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)
Factors Influencing the Decision to Have Children in Iranian Military Families: A Qualitative Study
Objective: The present study was conducted to explain the dynamics of military families and the factors influencing childbearing within the context of Iranian society. Methods and Materials: This study was conducted using a qualitative approach based on grounded theory, employing the Strauss and Corbin paradigmatic model. The participants were selected from military families residing in Tehran, Iran. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews using purposive sampling with 18 members of military families. The data were analyzed in three stages of coding (open, axial, and selective) and categorized into main themes. Findings: Analysis of the participants’ interviews led to the identification of 13 selective categories, 38 axial categories, and 156 subcategories. Childbearing among military families is influenced by numerous inhibiting and encouraging factors, including economic costs, family support networks, generational continuity and national authority, commitment to the leadership discourse system, faith-based action, parents’ psychological capacity, parenting experience, organizational and occupational structure, coherence of population policies, transformation of contemporary lifestyles, and institutionalization of structural support. Conclusion: The findings of the study can assist policymakers and social planners in shifting their focus from general factors toward key and realistic components involved in the childbearing decision-making process and in designing supportive policies aimed at increasing family satisfaction and enhancing parents’ inclination and motivation toward childbearing.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nima Saberi (Author); Davoud Nodehi (Corresponding Author); Ahmad Salami (Author)
Comparing the Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Couple Therapy and Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy on Romantic Relationship Perfectionism in Couples with Conflict
Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral couple therapy and emotionally focused couple therapy on romantic relationship perfectionism among couples experiencing marital conflict. Methods and Materials: The present study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group and a three-month follow-up period. The statistical population consisted of all couples referring to counseling centers in Districts 21 and 22 of Tehran in 2025. Using purposive sampling and G*Power software, 45 couples meeting the inclusion criteria were selected and randomly assigned into two experimental groups and one control group, with 15 couples in each group. Data collection instruments included the Romantic Relationship Perfectionism Scale developed by Matte and Lafontaine (2012) and the Marital Conflict Questionnaire developed by Sanaei and Barati (1999). The first experimental group received cognitive-behavioral couple therapy based on Dattilio’s (2009) protocol in 10 sessions of 90 minutes, while the second experimental group received emotionally focused couple therapy based on Johnson’s (2012) model in 9 sessions of 90 minutes. The control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using mixed repeated-measures analysis of variance in IBM SPSS Statistics version 18. Findings: The results of mixed repeated-measures analysis of variance demonstrated significant effects of group, treatment stages, and the interaction between group and treatment stages on self-oriented and other-oriented romantic relationship perfectionism (p < .001). Both cognitive-behavioral couple therapy and emotionally focused couple therapy significantly reduced romantic relationship perfectionism compared to the control group. The Bonferroni post-hoc test indicated significant differences between pretest and posttest scores as well as between pretest and follow-up scores (p < .001), while no significant differences were observed between posttest and follow-up stages, indicating the stability of treatment effects. Furthermore, Tukey post-hoc comparisons revealed that cognitive-behavioral couple therapy was significantly more effective than emotionally focused couple therapy in reducing both self-oriented and other-oriented perfectionism (p < .05). Conclusion: The findings suggest that both cognitive-behavioral couple therapy and emotionally focused couple therapy are effective interventions for reducing romantic relationship perfectionism among couples with marital conflict; however, cognitive-behavioral couple therapy demonstrated greater effectiveness. These results highlight the importance of targeting maladaptive cognitive patterns, unrealistic relational expectations, and emotional interactional processes in therapeutic interventions for distressed couples.
Copyright (c) 2025 Davoud Zamani Khormandichali (Author); Asghar Noruzi (Corresponding Author); Kolsoum Akbarnataj Bisheh (Author)
Investigating the Effectiveness of Schema Therapy on Intolerance of Uncertainty, Rejection Sensitivity, and Self-Critical Rumination in Women Victims of Emotional Abuse
Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of schema therapy on intolerance of uncertainty, rejection sensitivity, and self-critical rumination among women victims of emotional abuse. Methods and Materials: In terms of purpose, this study was applied research, and in terms of design, it was a quasi-experimental study employing a pretest–posttest design with follow-up and a control group. The statistical population consisted of all women victims of emotional abuse who referred to counseling centers, psychological clinics, and support centers for victims of unhealthy relationships in Tehran in 2025. The research sample was selected using purposive and convenience sampling methods and included 30 women who, after meeting the inclusion criteria and completing informed consent forms, were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). The experimental group received schema therapy intervention during 10 weekly 60-minute sessions, whereas the control group received no intervention during this period. Data were collected using the Intolerance of Uncertainty Questionnaire (Carleton et al., 2007), the Rejection Sensitivity Scale (Downey & Feldman, 1996), and the Self-Critical Rumination Questionnaire (Smart et al., 2016). The instruments demonstrated adequate validity and reliability in both Iranian and international samples. Data were collected at three stages, including pretest, posttest, and follow-up, and were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance in IBM SPSS Statistics. Findings: The findings indicated that schema therapy significantly reduced intolerance of uncertainty, rejection sensitivity, and self-critical rumination in the experimental group compared with the control group (p < .001), and these improvements remained stable at the follow-up stage. Furthermore, the large effect sizes and complete statistical power indicated the strong and robust effectiveness of the intervention. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that schema therapy is an effective approach for reducing the cognitive-emotional vulnerabilities of women victims of emotional abuse and may be implemented as an empowering psychological intervention in counseling and support service centers.
Copyright (c) 2025 Zivar Safdari Ghooshchi (Author)
Predicting Tendency Toward Risky Behaviors Based on Emotion Regulation Difficulties and Mentalization in Children of Divorce: The Mediating Role of Post‑Traumatic Growth and the Moderating Role of Family Communication Patterns
Objective:The present study aimed to predict tendencies toward risky behaviors based on difficulties in emotion regulation and mentalization in children of divorce, with the mediating role of post‑traumatic growth and the moderating role of family communication patterns. Methods and Materials:This descriptive–correlational study using path analysis was conducted in 2025. The statistical population consisted of children of divorce aged 15–18 years in Babol, from whom 300 participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using the Iranian Adolescents Risk‑Taking Scale (2011), Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (2004), Mentalization Questionnaire (2018), Post‑Traumatic Growth Inventory (1996), and Family Communication Patterns Questionnaire (1990). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients, path analysis, moderation analysis, and bootstrap procedures in SPSS and AMOS. Findings:The results indicated that difficulties in emotion regulation had a significant positive direct effect on risky behavior tendencies (β = 0.41, p < .001), whereas mentalization (β = −0.36, p < .001), post‑traumatic growth (β = −0.29, p < .001), and family communication patterns (β = −0.31, p < .001) had significant negative direct effects. Furthermore, family communication patterns significantly moderated the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and risky behaviors (β = −0.18, p < .001), as well as the relationship between mentalization and risky behaviors (β = −0.15, p < .01). Bootstrap results also confirmed the mediating role of post‑traumatic growth in the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and risky behaviors (β = 0.12, 95% CI [0.06, 0.19]) and between mentalization and risky behaviors (β = −0.12, 95% CI [−0.18, −0.05]). The proposed model demonstrated good fit to the data (CFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.94, RMSEA = 0.054). Conclusion:The findings suggest that children of divorce with greater difficulties in emotion regulation are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, whereas higher levels of mentalization, post‑traumatic growth, and constructive family communication patterns serve as protective factors. Therefore, interventions focused on improving emotion regulation, strengthening mentalization abilities, promoting post‑traumatic growth, and enhancing family communication patterns may help reduce risky behaviors among children of divorce.
