E-ISSN: 3041-8798 Director in Charge: Dr. Seyed Ali Darbani Editor-in-chief: Dr. Shokoh Navabinejad Associate editor: Dr. Seyed Ali Darbani Owner: Iranian Association for Women's Studies Publisher: KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) Contact Email: aftjournal@gmail.com / aftjournal@kmanpub.com Open Access: YES Applied Family Therapy Journal is a scientific open access double-blind anonymous open (since 2024) peer-reviewed journal publishing original articles, reviews, short communications and scientific reports of a high scientific and ethical standard in psychology, counseling and related academic disciplines. This journal is published four times per year in English by Iranian Association for Women's Studies and KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB). Since 2024, this journal only accepts and publishes articles in English and no longer publishes Persian articles. The research fields and topics within the activity framework of AFTJ include: Family counseling and couple therapy Women counseling Children and adolescent counseling Rehabilitation counseling in the field of family Marriage and youth counseling Divorce counseling Children and adolescent counseling Counseling about addiction in the family About the Publisher Publisher: KMAN Publication Inc. Publisher Office: Unit 5‑10825 Yonge St, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, L4C 3E3 https://journals.kmanpub.com Email: kmanpu@kmanpub.com Telegram: +1 (647) 656‑4401 | WhatsApp: +1 (437) 429‑3507 Germany Office: Dratelnstrasse, Wohnung A60, 21119 Hamburg, Germany (+4915207720487)
Machine Learning Modeling of Parental Decision-Making Under Stress and Its Impact on Child Outcomes
Objective: The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate machine learning models of parental decision-making under stress to predict child behavioral and academic outcomes among Malaysian families. Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional predictive study was conducted among 487 parent–child dyads recruited from urban and suburban regions of Malaysia. Parents completed standardized measures of parenting stress, stress-based decision-making, emotional regulation, family functioning, and contextual characteristics, while child outcomes were assessed using validated behavioral and academic indicators obtained from parents, teachers, and school records. Data were preprocessed and analyzed using multiple supervised machine learning algorithms, including random forest, gradient boosting, support vector machine, and deep neural network models. Model performance was evaluated using nested cross-validation procedures, and feature attribution techniques were applied to identify the most influential predictors. Structural equation modeling was additionally conducted to examine theoretical pathways among core variables. Findings: The deep neural network achieved the highest predictive accuracy for both child behavioral difficulties (AUC = 0.96, F1 = 0.91) and academic performance (AUC = 0.92, F1 = 0.85), outperforming all comparison models. Parental stress and stress-based decision consistency emerged as the strongest predictors of child outcomes, followed by family cohesion, parental emotional regulation, and economic stability. The structural model demonstrated that parental decision-making quality significantly mediated the relationship between parental stress and both child behavioral and academic outcomes, with the full model explaining 62% of the variance in behavioral difficulties and 58% of the variance in academic performance. Conclusion: The findings indicate that parental decision-making under stress constitutes a central predictive mechanism shaping child development and that machine learning models provide powerful tools for identifying families at heightened developmental risk, thereby supporting early intervention and precision-based family support strategies.
Explainable AI Identification of Protective Family Factors Against Adolescent Substance Abuse
Objective: The objective of this study was to employ explainable artificial intelligence to identify and quantify the most influential protective family factors associated with reduced risk of adolescent substance abuse among adolescents. Methods and Materials: This study adopted a cross-sectional predictive-analytic design involving 684 adolescent–caregiver dyads recruited from public schools, community youth centers, and family health clinics across Michigan. Adolescents aged 13–18 years and their primary caregivers completed a comprehensive battery of validated psychosocial assessments measuring substance use behaviors, parental monitoring, emotional warmth, family cohesion, quality of communication, parental norms against substance use, conflict resolution skills, and household stability. Data were analyzed using advanced supervised machine learning algorithms, with gradient boosting selected as the optimal model based on performance indices. Explainable artificial intelligence techniques, including SHAP analysis, were applied to interpret model outputs and identify the relative contribution and interaction of protective family factors. Findings: The final model demonstrated high predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.93; F1-score = 0.87), indicating strong discriminative ability in identifying adolescents at reduced risk of substance abuse. Parental monitoring emerged as the most influential protective factor, followed by emotional warmth, quality of parent–adolescent communication, family cohesion, and parental norms against substance use. Significant interaction effects were observed, particularly between parental monitoring and emotional warmth, yielding a 34.6% reduction in predicted substance abuse risk. Nonlinear patterns revealed threshold effects whereby moderate improvements in core family processes produced substantial decreases in risk probability. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that explainable artificial intelligence provides powerful and interpretable insights into the complex family mechanisms protecting adolescents from substance abuse.
Recurrent Neural Network Forecasting of Marital Satisfaction Under Economic Stress Conditions
Objective: The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a recurrent neural network model for forecasting longitudinal changes in marital satisfaction among couples experiencing economic stress. Methods and Materials: This longitudinal predictive study examined 540 married couples from major urban regions of Argentina over a twelve-month period. Participants completed four waves of assessment measuring marital satisfaction, economic stress, perceived stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms, social support, and objective financial indicators. Data were preprocessed and structured into temporal sequences for each couple. A long short-term memory recurrent neural network was trained to predict future marital satisfaction based on prior economic and psychological states. Model performance was evaluated using root mean squared error, mean absolute error, and explained variance, and compared with linear regression, random forest, and support vector regression baselines. Findings: The recurrent neural network significantly outperformed all baseline models, achieving an R² of 0.81 and reducing prediction error by more than 30%. Economic stress was the strongest predictor of marital satisfaction trajectories, followed by perceived stress and social support. The model revealed delayed and cumulative effects of financial strain on marital satisfaction, with peak relational impact occurring two to three months after major stress changes. High predictive accuracy was maintained across socioeconomic groups. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that marital satisfaction under economic stress follows complex nonlinear temporal patterns that can be accurately forecasted using recurrent neural networks, providing a powerful framework for early identification of couples at risk and informing targeted interventions.
