Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment group therapy on marital distress, marital conflict and optimism in married women visited the counseling center of Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation in Kermanshah

Abstract

Aim: The study aimed at determining the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment group therapy on marital distress, marital conflict, and optimism. Methodology: The study was formed of quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest and follow-up. 24 married women with marital problems who visited the counseling center of Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation were selected and randomized into control and experimental groups based on group counseling standards (n=12 for each group). Research tools were Marital Satisfaction Inventory-Revised (MSI-R), Marital Conflict QuestionnaireRevised (R-MCQ), and Life Orientation Test- Revised (LOT-R). The experimental group participated in ten ACT group sessions. After the ending a posttest was carried out in both groups. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was performed to analyze the data. Findings: The results of the study showed that acceptance and commitment group therap At the post-test and follow-up stage cause reduces marital distress and marital conflict and increases the optimism. so acceptance and commitment group therapy is effective on marital distress (P<0.05), marital conflict (P<0.05), and optimism (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results emphasize the importance of the use of ACT group therapy in counseling centers and family education classes to solve marital problems in couples.

Keywords

• acceptance and commitment group therapy
• marital distress
• marital conflict
• optimism