Copyright (c) 2025 Seyedeh Nafiseh Mohseni Mansour (Author); Nasrin Kadkhoda (Corresponding Author); Bita Khelghati, Seyedeh Mahsan Miri , Mehrnoosh Ranjbar (Author)
Comparison of the Effects of Reality Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on the Resilience and Adjustment of Family Caregivers of Children with Autism
Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of reality therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy on resilience and adjustment among family caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Methods and Materials: This study was conducted using a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest format and a control group. The statistical population included all family caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder who were members of the Tehran branch of the Iran Autism Association. A total of 45 participants were selected through purposive sampling and assigned into three groups, including a reality therapy group (n = 15), a cognitive behavioral therapy group (n = 15), and a control group (n = 15). The experimental groups participated in eight weekly group intervention sessions, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale and the Sinha and Singh Adjustment Questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance in IBM SPSS Statistics. Findings: The results demonstrated that both reality therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy significantly improved resilience and adjustment among family caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder compared with the control group. The repeated measures analysis of variance indicated significant effects of time and the interaction between time and group for resilience and adjustment (p < 0.001). Bonferroni post hoc comparisons further revealed significant differences between each experimental group and the control group in posttest scores. However, no statistically significant difference was observed between the reality therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy groups regarding resilience and adjustment outcomes (p > 0.05), indicating that both interventions were equally effective. Conclusion: The findings suggest that both reality therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are effective interventions for improving resilience and adjustment among family caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder.
Copyright (c) 2025 Haniyeh Hossein Shiroudi (Author); Alireza Pirkhaefi (Corresponding Author)
The Effectiveness of Metacognitive Training on Distress Tolerance and Cognitive Dysregulation in Mothers of Children with Intellectual Disabilities
Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of metacognitive training on distress tolerance and cognitive dysregulation in mothers of children with intellectual disabilities. Methods and Materials: This study was an applied quasi-experimental research with a pretest–posttest design and a two-month follow-up including a control group. The statistical population consisted of all mothers of children with intellectual disabilities in Tabriz in 2025, from whom 30 participants were selected using purposive and convenience sampling methods. After meeting the inclusion criteria and providing informed consent, participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). The experimental group received 12 weekly sessions of metacognitive training based on Wells’ protocol (2017), each lasting 60 minutes, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Distress Tolerance Questionnaire (Simons & Gaher, 2005) and the Cognitive Dysregulation Questionnaire (Mason et al., 1995), administered at pretest, posttest, and follow-up stages. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) in SPSS version 27. Findings: The results of repeated measures ANOVA indicated significant effects of time, group, and time × group interaction on distress tolerance (F = 195.32, p < .001, η² = 0.875; F = 45.94, p < .001, η² = 0.621; F = 71.43, p < .001, η² = 0.718) and cognitive dysregulation (F = 280.98, p < .001, η² = 0.909; F = 30.82, p < .001, η² = 0.524; F = 98.78, p < .001, η² = 0.779). Multivariate analysis of variance also confirmed a significant main effect of time (F = 31.86, p < .001, η² = 0.485) and a significant time × group interaction (F = 44.92, p < .001, η² = 0.581). Bonferroni post hoc tests showed significant differences between pretest and posttest and between pretest and follow-up (p < .001), while no significant differences were observed between posttest and follow-up (p = 1.00), indicating stability of effects. Conclusion: Metacognitive training is an effective and stable intervention for increasing distress tolerance and reducing cognitive dysregulation in mothers of children with intellectual disabilities, and its effects remain sustained over time.
mothers of children with intellectual disabilities
Copyright (c) 2025 Khadijeh Zobeidizad (Author); Fahimeh Sattari (Corresponding Author)
Predicting Parenting Styles in Parents of Children with Intellectual Disabilities Based on Emotional Self-Regulation, Integrative Self-Knowledge, and Resilience
Objective: The present study aimed to predict parenting styles among parents of children with intellectual disabilities based on emotional self-regulation, integrative self-knowledge, and resilience. Methods and Materials: This study employed a descriptive correlational design. The statistical population consisted of parents of children with intellectual disabilities in Kermanshah in 2025. A multistage cluster sampling method was used to select participants from rehabilitation and occupational therapy centers, resulting in a final sample of 315 parents who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using standardized instruments, including the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, the Parenting Styles Questionnaire, the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Integrative Self-Knowledge Questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses in SPSS version 26. Findings: The results indicated that emotional self-regulation, integrative self-knowledge, and resilience significantly predicted parenting styles. Emotional self-regulation (β = -0.485, p < .001), integrative self-knowledge (β = -0.141, p < .05), and resilience (β = -0.131, p < .05) negatively predicted authoritarian parenting, with the model explaining 25.5% of the variance (R² = 0.255). For permissive parenting, emotional self-regulation (β = -0.229, p < .001) and integrative self-knowledge (β = -0.204, p < .001) were significant negative predictors, while resilience was not significant, and the model explained 15.4% of the variance (R² = 0.154). In predicting authoritative parenting, integrative self-knowledge (β = 0.194, p < .01) and resilience (β = 0.296, p < .001) were significant positive predictors, while emotional self-regulation was not significant (β = 0.092, p > .05), with the model explaining 10% of the variance (R² = 0.100). Correlation analyses also revealed significant relationships among the study variables. Conclusion: The findings suggest that emotional self-regulation, integrative self-knowledge, and resilience play important roles in shaping parenting styles among parents of children with intellectual disabilities, with adaptive psychological resources promoting authoritative parenting and reducing maladaptive styles.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sadaf Bakhti, Jahangir Karami (Author)
The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Marital Inhibition and Emotional Intimacy among Women in Second Marriages
Objective: The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on marital inhibition and emotional intimacy among women in second marriages. Methods and Materials: This study employed a quasi-experimental method using a pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of women in second marriages who referred to counseling centers in Tehran in 2026. Using convenience sampling, 28 participants were selected and randomly assigned into experimental (n = 14) and control (n = 14) groups. Data were collected using the Marital Inhibition Questionnaire and the Emotional Intimacy Questionnaire. The experimental group participated in eight weekly 90-minute sessions of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, whereas the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in IBM SPSS Statistics version 27 at a significance level of 0.05. Findings: The findings indicated that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy significantly reduced marital inhibition and increased emotional intimacy among women in second marriages. The results of covariance analysis for marital inhibition demonstrated a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the posttest phase (F = 9.412, effect size = 0.148). In addition, the covariance analysis results for emotional intimacy revealed a significant difference between the two groups following the intervention (F = 13.845, effect size = 0.193). The posttest mean scores showed that marital inhibition decreased and emotional intimacy increased in the experimental group compared with the control group. Conclusion: Based on the findings, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy was effective in improving emotional intimacy and reducing marital inhibition among women in second marriages. By increasing psychological flexibility, emotional acceptance, and adaptive interpersonal functioning, ACT may help remarried women establish healthier emotional relationships and reduce maladaptive controlling behaviors within marital interactions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Fatemeh Abedi Firouzjaei (Author); Mina Sadat Abdollahizade (Corresponding Author); Azadeh Armoon , Sohila Karimi , Maryam Ahmadimoghadam (Author)
