نشریه پرستاری ایران (Oct 2016)
The Effect of Relationship Enhancement Program (REP) on Reducing Marital Conflicts of Dual- Career Couples
Abstract
Abstract Background & Aim: One of the most important factors that lead to maladjustment and conflict in marital life is relationship problem of couples, which is the result of lacking appropriate and necessary skills for establishing healthy and intimate relationships. The present research was conducted by the aim of investigating the effect of relationship enhancement program on reducing marital conflicts of dual-career couples. Materials & Methods: The current study uses quasi-experimental method; where-in pretest-posttest design with control group has been used. The population of the present research comprised of all married women employed in the department of education of Shahryar city in 2013, who demanded to participate in the training sessions. By using available sampling method, 20 of the female teachers who showed highest levels of conflict with their spouses in marital conflicts questionnaire of Barati and Sanaei were selected and they were placed in two groups of control and experiment by random assignment method. The sessions of relationship enhancement program were held in 8 sessions in groups for the experiment group, but the control group did not receive any intervention. The data were analyzed through methods of descriptive statistics and multivariate covariance analysis in SPSS v.16 software. Results: The results showed that the training of relationship enhancement program (REP) has led to significant decrease in marital conflicts among the women of the experiment group in the posttest stage (F = 13.92 & P > 0.01), and it has led to significant decrease in all the components of this variable, as well; including reduction of cooperation, reduction of sexual relationship, increased emotional reactions, increase in drawing child’s support, increased personal relationship with relatives, reduction of family relationship with relatives of spouse and friends, and separating financial matters from each other. Conclusion: Findings of the present research suggested that relationship enhancement program has been effective in reducing marital conflicts among dual-career couples. It is recommended that future studies examine the effectiveness of marriage enrichment program on marital variables.
