Objective: This study aimed to design a culturally grounded and scientifically validated process model for premarital counseling tailored to the sociocultural context of Iran. Methods and Materials: The research employed a qualitative methodology using the Delphi technique combined with thematic analysis and SWOT analysis to collect and analyze expert opinions. Twelve professionals—including psychologists, counselors, and executives in family-related institutions—were selected through purposive sampling. Data were gathered via semi-structured interviews, then coded and categorized into organizing and overarching themes. The resulting model was structured across five stages (education and awareness, psychological assessment, counseling interventions, post-marital follow-up, and final evaluation) and three functional levels (individual, interpersonal, and institutional). Findings: The data analysis yielded four overarching themes: (1) coherence and systematization of the counseling process, (2) the role of culture, family, and social factors, (3) quality, tools, and scientific standards, and (4) training of communication, cognitive, and emotional skills. Participants emphasized the lack of standardized national frameworks, the influence of cultural and familial values on counseling receptivity, and the need for technological innovation in service delivery. The proposed model integrated these insights by offering a staged, interdisciplinary, and culturally responsive counseling structure that bridges psychological rigor with institutional coordination. Conclusion: The developed model provides a comprehensive framework for premarital counseling that addresses both micro-level relational dynamics and macro-level systemic gaps. Its emphasis on cultural adaptability, psychological assessment, counselor training, and digital integration makes it a viable blueprint for enhancing counseling practices in Iran and similar contexts.

The purpose of the present study was to develop a marriage counseling model based on the trend and content of marriage counseling based on the opinion of marriage counseling experts. The research was qualitative and thematic analysis. The study population included all experts in marriage counseling. The method of selecting participants was purposive among the marriage counselors were renowned counselors of this specialty. The criterion of the number of participants was based on the principle of saturation. The method of data collection was semi-structured interview, which included questions related to the experience of counseling before marriage. The results of the content analysis (Clark & Braun, 2006) showed that expert-centered marriage counseling consisted of six main categories: cognition, skills, requirements, boundary shaping, power and control regulation, and intimacy. Based on the results it can be concluded that the expert marriage counseling model is a comprehensive model of used in marriage counseling.

Abstract Background & Aim: Premarital health counseling is very important in all communities, so lots of communities have special planning for this purpose. In premarital counseling, couples are educated on reproductive health such as sexual health and family planning to make them realize its role in their lives, in order to help family health promotion. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of counseling on girls’ awareness after participation in premarital health counseling program. Patients & Methods: In this semi-experimental study, girls’ knowledge about sexual health, family planning and usage of OCP and condom was first determined. Then subjects’ knowledge about the mentioned issues was measured again after their participation in premarital health counseling. The answers of both tests were evaluated and the mean and SD was calculated. Next, changes in grades mean from first to second phase were analyzed with Wilcoxon test. Samples were 600 girls who had been selected from participants in premarital health counseling program in health centers. Sampling method was continuous, the tool was questionnaire and the length of counseling program was 45 min. Results: Mean and standard deviation of sample age was 21.82±3.94. 47.4% of subjects had diploma, 76.6% were housewives and 12% of them had been informed of this program by mass media. Changes in grade mean of their knowledge about sexual health, correct use of OCP and condom were significant(P<0.0001), but this change was not significant for knowledge of family planning. Conclusion: Considering the importance of family planning and results of the present study, couples must be taught before marriage, so high school stage is a suitable time for this purpose. A prospective study on surveying the effect of premarital health counseling program is highly suggested by the researchers.

Purpose: The purpose of this research was to analyze the components of marriage counseling based on the methods and marriage counseling based on the theory of intergenerational integration of Bowen's theory and the constructivist theory of Savikas career counseling theory (constructivist premarital counseling). Materials and methods: The environment of this research was all the texts in the field of the mentioned theory. The method of selecting the texts was among the texts of Bowen's intergenerational family therapy theory and Savika’, s career counseling theory in the range of years (2013-2022). The criterion of the number of texts was based on the principle of data saturation. The method of collecting information was line by line study of texts, based on questions related to relevant components for premarital counseling in these two theories. The data obtained from the review of the texts were analyzed using the traditional content analysis method of Heish and Shannon (2005). Findings: The results of the content analysis showed that in the constructivist theory of Savikas, the concept of life designning and the concepts derived from it are suitable for matching with premarital counseling, and in the intergenerational theory, the seven concepts of selfdifferentiation, family projection, nuclear family emotional system, emotional breakdown, intergenerational transfer process and social regression are suitable for marriage counseling. Then, these concepts were combined according to Yousefi's and Golparvar’, s method (2023) for theoretical integration, and finally the premarital counseling model was designed based on the integrated model. Conclusion: In general, according to the process of extracting this model, it can be said that this model is qualitatively valid and can be evaluated at the level of designing an educational package and testing the variabels related to marriage.