Comparison of Compassion-Based Positive Couple Therapy and Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy on Emotional Experience Toward Spouse Among Young Couples in Tehran
Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of compassion-based positive couple therapy and emotionally focused couple therapy on emotional experience toward spouse among young couples in Tehran. Methods and Materials: This applied study employed a semi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group and a two-month follow-up phase. The statistical population consisted of young couples referring to counseling and psychological service clinics in District 5 of Tehran between July 2024 and March 2025. Using purposive sampling, 45 couples were selected and assigned into two experimental groups and one control group, with 15 couples in each group. The first experimental group received compassion-based positive couple therapy, while the second experimental group participated in emotionally focused couple therapy. Both interventions were implemented in fifteen two-hour sessions conducted twice weekly. The control group remained on a waiting list and received no intervention during the study period. Data were collected using the Emotional Experience Toward Spouse Questionnaire developed by Yusefi and Ghaffaralehi. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-26 through descriptive statistics, repeated measures analysis of variance, multivariate analysis of variance, and Bonferroni post hoc tests. Findings: The results indicated significant effects of group, time, and group-by-time interaction on positive and negative emotional experiences toward spouse (p < .001). Both compassion-based positive couple therapy and emotionally focused couple therapy significantly increased positive emotional experiences and reduced negative emotional experiences compared with the control group. Bonferroni post hoc comparisons demonstrated that the intervention groups achieved significantly better outcomes than the control group at the posttest stage (p < .001). Pairwise comparisons further revealed significant improvements from pretest to posttest and from pretest to follow-up in both intervention groups, while no significant differences were observed between posttest and follow-up stages, indicating the stability of treatment effects over time. Conclusion: The findings suggest that both compassion-based positive couple therapy and emotionally focused couple therapy are effective interventions for improving emotional experiences toward spouse among young couples. These approaches appear to strengthen emotional intimacy, emotional responsiveness, and adaptive emotional interactions while reducing negative emotional experiences and relational distress. Therefore, the application of emotion-centered and compassion-oriented therapeutic interventions may play an important role in promoting marital well-being and emotional stability among couples.
Compassion-Based Positive Couple Therapy
Copyright (c) 2025 Fatemeh Mehdipour (Author); Naser Amini (Corresponding Author); Marjan Albehbahani (Author)
Algorithmic Modeling of Caregiver Systemic Burden in Chronic Illness by Intersecting Partner Neuroticism and Dyadic Coping Mechanisms
Objective: To develop an algorithmic model predicting caregiver systemic burden by evaluating the complex, non-linear intersections between a care-recipient’s neuroticism and the couple’s dyadic coping mechanisms. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional, dyadic study design was utilized, comprising 214 caregiver/care-recipient dyads managing chronic illness in Yerevan, Armenia. Psychometric data were collected using the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) for caregiver burden, the Big Five Inventory-2 (BFI-2) for care-recipient neuroticism, and the Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI) for dyadic coping. Predictive modeling was conducted using a Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM) algorithm with the dataset partitioned into training ( ) and testing ( ) subsets, while SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) were employed to extract feature importance and interaction effects. Findings: The GBM model exhibited strong predictive performance, accounting for of the variance in caregiver systemic burden on the test set ( ), with a Root Mean Square Error ( ) of . SHAP analyses identified care-recipient neuroticism as the most potent predictor of burden (Mean ), followed by caregiver engagement in negative dyadic coping (Mean ) and illness duration (Mean ). Interaction analyses revealed that the detrimental impact of partner neuroticism was exponentially amplified by negative dyadic coping and significantly buffered by active supportive dyadic coping. Conclusion: Algorithmic modeling effectively demonstrates that caregiver systemic burden is a deeply interdependent phenomenon, highlighting that the psychological toll of a partner’s neuroticism is highly conditional upon the couple’s underlying dyadic coping architecture.
Copyright (c) 2026 Aishath Naseem (Author); Arman Sargsyan (Corresponding Author); Zuzana Hrivnáková (Author)
A Random Forest Analysis Predicting Intergenerational Attachment Insecurity from Parental Reflective Functioning and Childhood Trauma Phenotypes
Objective: The primary objective of this study was to utilize a Random Forest machine learning approach to predict the variance in intergenerational attachment insecurity using distinct childhood trauma phenotypes and multidimensional facets of parental reflective functioning. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional, correlational, and predictive design was employed with a community sample of Romanian primary caregivers of children aged to years. Data were collected via self-report instruments, including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) to assess five trauma phenotypes, the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (PRFQ) to evaluate mentalizing dimensions, and the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) alongside the Child Attachment Questionnaire (CAQ) to index intergenerational attachment insecurity. During data preprocessing, missing values were resolved using K-nearest neighbors imputation, and independent variables were subjected to Z-score standardization. A Random Forest regression algorithm was trained on an data split and evaluated on the remaining testing set, with feature importance mathematically derived via the mean decrease in node impurity. Findings: Descriptive statistics indicated that emotional neglect was the most frequently endorsed historical trauma phenotype ( , ), while participants generally demonstrated moderate to high levels of interest and curiosity in their children’s mental states ( , ). The standardized outcome variable of intergenerational attachment insecurity ( , ) showed significant positive bivariate correlations with emotional abuse ( , ) and emotional neglect ( , ). Feature importance extraction from the Random Forest model identified emotional neglect and emotional abuse as the most powerful distal trauma predictors. Among proximal psychological mechanisms, maladaptive pre-mentalizing modes emerged as the strongest positive predictor of insecurity ( , ), whereas adaptive reflective capacities—specifically interest and curiosity ( , ) and certainty about mental states ( , )—functioned as significant negative predictors. Conclusion: Advanced machine learning successfully mapped the non-linear pathways of relational risk, revealing that historical emotional maltreatment and current pre-mentalizing deficits are the primary drivers of intergenerational attachment insecurity, while adaptive reflective functioning serves as a crucial protective buffer.