Machine Learning Modeling of Family Communication Structures and Emotional Influences
Objective: The objective of this study was to develop and validate a machine learning–based predictive model of how family communication structures influence family emotional climate and adolescent emotional outcomes. Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted with 548 family dyads from urban and suburban regions of Taiwan. Adolescents and their primary caregivers completed validated measures assessing family communication patterns, emotional climate, parental stress, and adolescent emotional outcomes. Data were analyzed using multiple supervised machine learning algorithms, including random forest, gradient boosting, support vector regression, elastic net regression, and neural networks. Model training employed nested cross-validation with an 80/20 train–test split. Feature importance and interpretability were examined using permutation importance, SHAP values, and partial dependence analysis. Structural equation modeling was used to validate theoretically derived emotional pathways identified by machine learning models. Findings: Neural network and gradient boosting models achieved the highest predictive accuracy for family emotional climate and adolescent emotional outcomes, explaining up to 76% of outcome variance. Emotional warmth and conversation orientation emerged as the strongest predictors of adolescent emotional regulation, while parental stress exerted a significant negative effect on family emotional climate. Structural equation modeling confirmed both direct and indirect effects of communication structures on adolescent outcomes mediated by family emotional climate, with all primary pathways reaching high statistical significance. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that family communication structures operate as a complex emotional regulatory system shaping adolescent development, and that machine learning provides a powerful methodological framework for modeling these dynamic processes and informing early intervention strategies.
Hybrid Machine Learning Framework for Predicting Family Adaptation to Chronic Illness
Objective: The objective of this study was to develop and validate a hybrid machine learning framework for accurately predicting family adaptation to chronic illness using integrated psychosocial, relational, and clinical indicators. Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional study recruited 812 family caregivers of patients with chronic illnesses from major healthcare centers in Chile using multistage cluster sampling. Data were collected through standardized measures assessing family functioning, caregiver burden, psychological distress, social support, and illness characteristics. A hybrid machine learning architecture integrating gradient boosting, random forest, support vector machine, and a meta-learning classifier was developed. Data were preprocessed using normalization, multiple imputation, and feature selection. The dataset was partitioned into training, validation, and testing subsets. Model training employed five-fold cross-validation with Bayesian hyperparameter optimization. Model interpretability was enhanced through explainable artificial intelligence techniques including SHAP analysis. Findings: The hybrid model achieved high predictive performance on the independent test set, with an accuracy of 0.893, F1-score of 0.884, and AUC of 0.921, significantly outperforming individual machine learning models. Family functioning, caregiver burden, psychological distress, symptom severity, and social support emerged as the most influential predictors. The model demonstrated strong discriminative capacity between low, moderate, and high family adaptation levels and exhibited excellent calibration. Conclusion: The proposed hybrid machine learning framework provides a robust, interpretable, and clinically valuable tool for early identification of families at risk of maladaptation to chronic illness, offering significant potential for improving family-centered care and psychosocial intervention planning.
Explainable AI Prediction of Parenting Self-Efficacy from Socio-Emotional Family Dynamics
Objective: The objective of this study was to develop and interpret an explainable artificial intelligence model for predicting parenting self-efficacy from socio-emotional family dynamics among parents in Greece. Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 438 parents of children aged 6–16 years recruited from multiple urban and semi-urban regions of Greece using multi-stage cluster sampling. Participants completed standardized measures assessing parenting self-efficacy, parenting stress, emotion regulation, family emotional cohesion, parent–child attachment, coparenting quality, family conflict, family expressiveness, and perceived social support. Data preprocessing included normalization, multiple imputation, and feature selection. Predictive modeling was performed using an ensemble learning architecture integrating gradient boosting, random forest, and elastic net regression. Model training employed nested cross-validation with an 80/20 train–test split. Model interpretability was ensured through the application of explainable AI techniques, including SHAP and LIME. Findings: The ensemble model demonstrated strong predictive performance (R² = 0.79, RMSE = 0.24, MAE = 0.18). Parenting stress and emotion regulation difficulties emerged as the most influential negative predictors of parenting self-efficacy, while family emotional cohesion, parent–child attachment security, and coparenting quality were the strongest positive predictors. Significant interaction effects were observed, particularly between parenting stress and emotion regulation (ΔR² = 0.061), indicating that effective emotional regulation substantially buffers the adverse impact of stress on parental confidence. Conclusion: The findings highlight the central role of emotional and relational processes in shaping parenting self-efficacy and demonstrate the value of explainable artificial intelligence for modeling complex family systems with both high predictive accuracy and theoretical transparency.
Early Detection of Family Violence Risk Using Ensemble Machine Learning on Psychosocial and Demographic Indicators
Objective: The objective of this study was to develop and validate an ensemble machine learning framework for the early detection of family violence risk based on psychosocial and demographic indicators among South African households. Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional predictive study recruited 1,198 adults from urban, peri-urban, and rural regions of South Africa using stratified multistage sampling. Participants completed a comprehensive assessment battery measuring demographic characteristics, socioeconomic conditions, psychosocial functioning, relational dynamics, and behavioral risk indicators. Data preprocessing included cleaning, normalization, multiple imputation, and feature engineering. The dataset was partitioned into training and test sets, and class imbalance was addressed using synthetic oversampling. Four supervised machine learning models—random forest, gradient boosting, extreme gradient boosting, and support vector machine—were trained using five-fold cross-validation and Bayesian hyperparameter optimization. An ensemble model integrating these classifiers was constructed and evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Findings: The ensemble model significantly outperformed all individual classifiers, achieving an accuracy of 0.917, precision of 0.904, recall of 0.896, F1-score of 0.900, and AUC of 0.958. Inferential comparisons indicated statistically meaningful improvements in sensitivity and discrimination over the strongest single model. Feature importance analysis revealed that family conflict frequency, emotional regulation difficulty, perceived stress, substance use severity, depression symptoms, and parenting stress were the most influential predictors of violence risk. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that ensemble machine learning provides a highly effective and interpretable framework for early identification of family violence risk, offering substantial potential for proactive prevention and targeted intervention in high-vulnerability populations.
