A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Marital Satisfaction among Discordant Couples Referred to Psychological Counseling Centers

Ebrahim  Bana; Homeira SoleimanNejad; Vahid  Ahmadi

Authors

Ebrahim Bana PhD Student in Psychology, Department of Psychology, Il.C., Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5309-0057
Homeira SoleimanNejad Department of Psychology, Il.C., Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Iran Author
Vahid Ahmadi Department of Psychology, Il.C., Islamic Azad University, Ilam, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5777-1231

Keywords:

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Emotion Regulation, Marital Satisfaction, Discordant Couples

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on cognitive emotion regulation and marital satisfaction among discordant couples referred to psychological counseling centers in East Tehran.

Methods and Materials: This applied study used a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group and a one-month follow-up. The statistical population consisted of discordant couples referred to psychological counseling centers in East Tehran during 2024–2025. From 80 eligible individuals, 45 participants were selected through random sampling and randomly assigned to three groups of 15: CBT, ACT, and control. The experimental groups received eight 90-minute couple-therapy sessions, while the control group received no intervention during the study period. Data were collected using the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire and the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale at pretest, posttest, and follow-up. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons in SPSS version 26.

Findings: Repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant effects of time, group, and time × group interaction for cognitive emotion regulation, with F = 11.21, p = 0.001, partial η² = 0.44; F = 9.84, p = 0.001, partial η² = 0.38; and F = 7.53, p = 0.004, partial η² = 0.31, respectively. Significant effects were also found for marital satisfaction, with F = 14.31, p = 0.001, partial η² = 0.52; F = 12.11, p = 0.001, partial η² = 0.48; and F = 9.42, p = 0.002, partial η² = 0.39, respectively. Bonferroni comparisons indicated that both CBT and ACT significantly outperformed the control group at posttest and follow-up, while no significant differences were observed between CBT and ACT.

Conclusion: Both CBT and ACT were effective in improving cognitive emotion regulation and marital satisfaction among discordant couples, with no clear overall superiority of either intervention.