Copyright (c) 2026 Miriam Hochberger (Author); Andrei Dumitrescu (Corresponding Author); Lucía Bentancor (Author)
Uncovering Nonlinear Dynamics in Intergenerational Anxiety: Support Vector Regression of Parental Psychological Control, Child Behavioral Inhibition, and Family Climate
Objective: To utilize Support Vector Regression to uncover the complex, nonlinear dynamics and threshold effects characterizing the relationship between parental psychological control, child behavioral inhibition, family climate, and the manifestation of intergenerational anxiety symptoms in children. Methods and Materials: This study employed a cross-sectional design encompassing 482 parent-child dyads recruited from Kenya. Primary data collection instruments included the Psychological Control Scale, the Behavioral Inhibition Questionnaire, the Family Environment Scale, and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED). To analyze the multidimensional data, a Support Vector Regression model utilizing a Radial Basis Function kernel was implemented. Model hyperparameters were optimized via 10-fold cross-validation, and individual predictor contributions were evaluated using permutation feature importance. Findings: The Support Vector Regression model demonstrated superior predictive capability, explaining of the variance ( ) in child anxiety, significantly outperforming standard Multiple Linear Regression ( ). Permutation analysis identified child behavioral inhibition as the most critical predictor, accounting for a increase in model error when neutralized, followed closely by parental psychological control ( ), family conflict ( ), and family cohesion ( ). Furthermore, partial dependence profiles revealed a critical toxicity threshold: child anxiety spiked exponentially only when parental psychological control exceeded standard deviations above the mean, while high family conflict acted as a synergistic non-linear amplifier specifically for highly inhibited youth. Conclusion: The intergenerational transmission of anxiety is fundamentally governed by complex, non-linear tipping points and synergistic temperamental vulnerabilities that are most accurately captured and understood through advanced machine learning models.
Copyright (c) 2026 Andrés Benítez (Author); Mercy Atieno (Corresponding Author); Elpida Christou (Author)
Development of a Neuropsychological Questionnaire for Marital Conflicts and Examination of Its Psychometric Properties in Iran
Objective: The aim of the present study was to develop a neuropsychological questionnaire for marital conflicts and to examine its psychometric properties in Iran. Methods and Materials: This study was conducted in two phases: pilot and final. In the pilot phase, the initial questionnaire was administered to 81 couples experiencing marital conflict, and its structure was examined using exploratory factor analysis. In the final phase, the revised version was administered to 318 couples with marital conflict and 112 married individuals without severe conflict. To assess convergent validity, the Barati and Sanaei Marital Conflict Questionnaire and the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire were used. Data analysis was conducted using reliability indices, construct validity, convergent and discriminant validity, and confirmatory factor analysis. Findings: The results indicated that the questionnaire has a five-factor structure including the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate gyrus, deep limbic system, basal ganglia, and temporal cortex. Correlation coefficients with the marital conflict scale ranged from 0.58 to 0.62, and correlations with marital satisfaction were negative and significant. Additionally, significant differences were observed between couples with and without conflict across all components (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The neuropsychological marital conflict questionnaire demonstrated satisfactory validity and reliability and can be used as a culturally adapted and valid instrument for assessing the neuropsychological dimensions of marital conflicts in research and clinical interventions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Malihe Nasr Esfahani (Author); Mojtaba Tamadoni (Corresponding Author); Mastooreh Sedaghat (Author)
Algorithmic Differentiation of Parenting Phenotypes: Clustering Parental Burnout, Psychological Flexibility, and Their Effects on Child Effortful Control
Objective: This study aimed to differentiate parenting phenotypes via algorithmic clustering of parental burnout and psychological flexibility, and to examine their subsequent impact on child effortful control. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted with primary caregivers of children aged to years in Colombia. Data were collected via a secure online survey utilizing validated instruments: the Parental Burnout Assessment (PBA), the Parental Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (PAAQ; reverse-coded), and the Effortful Control scale from the parent-reported Child Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ). A two-step cluster analysis (hierarchical with Ward’s method followed by K-means) was applied to standardized -scores of the PBA and PAAQ to determine parenting profiles. Group distinctiveness and effects on child effortful control were analyzed using MANOVA and ANCOVA, controlling for parent age and child gender, followed by post-hoc Tukey’s HSD tests. Findings: The clustering algorithm yielded an optimal three-phenotype solution (average silhouette width = ): Adaptive ( , low burnout, high flexibility), Strained ( , high burnout, low flexibility), and Vulnerable ( , moderate scores). A MANOVA confirmed significant multivariate distinctiveness between the clusters (Wilks’ , , , ). ANCOVA revealed a significant main effect of parenting phenotype on child effortful control ( , , ). Children of the Adaptive Phenotype exhibited the highest effortful control ( ), scoring significantly higher than both the Vulnerable ( ) and Strained ( ) phenotypes ( for all pairwise comparisons). Conclusion: Distinct algorithmic parenting phenotypes significantly predict variations in child effortful control, highlighting the critical influence of parental psychological states on child self-regulation.
Copyright (c) 2026 Laura Paredes (Author); Andrés Mejía (Corresponding Author)
Unsupervised Clustering of Intimate Partner Violence Typologies: Analyzing Communication Deviance, Attachment Anxiety, and Trait Impulsivity via Machine Learning
Objective: This study aimed to identify distinct typologies of intimate partner violence (IPV) risk by analyzing the interplay of communication deviance, attachment anxiety, and trait impulsivity using unsupervised machine learning within a community sample. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional quantitative design was utilized with a sample of individuals from heterosexual couples in Poland. Data were collected via online self-report measures, including the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2), the Communication Deviance Scale, the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) for attachment anxiety, and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). A k-means clustering algorithm was applied to the standardized psychological variables to derive typologies, which were subsequently profiled and validated against IPV severity using one-way ANOVAs. Findings: The k-means algorithm yielded a robust three-cluster solution. Cluster 1, the “Regulated/Secure” group ( , ), exhibited low scores across all three risk factors and reported minimal IPV. Cluster 2, the “Anxious-Impulsive” group ( , ), displayed elevated attachment anxiety and trait impulsivity alongside moderate communication deviance, corresponding to significantly higher rates of psychological and physical aggression. Cluster 3, the “Dysregulated/Deviant” group ( , ), demonstrated the highest scores across all three psychological constructs and reported the most severe, multifaceted IPV, including significantly elevated levels of sexual coercion and physical injury. Conclusion: The identification of these distinct psychological risk profiles highlights the fundamental heterogeneity of IPV perpetration and underscores the critical necessity for tailored, person-centered screening and intervention strategies.
