre-test to follow-up stage and the interactive effect of group and time is established. Also, the difference between the scores of marital intimacy, marital conflict, and family functioning in the pre-test-post-test and pre-test-follow-up stages was significant, but the difference between the post-test and the follow-up stage was not significant (P <0. 05). This result shows that not only the intervention was effective on the research variables in the post-test stage in the experimental group, but also this result was stable in the follow-up stage. Discussion and Conclusion This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Integrated Behavioral Therapy on marital conflicts, couple intimacy, and family functions in couples referring to counseling centers in Mahshahr. The results of the analysis of research findings indicate the effectiveness of this intervention on all three components of marital conflict, marital intimacy, and family functions. Explaining the results, it can be said that the intervention strategies used in couple behavioral therapy emphasize more on the emotional reactions of couples to the differences and conflicts resulting from it. The main purpose of this intervention is to create emotional acceptance of couples toward the current disputes between them and the differences that can always exist. In integrated marital counseling sessions, the therapist helps couples understand their role in creating and perpetuating marital problems by creating a standard view of them and considering them mutual. Integrated behavioral couple therapy helps couples live in the present and focus on their current feelings and situation instead of dealing with the past and the future. It also assists them do not confine their success simply to marriage and marital status and modifying their dysfunctional and destructive thoughts and beliefs. The result of these modifications and changes is the improvement of the functioning of the couple's family (28).