Prediction of Marital Burnout Based on Automatic Negative Thoughts and Alexithymia among Couples

Abstract

Background & aim: Lack of objective expression of emotions leads to the experience of unpleasant thoughts and evocations, followed by the non-recognition of one’s emotions and feelings. This is identified as one of the most important factors accounting for marital conflicts. The purpose of this study was to predict marital burnout based on negative automatic thoughts and alexithymia among couples in Shiraz, Iran. Methods: This correlational study was conducted on 150 couples referring to four counseling centers located in districts 1 and 2 of Shiraz in 2018-2019. The study population was selected using a multistage cluster sampling method. The data were collected using the burnout measure developed by Pines, automatic negative thoughts questionnaire, and twenty-item Toronto alexithymia scale on a self-report basis. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 21) using regression analysis and Pearson correlation coefficient at a significance level of ≤ 0.05. Results: The results showed that the dimensions of an automatic negative thoughts could predict marital burnout positively and significantly (P≤0.05). The coefficient was obtained as 0.27, meaning that automatic negative thoughts, alexithymia, age, and education could predict marital burnout at 27%. Conclusion: Alexithymia and automatic negative thoughts could eventually lead to the elevation of dissatisfaction with marriage due to exerting a negative effect on maintaining a strong emotional relationship between partners.

Keywords

• marriage
• burnout
• thinking
• affective symptoms
• alexithymia