Bayesian Network Modeling of Family Stress, Economic Pressure, and Child Adjustment Outcomes
Objective: The objective of this study was to identify and quantify the probabilistic pathways through which economic pressure and family stress influence multiple domains of child adjustment within Tunisian families using Bayesian network modeling. Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 416 families recruited from urban and semi-urban regions of Tunisia, each consisting of one primary caregiver and one child aged 9–14 years. Data were collected using standardized, culturally adapted measures assessing economic pressure, family stress, and child emotional, behavioral, social, and prosocial adjustment. A multi-informant protocol was implemented, combining caregiver reports, child self-reports, and demographic questionnaires. Bayesian network analysis was applied to model conditional dependencies among study variables. Structure learning employed a hybrid constraint-based and score-based algorithm, and parameter estimation was performed using Bayesian inference. Model stability was examined through bootstrap resampling, and predictive validity was evaluated using k-fold cross-validation and classification accuracy indices. Findings: The Bayesian network revealed a dominant pathway from economic pressure to family stress with high posterior probability, followed by strong conditional effects of family stress on child emotional problems, conduct problems, peer difficulties, and prosocial behavior. Family stress emerged as the central mediating construct linking economic conditions to child outcomes. Emotional problems functioned as a key transmission node predicting peer difficulties. The model demonstrated high predictive accuracy across all child adjustment domains, with excellent discrimination between high-risk and low-risk profiles. Conclusion: The findings confirm that economic pressure exerts pervasive influence on child development primarily through its impact on family stress processes.
Support Vector Machine Classification of Dysfunctional Family Systems Based on Psychological Assessment Data
Objective: The objective of this study was to develop and validate a Support Vector Machine (SVM) model for the accurate classification of dysfunctional family systems using multidimensional psychological assessment data. Methods and Materials: This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 376 families in Armenia, including adolescents and their primary caregivers. Participants completed standardized psychological instruments assessing family functioning, parenting practices, parental stress, adolescent emotional and behavioral adjustment, and relational quality. A composite family dysfunction index was generated and used as the classification target. Data were preprocessed through normalization, imputation, and feature selection. The dataset was divided into training, validation, and test sets using stratified sampling. An SVM model with radial basis function kernel was trained and optimized through grid search and cross-validation. Model performance was evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Feature contributions were interpreted using SHAP analysis. Findings: The SVM model achieved an accuracy of 0.913, precision of 0.904, recall of 0.921, F1-score of 0.912, and AUC of 0.948 on the test dataset. Comparative analysis indicated that the SVM significantly outperformed logistic regression, k-nearest neighbors, and random forest classifiers (p < .05). Feature importance analysis revealed that family functioning, parental stress, adolescent behavioral difficulties, parenting inconsistency, and marital adjustment were the strongest predictors of family dysfunction classification. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that SVM-based machine learning provides a highly accurate and robust framework for identifying dysfunctional family systems, offering substantial potential for early detection, targeted intervention, and data-driven mental health decision-making in family psychology and public health practice.
Deep Learning Analysis of Family Communication Networks and Adolescent Risk Behavior Prediction
Objective: The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a deep learning model capable of predicting adolescent risk behavior based on the structural and relational characteristics of family communication networks. Methods and Materials: This applied, predictive study employed a mixed-methods design with a dominant quantitative approach and was conducted among 782 high school students aged 14–18 years in Georgia, United States. Multi-stage cluster sampling was used to ensure demographic representation. Data were collected using standardized instruments assessing family communication quality, parental monitoring, emotional expressiveness, conflict resolution, and adolescent risk behaviors. Family interactions were transformed into weighted communication networks and analyzed using a hybrid deep learning architecture integrating graph neural networks and long short-term memory models. Model performance was evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, with comparative analysis against traditional machine learning models. Findings: The deep learning model achieved high predictive performance (test accuracy = 0.87; AUC = 0.90), significantly outperforming random forest, support vector machine, and logistic regression models. Communication openness, network density, and parental monitoring emerged as the strongest predictors of adolescent risk behavior. Explainable AI analysis confirmed that fragmented communication networks and negative emotional tone substantially increased predicted risk levels. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that adolescent risk behavior can be accurately predicted through deep learning analysis of family communication networks, highlighting the critical importance of relational structure and communication quality in prevention and early intervention strategies.
Examining the Relationship Between Emotion Regulation Difficulties and Marital Burnout With the Mediating Role of Intimacy Styles in Couples Applying for Divorce
Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the structural relationships between emotion regulation and marital burnout with the mediating role of intimacy styles among couples seeking divorce. Methods and Materials: This applied study employed a descriptive–correlational design using structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of 500 individuals (250 couples) applying for divorce who referred to the Dispute Resolution Councils of Robat Karim and Parand in 2025, from whom participants were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the Marital Intimacy Scale (MIS), and the Couple Burnout Measure (CBM). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and AMOS (Version 24). Model fit was evaluated through multiple indices including CMIN/DF, GFI, CFI, NFI, and RMSEA. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Findings: Structural equation modeling indicated that emotion regulation had a significant positive effect on intimacy styles (β = 0.289, p < .001) and a significant negative direct effect on marital burnout (β = −0.221, p < .001). Intimacy styles exerted a significant negative effect on marital burnout (β = −0.259, p < .001). Bootstrap analysis confirmed that intimacy styles significantly mediated the relationship between emotion regulation and marital burnout (indirect effect β = −0.075, p = .009), with a total effect of β = −0.296. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that difficulties in emotion regulation substantially increase marital burnout both directly and indirectly through the erosion of marital intimacy, highlighting intimacy as a critical mechanism linking emotional processes to relational deterioration in divorce-seeking couples.
Copyright (c) 2025 Toktam Tayebi (Author); Hamidreza Vatankhah (Corresponding Author); Hooshang Jadidi (Author)
Designing a Model of Marital Violence in Women
Objective: The present study aimed to design and validate a comprehensive, multidimensional model of marital violence among women referring to welfare and social support services in Kermanshah. Methods and Materials: This study employed a qualitative applied design using grounded theory methodology. The research population consisted of women who had experienced marital violence and referred to social emergency services, counseling centers, and welfare-related support units in Kermanshah during 2023–2024. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling was used, and data collection continued until theoretical saturation was achieved, resulting in 23 interviews with women victims of marital violence. In addition, 10 experts in psychology, counseling, and family studies participated in the content validation phase of the extracted model and educational protocol. Data analysis was conducted using MAXQDA 2024 Pro software following open, axial, and selective coding procedures. Findings: Data analysis led to the identification of 12 core categories organized into three higher-order dimensions: causal factors, contextual and intervening conditions, and manifestations of marital violence. The model revealed that marital violence is a multidimensional phenomenon encompassing physical, verbal, emotional, sexual, psychological, economic, and social violence, with control and domination functioning as a central organizing mechanism. Economic stressors, gender discrimination, lack of empathy, psychological problems, family history, forced marriage, addiction, and absence of support networks were identified as key drivers and sustaining factors of violence. The integration of these components formed a coherent explanatory framework suitable for intervention design. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that marital violence is a complex, multidimensional process shaped by interacting individual, relational, and socio-cultural factors, underscoring the necessity of comprehensive, culturally responsive intervention models for prevention and support.