Copyright (c) 2026 Verónica Escalante (Author); Mateusz Kaczmarek (Corresponding Author); Natalia Caballero (Author)
Forecasting Internalizing Psychopathology in Adolescents: A Gradient Boosting Approach to Parental Expressed Emotion, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and Cognitive Reappraisal
Objective: The objective of this study was to prospectively forecast adolescent internalizing psychopathology over an 18-month period by modeling the complex, non-linear interactions between cumulative adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), parental expressed emotion, and habitual cognitive reappraisal using a machine learning framework. Methods and Materials: This prospective longitudinal study utilized a sample of German adolescent-parent dyads. Baseline (T1) predictors included cumulative trauma assessed via the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q), habitual emotion regulation measured by the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and Parental Expressed Emotion (criticism and emotional over-involvement) derived from the Five-Minute Speech Sample (FMSS). The primary outcome, adolescent internalizing psychopathology at an 18-month follow-up (T2), was assessed using the Youth Self-Report (YSR). Data were analyzed using a gradient boosting regression ensemble, evaluated via an train-test split and 10-fold cross-validation, to capture higher-order non-linear predictive topologies without requiring a priori specification. Findings: The gradient boosting regression model demonstrated robust forecasting accuracy on the unseen test set, successfully predicting a significant portion of the variance in T2 internalizing symptoms ( , ), yielding a coefficient of determination of , with a Mean Absolute Error ( ) of and a Root Mean Square Error ( ) of . Bivariate analyses confirmed foundational relationships, showing positive correlations between ACEs and T2 internalizing symptoms ( ) and protective, negative correlations for cognitive reappraisal ( ). Multivariate feature importance extraction revealed a distinct predictive hierarchy: cumulative ACEs emerged as the single most dominant forecasting variable ( relative importance), followed significantly by parental criticism ( ), cognitive reappraisal ( ), and parental emotional over-involvement ( ). Conclusion: Cumulative childhood trauma and proximal parental criticism serve as the primary structural catalysts for future adolescent internalizing distress, whereas the adolescent’s habitual capacity for cognitive reappraisal offers a vital, quantifiable counterweight for psychological resilience.
Copyright (c) 2026 Jean-Claude Niyonsenga (Author); Lena Hoffmann (Corresponding Author); Carlos Menjívar (Author)
Using Deep Learning to Classify Family Functioning Profiles Based on Parental Attachment, Emotion Socialization, and Child Behavioral Outcomes
Objective: The objective of this study was to identify distinct family functioning typologies based on parental attachment, emotion socialization practices, and child behavioral outcomes, and to subsequently develop a deep learning model for the accurate automated classification of these profiles. Methods and Materials: This study utilized a cross-sectional design involving two-parent families from Greece. Data were collected using secure online self-report questionnaires, including the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised for parental attachment, the Coping with Children’s Negative Emotions Scale for parental emotion socialization, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for child behavioral outcomes. Data analysis proceeded in two phases: first, Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was utilized to identify unobserved family profiles. Second, a Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) deep learning model was developed to classify families into these established profiles. The dataset was partitioned into training ( ), validation ( ), and testing ( ) segments to evaluate the model’s predictive performance. Findings: Latent Profile Analysis successfully identified three distinct family functioning profiles: Adaptive Family Functioning ( , ), Anxious-Inconsistent Functioning ( , ), and High-Risk/Avoidant-Punitive Functioning ( , ). The trained Multi-Layer Perceptron deep learning model demonstrated exceptional classification capabilities, achieving an overall accuracy of on the unseen test set. The model yielded high F1-scores for each respective class: for the Adaptive profile, for the Anxious-Inconsistent profile, and for the High-Risk profile, with the few misclassifications occurring primarily between the Anxious-Inconsistent and High-Risk groups. Conclusion: The robust identification of multidimensional family profiles and their highly accurate classification via an artificial neural network provides a powerful, innovative methodological framework to enhance targeted clinical assessments and tailor psychological interventions.
Copyright (c) 2026 Minh Tran Quoc (Author); Nikos Papadakis (Corresponding Author); Kwame Asante (Author)
Machine-Learning Identification of Family Adaptation Patterns During Economic Stress Based on Coping Strategies and Couple Communication
Objective: This study aimed to identify distinct family adaptation patterns during economic stress by applying unsupervised machine-learning to the interplay of coping strategies and couple communication behaviors. Methods and Materials: A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed with married couples from Malaysia experiencing varying degrees of economic stress. Data were collected via self-report instruments measuring perceived economic pressure, coping mechanisms (problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidant), and couple communication patterns (constructive and demand-withdraw). An unsupervised K-Means clustering algorithm was applied to the multidimensional data to segment the couples into naturally occurring adaptation profiles, followed by post-hoc statistical analyses to evaluate the characteristics of each profile and their associations with objective socio-economic factors. Findings: The K-Means clustering analysis ( ) successfully delineated three distinct family adaptation patterns. Cluster , the “Resilient-Constructive Adapters” ( , ), exhibited high problem-focused coping and constructive communication, reporting the lowest perceived economic stress ( , ). Cluster , the “Distressed-Avoidant Adapters” ( , ), was characterized by heavy reliance on avoidant coping and demand-withdraw communication, experiencing the highest levels of economic stress ( , ) and showing a disproportionate representation from the lowest income bracket ( ). Cluster , the “Ambivalent-Emotion-Focused Adapters” ( , ), displayed moderate communication quality with a high reliance on emotion-focused coping and social support seeking, reporting moderate economic stress ( , ). A statistically significant association was found between cluster membership and objective household income ( , ). Conclusion: Unsupervised machine-learning successfully revealed that families navigate financial hardship through interconnected behavioral typologies, highlighting the necessity for tailored interventions that address both objective financial realities and dyadic relationship dynamics to foster resilience.