Background and aim: The patterns of premarital counseling for law enforcement personnel are generally set without regard to the specific needs and problems of their married life. Therefore, this is the first study with the aim of designing a model of premarital counseling in the police force based on marital satisfaction. Method: The study was conducted in a quantitative manner with a qualitative approach and contextual method. The statistical population was couples living in the NAJA organizational town who were selected using purposive and voluntary sampling; Satisfied and dissatisfied couples were then screened using the 47 Enrique Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire. After interviewing 20 satisfied and dissatisfied couples, the couple's answers were saturated. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews. To determine the content validity, the interview questions were provided to the advisors and psychologists of NAJA to evaluate the questions according to the subject of study and transparency and comprehensiveness, and after applying the opinions of professors and experts; Questions corrected. To measure the reliability of qualitative data, not only was the recording of interviews and the accurate implementation of the interviews considered, but during the interview, the concepts received were constantly monitored with the respondents themselves. Background method (open, axial, selective coding) was used to analyze the findings. Results: Categories of premarital counseling model in NAJA based on marital satisfaction are; Competence, effective behavioral characteristics, job stress, support networks, basic skills training, personality habits related to police work and the category of evaluation and cognition was considered as the core and main category. Conclusion: This model is informative and preventive in nature. Its purpose is to equip couples with the ability to evaluate and recognize knowledge and skills to help them maintain and improve their relationship during marriage.

Choosing a spouse is one of the most complex and significant choices that most people face at least once in their lifetime. One of the reasons for incompatibility and persistence of problems between couples is the existence of early maladaptive schemas. Based on the schema therapy approach, there is a presumption that people use irrational and unrealistic criteria for choosing a spouse according to their schemas. The purpose of this study is to designing and validation a premarital counseling package based on the schema therapy approach. The development of premarital counseling package is practical in terms of purpose and is in the category of qualitative studies and content analysis. The statistical population includes books and articles that were selected based on the schema therapy approach and became the basis for studying and analyzing information due to their familiarity with the method and process of premarital counseling and “Reinventing your life” and “Schema therapy” books were purposefully selected as a statistical sample. Then, the premarital counseling package based on the schema therapy approach was developed and presented in the form of eight sessions, each session consisting of three parts goal, technique and task, for sixty minutes. The validity of this package was examined using the opinions of 11 expert professors in the field of research. To check the validity of this package, the content validity ratio index (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) were calculated, which are equal to 0.88 and 0.89, respectively. The results showed that this package has an acceptable validity and the components of this package can be correctly formulated and used in premarital counseling

The aim pf this study was to compare the effect of the premarital preparation program based on Olson’ s model and domestic premarital counseling package on couples’ problems during engagement period. This quasi-experimental study was performed using pretest, posttest and follow-up design with a control group. The statistical sample consisted of 45 couples during their engagement period in Yazd. They were selected by a purposeful sampling method and were assigned randomly into two experimental groups and one control group (15 couples each). All groups completed the Couples Problems Questionnaire during the pre-test, post-test and follow-up stages. Then, the difference between groups were compared by analysis of variance with repeated measures and a post hoc test. The results showed that the mean score of problems during engagement time in both experimental groups decreased significantly in post-test and follow-up phases (p<0. 0005), but there was no significant difference between the two experimental groups (p>0. 05). The findings of this study confirm the effectiveness of both the prem-arital preparation program based on Olson’ s Model and the domestic premarital package on reducing couples’ problem during engagement period.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Premarital Prepare counseling on marital satisfaction of Couples in Engagement Period. The research was quasi-experimental using control group, pre-and post test and follow-up design. Statistical sample was 30 couples in Engagement Period were selected by purposive sampling among couples settled in Yazd (spring 1396), and were randomly assigned into two controls and experimental groups. then the experimental group participated in 7 sessions for Premarital Prepare counseling. Both groups completed marital satisfaction questionnaire (ENRICH) in pre and posttest and follow-up. At the end, the results between 2 groups were compared through mixed analysis of variance. The results showed a significant increase in the mean of marital satisfaction in posttest in the experimental group (p<0. 05). The findings of this research, confirmed the effectiveness OF Premarital Prepare counseling on marital satisfaction of Couples in Engagement Period and it could be effective for determining counseling and educational planning for such couples.