Copyright (c) 2025 Morteza Koohi (Author); Jahangir Karami (Corresponding Author); Hasan Amiri (Author)
Development and Evaluation of a Family-Centered Psychological Intervention Program on Self-Worth in Women with Substance Use Disorder
Objective: The present study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally adapted family-centered psychological intervention program in improving self-worth and its components among women with substance use disorders. Methods and Materials: This research employed a mixed-methods design. In the qualitative phase, a descriptive phenomenological approach was used, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 addiction specialists and therapists in Tehran, which were analyzed using Colaizzi’s thematic analysis method. The extracted themes informed the development of a 12-session family-centered psychological intervention program whose content validity was confirmed using CVR and CVI indices. In the quantitative phase, a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group was implemented. Thirty women with substance use disorders were selected from addiction treatment centers in Tehran and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). The Self-Worth Scale was administered before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using multivariate and univariate analyses of covariance in SPSS. Findings: Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed a significant overall effect of the intervention on posttest self-worth and its components (p < .001). Univariate ANCOVA indicated significant improvements in total self-worth, family support, competition and achievement, physical appearance, divine love, academic competence, virtue and moral integrity, and approval from others in the experimental group compared with the control group (all p < .01), with large effect sizes. Conclusion: The family-centered psychological intervention was highly effective in enhancing self-worth and multiple dimensions of psychological functioning in women with substance use disorders, highlighting the central role of family processes in addiction recovery and psychosocial rehabilitation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mahya Matini Motahhar (Author); Gholam Ali Afrooz (Corresponding Author); Somayeh Shahmoradi (Author)
Discovery of Factors Influencing Marital Dissatisfaction in Spouses of Military Personnel
ABSTRACT Objective: The present study aimed to identify the factors influencing marital dissatisfaction among spouses of military personnel. Method: This study employed a qualitative research design, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The statistical population consisted of spouses (women) of military personnel residing in the city of Isfahan in 2025. The participants were selected using purposive sampling. After conducting interviews with 12 spouses (women) of military personnel, the factors influencing marital dissatisfaction were identified and data saturation was achieved. Data analysis was performed using the thematic analysis method proposed by Stirling (2001), and the themes were categorized into three levels: basic, organizing, and global themes. Findings: Based on the findings of the study, the basic themes comprised 50 concepts, the organizing themes included 11 concepts, and the global themes were classified into three overarching categories entitled individual factors, spouse-related factors, and spouse’s occupational factors, which were identified and extracted. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, identifying and understanding the factors influencing marital dissatisfaction among spouses of military personnel can contribute to the reduction of marital dissatisfaction and enhance individuals’ awareness of the issues and challenges associated with marriage to military personnel in premarital counseling.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammad Mahdi Eftekhari (Author); Fatemeh Shirvani (Corresponding Author); Zahra Fathi Kilisani, Raheleh Mosayeb Khozani (Author)
Thematic Analysis of the Concept of Marital Jealousy among High-Conflict Couples
Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a model of marital jealousy reduction dimensions underlying jealousy regulation among couples. Methods and Materials: This qualitative study employed a thematic analysis approach to explore the lived experiences of high-conflict couples who reported successful jealousy reduction. Participants were selected through purposive sampling from family counseling centers, and data were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted until theoretical saturation was achieved. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using an inductive–deductive coding strategy following Attride-Stirling’s thematic network model. MAXQDA software was used to manage and organize data. Trustworthiness was ensured through triangulation, negative case analysis, peer debriefing, member checking, and intercoder reliability assessment using Cohen’s kappa coefficient. Findings: The analysis yielded a four-dimensional model of marital jealousy reduction consisting of individual, dyadic, familial, and social dimensions. Each dimension comprised several principal themes that interacted in a dynamic, circular pattern. Individual factors included emotional self-regulation, optimistic meaning-making, spiritual orientation, personal growth, and mature defense mechanisms. Dyadic processes involved marital satisfaction, intimate communication, compassionate commitment, adaptive stress management, sexual enrichment, and constructive engagement with external relationships. Familial influences encompassed supportive conflict management, emotional and material backing, healthy family-of-origin functioning, and strong endorsement of marital stability. Social determinants included public awareness, access to professional counseling services, and broader socioeconomic conditions. Conclusion: Marital jealousy reduction emerges as a complex systemic process shaped by reciprocal interactions across personal, relational, familial, and societal levels, underscoring the necessity of integrated, multilevel interventions in both clinical practice and social policy.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hamideh Samani (Author); Mahmoud Goudarzi (Corresponding Author); Omid Moradi (Author)
Identification and Ranking of Factors Influencing Parental Role Conflict in One-Child Families
Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify and rank the psychological, relational, and contextual factors contributing to parental role conflict in one-child families. Methods and Materials: This research employed a sequential mixed-method design consisting of two complementary phases. In the qualitative phase, a systematic literature review was conducted, and the extracted data were analyzed using NVivo 14 through open, axial, and selective coding until theoretical saturation was achieved. Seven main thematic categories were identified: Parenting Expectations and Role Strain, Emotional Regulation and Stress Management, Marital Relationship Dynamics, Socioeconomic and Cultural Pressures, Child-Centered Dependency, Psychological Well-being of Parents, and Support Systems and Coping Resources. In the quantitative phase, a structured questionnaire based on the qualitative results was administered to 230 parents of one-child families living in Tehran, selected through convenience sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 and the Friedman test to rank the importance of the identified factors. Findings: The Friedman test revealed significant differences in the ranking of factors influencing parental role conflict (p < 0.05). Parenting Expectations and Role Strain received the highest mean rank (6.35), followed by Emotional Regulation and Stress Management (5.92) and Marital Relationship Dynamics (5.48). Support Systems and Coping Resources was ranked lowest (3.71). The results highlight that intrapersonal and relational dimensions have a stronger predictive influence on role conflict than external socioeconomic conditions. Conclusion: Parental role conflict in one-child families is primarily driven by emotional and cognitive factors, particularly perfectionistic parenting expectations, emotional dysregulation, and marital tension. Addressing these determinants through psychological skills training, marital support, and social resource enhancement could significantly mitigate parental strain and improve family well-being.