The Mediating Role of Frustration Tolerance in the Relationship Between Early Maladaptive Schemas, Self-Differentiation, and Marital Conflict in Individuals Applying for Divorce
Objective: The present study aimed to determine the fit of a structural equation model examining the mediating role of frustration tolerance in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and self-differentiation with marital conflict among individuals applying for divorce. Methods and Materials: This study employed a fundamental, descriptive-correlational design using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of individuals applying for divorce who had active cases in family counseling centers affiliated with the judiciary in Karaj and Hashtgerd between February 2025 and October 2025. A sample of 250 participants (139 women and 111 men) was selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Revised Marital Conflict Questionnaire (Sanaei et al., 2008), the Young Schema Questionnaire (Young, 2005), the Self-Differentiation Inventory (Skowron & Friedlander, 1998), and the Frustration Discomfort Scale (Harrington, 2005). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27 and AMOS version 26 with maximum likelihood estimation. Findings: The results indicated that the proposed structural model demonstrated an acceptable fit with the data (χ²/df = 1.49, GFI = 0.908, CFI = 0.958, RMSEA = 0.044). Early maladaptive schemas had a positive and significant effect on marital conflict (β = 0.412, p = .001), whereas self-differentiation had a negative and significant effect (β = −0.374, p = .001). Frustration tolerance (operationalized as intolerance) showed a positive and significant relationship with marital conflict (β = 0.424, p = .001). Moreover, frustration tolerance significantly mediated the relationships between early maladaptive schemas and marital conflict (β = 0.157, p = .001) and between self-differentiation and marital conflict (β = −0.138, p = .001). The model explained 57% of the variance in marital conflict (R² = 0.57). Conclusion: The findings suggest that early maladaptive schemas and self-differentiation are significant predictors of marital conflict, both directly and indirectly through frustration tolerance.
Copyright (c) 2025 Samira Hosseini (Author); Said Ali mohammad Mousavi (Corresponding Author); Arezoo Shomalyoskoei (Author)
The Effectiveness of Systemic-Behavioral Couples Therapy (SBCT) in Enhancing Relationship Outcomes Among Spouses of Individuals with Parkinson’s Disease
Objective: This study evaluated the efficacy of Systemic-Behavioral Couples Therapy (SBCT) in improving relational outcomes among spouses of PD patients. Methods and Materials: Employing a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest–follow-up design with a control group, 40 spouses attending the Neurology Specialty Department of Firouzgar Hospital, Tehran (2024) were recruited via purposive sampling and randomly allocated to experimental and control conditions (final N = 24; 12 per group). The experimental group underwent six weekly 45-minute SBCT sessions targeting communication enhancement, cognitive restructuring, and interaction pattern modification. Outcome measures included marital satisfaction (Hudson, 1982), sexual intimacy (Batalani et al., 2010), and family emotional climate (Hillburn, 1964). Data were analyzed using ANCOVA, paired t-tests, and repeated measures ANOVA in SPSS 24, with α = .05. Findings: The SBCT group demonstrated significant improvements across all outcomes compared to the control group (p < .001). Effect sizes were large (η² = .68–.70), and Cohen’s d values were very large to extremely large (2.47–4.33). Reliable Change Index (RCI > 1.96) confirmed clinically meaningful change. Follow-up assessment showed slight attenuation, but post-intervention gains remained substantially higher than baseline. Conclusion: SBCT represents a robust, clinically meaningful intervention to enhance marital satisfaction, sexual intimacy, and family emotional climate in spouses of PD patients. These findings support integrating SBCT into psychosocial support frameworks for families affected by chronic neurodegenerative disorders.
Copyright (c) 2025 Farshid Fathy-Karkaragh (Author); Erfan Azami (Corresponding Author); Esmaeil Sadri Damirchi, Omid Malekpour, Manijeh Firoozi, Gholamali Shahidi (Author)
The Effectiveness of Reflective Parenting on Meta-Parenting and Time Perspective among Mothers of Children Aged 7 to 12 Years with Generalized Anxiety Symptoms in Isfahan
Objective: Generalized anxiety in children can affect the mental health and emotional functioning of parents, particularly mothers. One effective approach in this domain is reflective parenting, which contributes to improving parent–child interactions. Accordingly, the present study was conducted in 2025 in the city of Isfahan. Methods and Materials: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group. The statistical population consisted of all mothers of 7- to 12-year-old children with symptoms of generalized anxiety residing in Isfahan in 2025. From this population, 30 mothers were selected using purposive sampling and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Participants in the experimental group received the reflective parenting program in ten 60-minute sessions, whereas participants in the control group did not receive this intervention. Research instruments included the standardized Meta-Parenting Questionnaire developed by Hawk and Holden (2006) and the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (1999). The collected data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) in SPSS version 27. Findings: The findings indicated that the reflective parenting program had a significant effect on the total meta-parenting score and the problem-solving subscale (p < .05). Furthermore, the program led to a significant improvement in the future subscale (p < .05). However, there were no significant differences between the experimental and control groups with respect to the appraisal, reflection, and anticipation subscales, the total time perspective score, and the negative past, positive past, present-hedonistic, and present-fatalistic subscales (p > .05). Conclusion: Therefore, it can be inferred that the reflective parenting program may be used as an effective approach to enhance meta-parenting among mothers of children with generalized anxiety symptoms and to modify their future-oriented time perspective.
Copyright (c) 2025 Shadan Rahimi (Author); Mahnaz Haji Heydari (Corresponding Author)
The Mediating Role of Relational Ethics in the Relationship Between Emotional Maturity and Marital Burnout with Divorce Tendency in Young Couples
Objective: The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of relational ethics in the relationship between emotional maturity and marital burnout with divorce tendency among young couples. Methods and Materials: This study employed a descriptive correlational design using structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of young married individuals residing in Isfahan, from whom 300 participants were selected through cluster sampling; 298 complete questionnaires were analyzed. Inclusion criteria included residency in Isfahan, marriage duration of less than five years, and willingness to participate. Data were collected using standardized instruments including the Emotional Maturity Scale (Singh & Bhargava), the Marital Burnout Questionnaire (Pines), the Relational Ethics Scale (Hargrave et al.), and the Divorce Tendency Scale (Roselet et al.). Data were analyzed at descriptive and inferential levels using SPSS and AMOS software. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated, and structural equation modeling was applied. Findings: Structural equation modeling demonstrated acceptable model fit. Emotional maturity had a significant negative direct effect on divorce tendency. Marital burnout had a significant positive direct effect on divorce tendency. Relational ethics had a significant negative direct effect on divorce tendency. The direct path from emotional maturity to relational ethics was not significant, and the indirect effect of emotional maturity on divorce tendency through relational ethics was also non-significant, indicating no mediation. In contrast, marital burnout had a significant negative effect on relational ethics, and its indirect effect on divorce tendency through relational ethics was significant, indicating partial mediation. The total effect of marital burnout on divorce tendency was positive and significant. Conclusion: Emotional maturity and relational ethics function as protective factors against divorce tendency, whereas marital burnout increases divorce proneness among young couples. Relational ethics partially mediates the association between marital burnout and divorce tendency but does not mediate the relationship between emotional maturity and divorce tendency.