Copyright (c) 2025 Seyedeh Zahra Abtahi (Corresponding Author)
Identifying Factors of Marital Commitment During Economic Stress: A Qualitative Study
Objective: This study aimed to explore and identify the psychological, relational, and cultural factors that sustain marital commitment among Hungarian couples experiencing significant financial adversity. Methods and Materials: A qualitative exploratory design was employed to capture the lived experiences of couples facing economic strain. Using purposive sampling, 21 married individuals from Hungary who had encountered major financial challenges in the past five years were recruited. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews, lasting between 45 and 75 minutes, focusing on participants’ coping strategies, communication patterns, and sources of resilience. Interviews continued until theoretical saturation was reached. All sessions were transcribed verbatim, translated from Hungarian into English when necessary, and analyzed using thematic analysis with the aid of NVivo 14 software. Rigorous strategies, including independent coding and reflective memoing, enhanced credibility and trustworthiness. Findings: Four overarching themes emerged from the analysis: emotional resilience, communication dynamics, adaptive coping strategies, and value and commitment anchors. Couples reported that trust, mutual reassurance, and emotional regulation were essential for enduring financial distress. Open financial dialogue and conflict de-escalation prevented misunderstandings and fostered teamwork. Adaptive coping included creative income generation, resourcefulness, and reliance on extended family and community networks. Cultural and moral anchors — such as shared belief systems, family responsibility, and a collective “us against the problem” mindset — provided a deeper sense of purpose and stability. These interconnected processes collectively explained how couples sustained long-term commitment despite economic challenges. Conclusion: Marital commitment during economic stress arises from a dynamic interplay of emotional, relational, and cultural resources. Understanding these protective processes can guide counseling, community interventions, and policy initiatives aimed at strengthening families facing financial hardship.
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Contexts of Power Asymmetry in Academic–Nonacademic Partner Dyads: A Qualitative Study
Objective: This study aimed to explore and interpret the relational contexts and mechanisms that create and sustain power asymmetry in romantic relationships where one partner is an academic professional and the other is nonacademic. Methods and Materials: A qualitative research design was employed using purposive sampling to recruit 20 Indonesian adults currently involved in academic–nonacademic romantic partnerships. Data were gathered through in-depth semi-structured interviews that focused on relationship dynamics, perceptions of influence and authority, and coping strategies. Interviews continued until theoretical saturation was reached, and all were transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was performed using NVivo 14 software. Codes were iteratively developed and clustered into subthemes and overarching themes to capture the multifaceted nature of power relations within these dyads. Credibility was ensured through member checking and peer debriefing. Findings: Analysis revealed three overarching themes: communication and intellectual exchange, social and cultural power dynamics, and emotional and relational balance. Participants reported that academic partners often held symbolic intellectual authority, creating conversational imbalance and feelings of exclusion. Social prestige linked to academic titles reinforced status differences, while financial contributions and career stability sometimes shifted power toward the nonacademic partner. Career mobility and relocation often disrupted the nonacademic partner’s professional development, fostering dependence and tension. Couples who actively validated each other’s contributions, translated disciplinary knowledge, and set explicit boundaries were better able to manage and renegotiate power imbalances. Conclusion: Power asymmetry in academic–nonacademic romantic dyads is dynamic and context-dependent, shaped by intellectual capital, mobility demands, and social recognition. Relational resilience emerges when couples address asymmetry openly and create strategies to balance influence and support.
Causes of Escalation in High-Arousal Conflicts Among Newlyweds: A Qualitative Exploration
Objective: This study aimed to explore the underlying emotional, relational, and contextual causes of escalation in high-arousal conflicts among newly married couples to better understand early marital vulnerability and inform preventive interventions. Methods and Materials: This qualitative research employed an exploratory–descriptive design using semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 24 newlywed individuals (married one to three years) residing in Mexico. Participants were recruited purposively to include variation in gender, socioeconomic status, and educational background. Interviews lasting 60–90 minutes were conducted in Spanish, audio-recorded with consent, and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis followed an inductive thematic approach supported by NVivo 14 software. Coding progressed from open codes to axial categories through constant comparison until theoretical saturation was reached. Trustworthiness was ensured via peer debriefing, audit trails, and reflective journaling. Findings: Four overarching themes explained conflict escalation: emotional triggers (e.g., jealousy, unresolved past hurts, insecurity, sudden mood shifts, financial anxiety), communication breakdowns (e.g., escalating criticism, defensiveness, stonewalling, misinterpretation of intent, digital miscommunication, failed repair), external stressors (e.g., family interference, work pressure, cultural perfectionism, major life transitions, socioeconomic strain), and individual coping patterns (e.g., avoidance of conflict, rumination, catastrophic thinking, power struggles, negative self-talk, inherited conflict scripts). Participants described how intense arousal impaired self-regulation and fueled reactive cycles, while contextual adversity drained emotional resources and exacerbated miscommunication. Conclusion: High-arousal conflict escalation among newlyweds arises from the interplay of heightened emotional vulnerability, ineffective communication strategies, external pressures, and maladaptive coping. Findings highlight the importance of addressing physiological arousal and emotion regulation, integrating cultural and contextual realities, and equipping couples with early skills to interrupt destructive cycles before they consolidate.
Causes of Desire Suppression and Sexual Avoidance in Postpartum Couples: A Qualitative Exploration
Objective: This study aimed to explore and explain the underlying physical, psychological, relational, and sociocultural factors contributing to sexual desire suppression and avoidance among postpartum couples. Methods and Materials: A qualitative exploratory design was adopted to capture the lived experiences of postpartum couples. Using purposive sampling, 18 married individuals (nine couples) from Taiwan who were between 12 and 24 months postpartum were recruited. Data were gathered through in-depth semi-structured interviews guided by open-ended questions about postpartum sexual changes, emotional experiences, and relational adjustments. Interviews were conducted face-to-face or via secure video conferencing, audio-recorded with consent, and transcribed verbatim. Data collection continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. NVivo 14 software was used for systematic coding and thematic analysis, employing iterative open, axial, and selective coding to develop categories and themes. Credibility was enhanced through member checking and peer debriefing, while dependability and confirmability were supported by an audit trail and reflexive memoing. Findings: Analysis revealed four overarching themes shaping sexual desire suppression and avoidance: (1) physical and hormonal changes after childbirth — including pain, fatigue, hormonal fluctuations, and body image dissatisfaction; (2) psychological and emotional adjustments — such as maternal identity shift, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and cognitive overload; (3) relational and communication challenges — including inequitable parenting roles, reduced intimacy, misaligned sexual expectations, and limited sexual communication; and (4) sociocultural and external pressures — notably cultural taboos, family interference, social comparison, insufficient sexual health education, and moral beliefs affecting sexual readiness. These themes interacted dynamically, reinforcing avoidance patterns and delaying sexual recovery. Conclusion: Sexual desire suppression and avoidance in the postpartum period result from the interplay of biological, psychological, relational, and cultural factors. Integrating sexual health counseling, mental health support, and culturally sensitive couple-based interventions into postpartum care could facilitate healthier sexual adaptation.
Strategies for Scaling Micro-Affections to Sustain Long-Term Bonding: A Qualitative Study of Hungarian Couples
Objective: This study aimed to explore and conceptualize the everyday strategies couples use to scale micro-affections—small, intentional acts of love and care—in order to sustain emotional closeness and long-term relational stability. Methods and Materials: A qualitative design with an exploratory, interpretive approach was employed. Twenty Hungarian participants (10 couples) in long-term romantic relationships, ranging from 5 to 22 years, were selected through purposive sampling. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted until theoretical saturation was reached. The interviews, lasting 60–90 minutes, explored couples’ practices for maintaining connection, emotional safety, and adapting to life transitions. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using a thematic approach supported by NVivo 14. Open, axial, and selective coding were applied to generate categories and subcategories, while constant comparison, memo writing, and member checking enhanced analytic rigor and trustworthiness. Findings: Three overarching themes emerged: nurturing everyday connection, sustaining emotional safety, and adaptive relationship growth. Couples sustained closeness through daily affectionate rituals, creative micro-gestures, and symbolic tokens of care. Emotional security was reinforced by responsive support, mutual vulnerability, quick conflict repair, gratitude, and respectful autonomy. Adaptive growth was maintained by updating love languages, co-creating future visions, sustaining playfulness, and integrating cultural traditions into evolving relational narratives. These strategies functioned as protective mechanisms against emotional distance and relational stagnation, enabling couples to maintain satisfaction despite external pressures and life transitions. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that sustaining long-term romantic stability relies on the intentional, iterative use of small-scale affectionate behaviors embedded within a safe and adaptive relational climate. Understanding these lived strategies enriches theoretical models of marital maintenance and provides culturally informed, actionable insights for couple therapy, relationship education, and prevention of disaffection.
Dimensions of Communication Breakdown in Digitally Mediated Relationships
Objective: This study aimed to explore the underlying dimensions, triggers, and relational consequences of communication breakdown in digitally mediated romantic relationships. Methods and Materials: The study employed a qualitative, descriptive–interpretive design based on semi-structured interviews with 25 participants (aged 22–43) residing in Hungary, who were currently or recently engaged in digitally mediated romantic relationships. Participants were selected through purposive sampling to ensure diversity in relationship status and digital communication usage. Data were collected through in-depth, open-ended interviews focusing on experiences of misunderstanding, conflict, and emotional distance in digital interactions. The interviews continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using NVivo 14 software. Through an inductive coding process, emerging patterns were categorized into main themes and subthemes reflecting the nature and mechanisms of communication breakdown. Findings: The thematic analysis yielded four core dimensions of communication breakdown: (1) message ambiguity and misinterpretation, characterized by unclear tone, emotional detachment, and misread digital cues; (2) conflict escalation and digital triggers, including public exposure, reactive messaging, and asynchronous argument cycles; (3) emotional disconnection and relationship drift, reflected in reduced intimacy, digital fatigue, and avoidance behaviors; and (4) technological mediation barriers, involving platform fragmentation, algorithmic interference, and privacy-related constraints. The results indicated that digital communication both enables and destabilizes intimacy by amplifying emotional uncertainty and reducing contextual understanding. Conclusion: Findings highlight the paradoxical role of technology as both a facilitator and disruptor of intimacy in modern relationships. Effective digital communication requires emotional regulation, boundary awareness, and mindful technology use. Addressing the psychological and technical dimensions of digital interaction can enhance relational stability and prevent emotional estrangement among partners.
Online Identity Management and Relational Closeness: The Mediating Role of Emotional Transparency
Objective: This study aimed to examine the direct and indirect effects of online identity management on relational closeness among social media users, with emotional transparency modeled as a mediating variable. Methods and Materials: A descriptive correlational research design was employed with 400 adult social media users in Egypt, selected according to the Morgan and Krejcie sample size table. Participants completed validated self-report scales assessing online identity management, emotional transparency, and relational closeness. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS-28 for descriptive and correlational statistics and AMOS-21 for structural equation modeling (SEM). Model fit was evaluated with χ², χ²/df, GFI, AGFI, CFI, TLI, and RMSEA. Findings: Online identity management correlated positively with both emotional transparency (r = .42, p < .001) and relational closeness (r = .37, p < .001). Emotional transparency was strongly associated with relational closeness (r = .56, p < .001). The SEM analysis showed an excellent model fit, χ²(73) = 143.62, χ²/df = 1.97, GFI = .93, AGFI = .90, CFI = .96, TLI = .95, RMSEA = .049. Online identity management significantly predicted emotional transparency (β = .42, p < .001) and relational closeness directly (β = .22, p = .002). Emotional transparency strongly predicted relational closeness (β = .51, p < .001) and mediated the relationship between online identity management and closeness (indirect β = .21, p < .001). The total effect of online identity management on relational closeness was moderate to strong (β = .43, p < .001). Conclusion: Findings demonstrate that while strategic online identity management helps build closeness, its impact is significantly strengthened by emotional transparency. By openly sharing genuine emotions, individuals transform managed digital personas into meaningful and intimate connections.