Copyright (c) 2025 Seyed Salar Atashpour (Author); Nadereh Saadati (Corresponding Author)
The Role of Schema Therapy and Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy in Reducing Alexithymia in Maladjusted Couples: A Comparative Study
Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of schema therapy and cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) in reducing alexithymia in maladjusted couples. Methods and Materials: This applied, quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a control group and a two-month follow-up. The statistical population comprised couples who referred to psychology clinics in District 2 of Tehran during the first half of 2025 due to marital conflict. Using convenience sampling, 45 couples were recruited and randomly assigned to three groups: schema therapy (n = 15), cognitive–behavioral therapy (n = 15), and a control group (n = 15). Following attrition of one couple from the CBT group, analyses were conducted on 44 couples. The experimental groups received ten sessions of their respective interventions, while the control group received no treatment during the study period. Data were collected using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) at pretest, posttest, and follow-up, and analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Findings: Repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of time on alexithymia scores (p < .001) and a significant interaction effect between group and time (p < .001). Post hoc comparisons indicated that both schema therapy and CBT produced significant reductions in alexithymia from pretest to posttest (p < .001). However, schema therapy resulted in significantly greater reductions than CBT at posttest (p < .01), and these effects remained significantly more stable at the two-month follow-up (p < .01). No significant changes were observed in the control group across measurement points (p > .05). Conclusion: Both schema therapy and cognitive–behavioral therapy are effective in reducing alexithymia among maladjusted couples, but schema therapy demonstrates superior effectiveness and greater durability of outcomes, suggesting that emotion-focused and schema-based interventions may be particularly beneficial for couples with pronounced emotional processing deficits.
Copyright (c) 2025 Fatemeh Saroukhani (Author); Abdollah Shafiabadi (Corresponding Author); Sima Ghodrati (Author)
Development of a Family Therapy Package Based on the Integration of Structural–Systemic and Attachment-Based Therapy
Objective: The objective of this study was to develop and validate an integrative family therapy educational package that combines the principles of structural–systemic theory and attachment-based couple therapy to address relational organization and emotional security simultaneously. Methods and Materials: This study employed a qualitative design using conventional content analysis to synthesize theoretical and empirical texts related to structural–systemic family therapy and attachment-based couple therapy. Relevant sources were selected through predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria until theoretical saturation was achieved. An integrative package was then developed through a multistage synthesis process. Content validity was assessed by seven expert family therapists using structured evaluation forms, and the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) was calculated to determine expert agreement. Findings: Inferential analysis indicated a high level of expert agreement regarding the relevance, coherence, and applicability of the developed package. The calculated Content Validity Ratio demonstrated strong consensus among evaluators, supporting the adequacy of the package structure, session sequencing, therapeutic axes, and integration logic. Experts confirmed that the package effectively integrates systemic components (boundaries and power) with attachment-based components (emotional regulation, trust, and intimacy). Conclusion: The findings support the content validity and theoretical coherence of the developed integrative family therapy package. By systematically combining structural–systemic and attachment-based principles, the package provides a comprehensive framework for addressing both organizational and emotional dimensions of couple and family functioning, offering a promising foundation for future empirical testing and clinical application.
Copyright (c) 2025 Fataneh Riahi Far (Author); Zahra Yousefi (Corresponding Author); Mohsen Golparvar (Author)
Comparison of the Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Couple Therapy (CBT) and Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy for Couples (ISTDP) in Reducing Relationship Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder (ROCD) Symptoms and Improving Relationship Quality in Young Couples
Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive–behavioral couple therapy (CBT) and intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) in reducing relationship obsessive–compulsive disorder (ROCD) symptoms and improving relationship satisfaction among young couples. Methods and Materials: The study was conducted as a randomized controlled clinical trial with a pretest–posttest design, a control group, and a three-month follow-up. The statistical population consisted of young couples seeking psychological services due to relationship difficulties. A total of 52 couples (104 individuals) who met the inclusion criteria were selected and randomly assigned to three groups: CBT (18 couples), ISTDP (17 couples), and a wait-list control group (17 couples). The interventions were delivered in ten weekly 90-minute couple-based sessions following standardized protocols. Data were collected using the Relationship Obsessive–Compulsive Inventory (ROCI) and the Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI), with general obsessive–compulsive symptoms (OCI-R) and negative emotional states (DASS-21) included as covariates. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) in SPSS version 27. Findings: MANOVA results indicated a significant multivariate effect of group on posttest ROCD symptoms and relationship satisfaction (p < .001), with large effect sizes. Univariate analyses showed significant between-group differences for both ROCD symptoms (F(2,101) = 139.75, p < .001) and relationship satisfaction (F(2,101) = 282.32, p < .001). Post hoc comparisons revealed that both CBT and ISTDP significantly outperformed the control group on both outcomes, while no substantial difference was observed between the two treatment groups in relationship satisfaction; ISTDP showed a marginally greater reduction in ROCD symptoms. MANCOVA results confirmed that these effects remained robust after controlling for OCI-R and DASS-21 (p < .001). Conclusion: Both CBT and ISTDP are highly effective couple-based interventions for reducing ROCD symptoms and enhancing relationship satisfaction, with comparable overall efficacy and strong clinical significance.
Intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy
relationship obsessive–compulsive disorder
Copyright (c) 2025 Seyed Adel Hosseini (Author)
Identifying Attachment-Based Resilience in Families Experiencing Domestic Displacement
Objective: This study aimed to identify the attachment-based resilience processes that enable displaced families in Taiwan to preserve emotional security, cohesion, and intergenerational stability amid conditions of forced relocation. Methods and Materials: This qualitative research employed an interpretive phenomenological design to explore how displaced families reconstruct attachment and resilience following domestic displacement. A total of 24 participants (13 women and 11 men) aged 27–58 years were recruited through community organizations and social service centers in Taiwan. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews focusing on emotional bonds, family trust, and adaptive coping. Interviews continued until theoretical saturation was reached. All data were transcribed and analyzed thematically using NVivo 14 software following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase method. Credibility was enhanced through member checking, peer debriefing, and reflexive journaling. Findings: The analysis yielded three overarching themes: (1) Reconstructing secure attachments after displacement, emphasizing the rebuilding of trust, emotional closeness, and symbolic security; (2) Collective coping and family adaptation, highlighting cooperative problem-solving, flexible role negotiation, and reliance on community support; and (3) Intergenerational transmission of resilience, involving modeling adaptive behaviors, maintaining cultural continuity, and reinforcing family identity through shared narratives. Families demonstrated that emotional reciprocity, meaning-making, and intergenerational caregiving were critical in transforming displacement from a source of trauma into an opportunity for relational growth. These results underscore that resilience emerges through relational, rather than individual, mechanisms of attachment repair. Conclusion: Attachment-based resilience among displaced families in Taiwan reflects a dynamic interplay between emotional reconstruction, collective coping, and cultural continuity. Strengthening attachment relationships, promoting family-centered interventions, and supporting intergenerational communication can enhance psychological stability and social reintegration in displaced populations.