Attachment Avoidance and Intimacy Decline: The Mediating Role of Expressive Suppression
Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between attachment avoidance and intimacy decline in romantic relationships and to test whether expressive suppression mediates this relationship among adults in Kenya. Methods and Materials: A descriptive correlational design was adopted with a sample of 391 adults recruited from different counties in Kenya, determined using the Morgan and Krejcie sample size table. Participants completed standardized self-report instruments: the Experiences in Close Relationships–Revised (ECR-R) for attachment avoidance, the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) for expressive suppression, and the Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships (PAIR) Inventory for intimacy decline. Data analysis was conducted in two stages: bivariate relationships were tested using Pearson’s product–moment correlation coefficients in SPSS-27, and the hypothesized mediational model was examined using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with AMOS-21. Model fit was evaluated with multiple indices (χ²/df, GFI, AGFI, CFI, TLI, RMSEA). Findings: Attachment avoidance was strongly and positively associated with intimacy decline (r = .61, p < .001) and with expressive suppression (r = .54, p < .001). Expressive suppression was moderately correlated with intimacy decline (r = .48, p < .001). The SEM analysis showed excellent model fit (χ² = 112.47, df = 48, χ²/df = 2.34, CFI = .97, TLI = .96, GFI = .95, RMSEA = .058). Attachment avoidance had a significant direct effect on intimacy decline (β = .52, p < .001) and an additional indirect effect through expressive suppression (β = .16, p < .001), yielding a substantial total effect (β = .68, p < .001). Conclusion: These findings support attachment theory by confirming that expressive suppression functions as a key process linking avoidant relational orientations to intimacy erosion. The results highlight the importance of targeting emotional inhibition in interventions designed to maintain closeness and relational health across cultures.
Post-Traumatic Growth and Couple Resilience: Exploring the Mediating Role of Relational Meaning Making
Objective: This study aimed to examine whether relational meaning making mediates the relationship between post-traumatic growth and couple resilience among Brazilian couples who have experienced significant adversity or loss. Methods and Materials: A descriptive correlational design was applied with a sample of 404 adult participants from Brazil, recruited using the Morgan and Krejcie sample size guidelines to ensure adequate statistical power. Participants completed standardized instruments: the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Dyadic Meaning-Making Scale, and the Couple Resilience Inventory. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27 to compute descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficients and AMOS version 21 for Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test the hypothesized mediation model. Model fit was evaluated with multiple indices, including χ²/df, CFI, TLI, GFI, AGFI, and RMSEA. Findings: Post-traumatic growth showed a significant positive correlation with relational meaning making (r = .62, p < .001) and couple resilience (r = .54, p < .001). Relational meaning making was strongly associated with couple resilience (r = .68, p < .001). SEM results indicated good model fit (χ²/df = 1.78, CFI = .96, TLI = .95, RMSEA = .044). Post-traumatic growth had a direct effect on couple resilience (β = .27, p < .001) and on relational meaning making (β = .62, p < .001). Relational meaning making had a strong direct effect on couple resilience (β = .63, p < .001). The indirect effect of post-traumatic growth on couple resilience through relational meaning making was significant (β = .39, p < .001), increasing the total effect of post-traumatic growth on couple resilience (β = .66, p < .001). Conclusion: Findings suggest that while post-traumatic growth contributes to couple resilience, its impact is amplified when partners engage in shared sense-making about adversity. Strengthening relational meaning making may be a key therapeutic mechanism for enhancing resilience in couples coping with trauma.
Alexithymia and Relationship Dissatisfaction: The Role of Conflict Communication Patterns
Objective: To test a structural model in which alexithymia predicts relationship dissatisfaction both directly and indirectly through destructive conflict communication patterns among Malaysian adults. Methods and Materials: A descriptive correlational design was used with 423 adults in ongoing romantic relationships recruited across Malaysian states. Measures included the Toronto Alexithymia Scale–20 (TAS-20), the Communication Patterns Questionnaire (CPQ), and the Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI; reverse-scored to indicate dissatisfaction). Data screening confirmed statistical assumptions before analyses. IBM SPSS 27 was used for descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations, and AMOS 21 for structural equation modeling (SEM) with maximum likelihood estimation. Model fit was evaluated using χ², χ²/df, GFI, AGFI, CFI, TLI, and RMSEA; mediation was tested via indirect paths. Findings: Alexithymia correlated positively with destructive conflict communication (r = .56, p < .001) and relationship dissatisfaction (r = .48, p < .001); conflict communication correlated most strongly with dissatisfaction (r = .62, p < .001). The SEM demonstrated good fit: χ²(132) = 287.43, χ²/df = 2.18, GFI = .93, AGFI = .91, CFI = .96, TLI = .95, RMSEA = .053. Direct paths were significant from alexithymia → conflict communication (b = 1.12, β = .56, p < .001), alexithymia → dissatisfaction (b = 0.48, β = .29, p < .001), and conflict communication → dissatisfaction (b = 0.53, β = .48, p < .001). The indirect effect of alexithymia on dissatisfaction via conflict communication was significant (b = 0.59, β = .27, p < .001), yielding a total effect of β = .56 (p < .001), consistent with partial mediation. Conclusion: Alexithymia is a robust interpersonal risk factor for relationship dissatisfaction, and its impact is partly transmitted through destructive conflict communication. Findings highlight dual intervention targets—enhancing emotional awareness and improving conflict-management skills—to mitigate dissatisfaction in intimate relationships within a multicultural Malaysian context.
Effectiveness of a Mentalization-Based Relationship Enrichment Package Compared to Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy on Anxiety Sensitivity, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Anger Control in Infertile Couples
Objective: This study aimed to develop a Mentalization-Based Relationship Enrichment (MBRE) package and compare its effectiveness with Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) on anxiety sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty, and anger control among infertile couples. Methods and Materials: This research employed a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews with infertile couples and experts, along with thematic analysis, were used to develop the MBRE package. Content validity was confirmed using CVR and CVI indices. In the quantitative phase, a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group and three-month follow-up was conducted. Thirty-six infertile couples were selected purposively and randomly assigned to an MBRE group, an EFCT group, or a control group. Data were collected using the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale (IUS), and Novaco Anger Scale, and analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests. Findings: Repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant group × time interaction effects for all three variables (p < .001), indicating differential changes over time across conditions. Both MBRE and EFCT produced significant reductions in anxiety sensitivity and significant improvements in intolerance of uncertainty and anger control compared to the control group (p < .001). Bonferroni comparisons revealed that EFCT had a stronger effect than MBRE on reducing anxiety sensitivity at posttest and follow-up (p < .001). Both interventions maintained their beneficial effects at the three-month follow-up, demonstrating treatment stability over time (p < .001). Conclusion: Both MBRE and EFCT effectively reduced anxiety sensitivity and improved intolerance of uncertainty and anger control in infertile couples, with EFCT showing greater impact on anxiety sensitivity. The newly developed MBRE package presents a promising relational and emotional intervention for couples experiencing infertility-related distress.
Mentalization-Based Relationship Enrichment
Copyright (c) 2025 Somayeh Alsadat Mohamadian Masouleh (Author); Masoud Shahbazi (Corresponding Author); Mohamad Hosein Mohebi Nouredinvand , Seyedeh Zahra Alavi (Author)
Comparison of the Effectiveness of Premarital Counseling Based on Couples’ Care and the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) on Perfectionism and Attitudes Toward Marriage Among Individuals Approaching Marriage
Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of premarital counseling based on Couples’ Care (CARE) and the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) on perfectionism and attitudes toward marriage among individuals approaching marriage. Methods and Materials: This research employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group and a two-month follow-up. The statistical population included all individuals who sought premarital counseling at clinics in District 6 of Tehran during the first six months of 2024. From these, 45 participants were selected from the clients of the Shiwa Psychological and Counseling Clinic through multistage sampling and screening with standardized instruments. They were randomly assigned to three groups of 15 (CARE intervention, PREP intervention, and control). The instruments included the Hill Perfectionism Questionnaire (Hill, 2004) and the Bratton and Rosen Marriage Attitude Scale (Bratton & Rosen, 1998). Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc tests in SPSS-26. Findings: The findings showed that both premarital counseling approaches—CARE and PREP—significantly reduced perfectionism and improved attitudes toward marriage (p < .01). However, PREP demonstrated greater effectiveness across all variables, and its effects were more stable at the follow-up stage. The largest effect size was observed for negative perfectionism (η² = .601) under the PREP intervention. Moreover, attitudes toward marriage improved significantly more in the PREP group compared to the CARE group (p < .05). Conclusion: It was concluded that both approaches are effective; however, PREP, as a structured program, is more suitable than CARE-based premarital counseling for enhancing marital readiness in individuals approaching marriage. These findings may inform the design of premarital educational programs.
Copyright (c) 2025 Maryam Derakhshan Nejad (Author); Bahman Akbari (Corresponding Author); Maryam Mousavi (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Comparison of the Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Family Functioning and Attitudes Toward Extramarital Relationships in Infertile Marginalized Women in Tehran
Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) on family functioning and attitudes toward extramarital relationships in infertile marginalized women in Tehran. Methods and Materials: The research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest–posttest design, a two-month follow-up, and a control group. The statistical population included all infertile women who attended the clinic of Dr. Elina Bayramzadeh (gynecologist, obstetrician, and infertility specialist) in the second half of 2024. Out of 120 screened individuals, 45 participants were randomly assigned to three groups (15 in each): two experimental groups (EFT and CBT) and one control group. Research instruments included the Whatley Attitudes Toward Infidelity Scale (2006) and the Family Assessment Device by Epstein et al. (1983). Data were analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests in SPSS-26. Findings: Findings indicated that both interventions significantly improved family functioning and reduced attitudes favorable to extramarital relationships (p < .05). However, Emotion-Focused Therapy demonstrated greater effectiveness compared to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (p < .002). The effect size of EFT for family functioning (η² = .68) and attitudes toward extramarital relationships (η² = .81) was significantly larger than that of CBT. Moreover, the effects of both interventions remained stable at the follow-up stage. Conclusion: It was concluded that both therapeutic approaches are effective; however, Emotion-Focused Therapy holds superiority, particularly in enhancing emotional and relational variables. These findings can inform the design of targeted psychological interventions for infertile marginalized women.
attitudes toward extramarital relationships
Copyright (c) 2025 Mona Fadaei (Author); Bahman Akbari (Corresponding Author); Leila Moghtader (Author) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Role Ambiguity in Families and Parenting Efficacy: The Mediating Role of Spousal Support
Objective: This study aimed to examine the mediating role of spousal support in the relationship between role ambiguity and parenting efficacy among Indonesian parents. Methods and Materials: A descriptive correlational design was employed with 390 married parents recruited from community centers and networks across Indonesia. The sample size was determined using the Morgan and Krejcie table. Data were collected using standardized instruments for role ambiguity, spousal support, and parenting efficacy. Analyses included Pearson correlation coefficients using SPSS-27 to assess bivariate associations and structural equation modeling (SEM) with AMOS-21 to test the hypothesized mediation model. Model fit was evaluated using χ², χ²/df, CFI, TLI, GFI, AGFI, and RMSEA indices. Findings: Results revealed that role ambiguity was significantly and negatively correlated with both spousal support (r = –.41, p < .01) and parenting efficacy (r = –.36, p < .01). Spousal support was positively correlated with parenting efficacy (r = .52, p < .01). The SEM demonstrated good model fit (χ²/df = 1.94, CFI = .96, TLI = .95, RMSEA = .049). Path analysis showed that role ambiguity had a direct negative effect on parenting efficacy (β = –.24, p < .01) and spousal support (β = –.38, p < .01), while spousal support had a direct positive effect on parenting efficacy (β = .41, p < .01). Moreover, spousal support partially mediated the effect of role ambiguity on parenting efficacy through a significant indirect pathway (β = –.16, p < .01). Conclusion: The study confirms that role ambiguity undermines parenting efficacy both directly and indirectly, while spousal support strengthens parental confidence and mitigates the negative effects of unclear family roles. These findings highlight the importance of enhancing spousal support and clarifying family roles to foster effective parenting in collectivist contexts such as Indonesia.