Identifying the Impact of Digital Media Habits on Family Cohesion
Objective: This study aimed to explore how digital media habits influence family cohesion, communication patterns, and emotional relationships among Colombian households. Methods and Materials: This qualitative research employed a phenomenological approach to understand the lived experiences of families in the digital era. The study involved 21 participants (12 women and 9 men) from various regions of Colombia, selected through purposive sampling to ensure diversity in family structure and digital engagement. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews focusing on patterns of digital media use, emotional interactions, and family communication. Interviews were conducted until theoretical saturation was reached, recorded with participants’ consent, and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis framework using NVivo 14 software to code and categorize responses systematically. Credibility and trustworthiness were enhanced through member checking, peer debriefing, and maintaining an audit trail throughout the research process. Findings: Four major themes emerged: (1) digital media as a connector in family relationships, (2) digital media as a source of disconnection and conflict, (3) negotiating family rules and digital boundaries, and (4) digital media as a tool for emotional regulation and identity. Results revealed that digital media enhanced communication and emotional closeness when used collaboratively but created conflict, emotional distance, and generational tension when overused or unregulated. Families that established flexible digital rules and engaged in shared online activities demonstrated stronger cohesion and mutual understanding. Conclusion: Digital media plays a dual role in shaping family cohesion—both strengthening and fragmenting relationships. Intentional, balanced, and reflective digital engagement can transform technology into a medium for emotional connection and shared growth rather than disconnection. Promoting digital literacy, family dialogue, and adaptive boundary-setting is essential to maintaining cohesion in the digital age.
Identifying the Development of Trust in Step-Parent–Child Relationships
Objective: This study aimed to identify and describe the lived experiences, relational mechanisms, and developmental trajectories involved in the formation of trust between step-parents and children in Georgian stepfamilies. Methods and Materials: A qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach was employed to explore participants’ subjective experiences of trust development. The study involved 20 participants from various regions of Georgia, including 10 step-parents and 10 step-children who had lived together for at least one year. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and analyzed thematically using NVivo 14 software. Interviews continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Data analysis followed Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework for thematic analysis, with member checking and peer debriefing used to enhance credibility. Findings: The analysis revealed three overarching themes: (1) Foundations of Trust Formation, encompassing emotional availability, communication openness, and behavioral consistency; (2) Challenges and Barriers to Trust, including divided loyalty, miscommunication, role ambiguity, and cultural stigma; and (3) Pathways Toward Mutual Trust, characterized by gradual emotional disclosure, reciprocity, forgiveness, and respect for individuality. Trust development was found to be a gradual, non-linear process shaped by both personal histories and sociocultural context. Participants emphasized that consistent empathy, reliability, and shared activities were critical to transforming emotional distance into mutual confidence. Conclusion: Trust in step-parent–child relationships emerges through a dynamic interplay of emotional, communicative, and contextual factors. While challenges such as loyalty conflicts and role confusion initially hinder relationship growth, open communication, patience, and mutual respect enable families to reconstruct a sense of belonging and stability. The findings highlight the necessity of therapeutic and educational interventions that support empathy, emotional literacy, and boundary clarity in stepfamilies.
Identifying Relational Growth Trajectories in Couples Following Infertility Treatment
Objective: This study aimed to explore and identify the relational growth trajectories experienced by couples in Chile following infertility treatment, focusing on emotional, communicative, and identity-based transformations emerging after treatment completion. Methods and Materials: This qualitative research employed a phenomenological design to capture couples’ lived experiences of relational change after infertility treatment. The sample consisted of 18 participants (9 couples) recruited purposively from fertility clinics and support networks in Santiago, Valparaíso, and Concepción. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews lasting 60–90 minutes were conducted until theoretical saturation was achieved. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis framework with the support of NVivo 14 software. Credibility was ensured through member checking, peer debriefing, and maintenance of an analytic audit trail. Findings: Thematic analysis revealed four overarching themes that described couples’ post-treatment experiences: (1) Emotional reconstruction and resilience, encompassing acceptance, emotional regulation, and rediscovery of hope; (2) Transformation of couple communication, marked by open dialogue, empathy, and constructive conflict resolution; (3) Reconfiguration of identity and meaning, reflecting shifts in self-worth, spirituality, and relational purpose; and (4) Relational growth and future orientation, capturing strengthened partnerships, gratitude, and shared visions beyond biological parenthood. Couples reported that infertility, while initially distressing, ultimately fostered deeper intimacy, mutual empathy, and adaptive meaning-making. These relational growth trajectories aligned with prior research emphasizing post-traumatic growth and dyadic coping in infertility contexts. Conclusion: Infertility, despite its emotional burden, can serve as a catalyst for relational and psychological growth. Couples who engage in mutual support, empathic communication, and meaning reconstruction often emerge from treatment with stronger emotional bonds and renewed partnership. Integrating relational and psychological support within fertility care may enhance couples’ resilience and promote long-term well-being.
Prioritizing Acculturative Stressors Impacting Family Cohesion: A Mixed-Methods Analysis Among Immigrant Families in Argentina
Objective: This study aimed to identify, categorize, and prioritize the key acculturative stressors that most significantly impact family cohesion among immigrant families residing in Argentina. Methods and Materials: A sequential exploratory mixed-method design was employed, integrating qualitative and quantitative phases. In the qualitative phase, a comprehensive literature review was conducted until theoretical saturation was reached, and data were analyzed using NVivo 14 to extract themes and subthemes related to acculturative stress and family functioning. Seven main categories were identified: intergenerational value conflict, marital and family role strain, economic and occupational pressure, discrimination and social exclusion, cultural identity negotiation, community and social support deficiency, and language and communication barriers. In the quantitative phase, a structured questionnaire based on these categories was administered to 195 immigrant participants in Argentina. Responses were analyzed using SPSS version 26, applying descriptive statistics and the Friedman test to determine mean ranks of the stressor categories. Findings: The Friedman test revealed significant differences among the perceived impact levels of the seven acculturative stressor categories (χ² = 64.27, p < 0.001). Intergenerational value conflict ranked highest (Mean Rank = 6.78), followed by marital and family role strain (Mean Rank = 6.12) and economic and occupational pressure (Mean Rank = 5.86). The lowest-ranked stressors were community and social support deficiency (Mean Rank = 4.37) and language and communication barriers (Mean Rank = 3.72). These results indicate that internal, relational stressors exert greater influence on family cohesion than external or structural factors. Conclusion: The findings underscore that intrafamilial stressors—particularly intergenerational and role-related conflicts—pose the most critical threats to family cohesion in immigrant households. Strengthening intergenerational communication, enhancing marital adaptability, and fostering culturally responsive support systems are vital for promoting resilience and cohesion in acculturating families.