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)
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)
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.
Ranking Pathways to Forgiveness in Families After Abuse Disclosure
Objective: This study aimed to identify and rank the primary psychological, moral, and relational pathways to forgiveness in families following the disclosure of abuse, integrating qualitative and quantitative methods to construct a hierarchical model of post-trauma forgiveness. Methods and Materials: The study employed a sequential exploratory mixed-methods design. In the first phase, a systematic qualitative content analysis was conducted using NVivo 14 based on an extensive literature review until theoretical saturation was reached. Seven major pathways to forgiveness were identified from conceptual and empirical sources. In the second phase, a quantitative ranking survey was administered to 223 participants in Tunisia, including family members, counselors, and social workers. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26, applying Friedman’s ranking test and Kendall’s W coefficient to determine the relative importance and consensus across the identified forgiveness pathways. Findings: The inferential results indicated significant differences in the prioritization of forgiveness pathways (χ² = 108.72, p < 0.001, Kendall’s W = 0.67). Emotional acknowledgment and validation ranked highest (mean rank = 6.42), followed by accountability and responsibility (6.21) and relational reconnection and reconciliation (5.97), underscoring their foundational role in the forgiveness process. Cognitive reframing and meaning reconstruction (5.56) and social and therapeutic support structures (5.08) occupied mid-level ranks, while spiritual and cultural coping resources (4.77) and resilience and growth outcomes (4.35) were ranked lower, indicating their function as supplementary or long-term components. These results reveal a structured and process-oriented model of forgiveness emerging through emotional, moral, cognitive, and relational stages. Conclusion: Forgiveness in families following abuse disclosure is a multidimensional and sequential process rooted in emotional recognition, moral accountability, and relational reconstruction, leading to eventual resilience and personal growth. The findings provide an empirical basis for developing culturally sensitive therapeutic interventions that prioritize safety, empathy, and justice in the post-abuse recovery process.
Prioritizing Parenting Competencies in the Digital Era
Objective: This study aimed to identify, categorize, and prioritize the essential competencies required for effective and responsible parenting in the digital era. Methods and Materials: This research employed a sequential mixed-method design consisting of a qualitative and a quantitative phase. The qualitative phase involved an integrative literature review of studies published between 2015 and 2025, focusing on digital parenting frameworks, emotional regulation, online safety, and educational mediation. Data were analyzed through thematic content analysis using NVivo 14, resulting in eight primary competency categories. The quantitative phase involved a ranking survey completed by 205 Italian parents, who evaluated the importance of the identified competencies using a five-point Likert scale. Descriptive and ranking analyses were conducted with SPSS version 26, generating mean scores and standard deviations to determine the relative priority of each category. Findings: The results revealed that Online Safety and Risk Management (M = 4.72, SD = 0.38) was the most highly valued competency, followed by Emotional and Psychological Support (M = 4.65, SD = 0.42) and Communication and Relationship Building (M = 4.53, SD = 0.47). These findings emphasize parents’ primary concerns with protecting children from digital risks, supporting emotional resilience, and maintaining healthy communication. Digital Literacy and Technical Competence (M = 4.44) and Ethical and Moral Guidance (M = 4.36) occupied mid-level positions, reflecting their continued relevance. The lowest-ranked but still significant competencies were Educational Mediation (M = 4.25), Time Management (M = 4.11), and Socio-Cultural Engagement (M = 3.94), suggesting varying perceptions of their immediate necessity. Conclusion: The study concludes that digital-era parenting is multidimensional, encompassing safety, emotional, technical, ethical, and cultural competencies. Strengthening these integrated skills is essential for fostering children’s balanced development and responsible media engagement in contemporary digital environments.
Ranking Stressors and Coping Hierarchies in Families Facing Financial Instability
Objective: This study aimed to identify, categorize, and rank the primary stressors and coping hierarchies experienced by families facing financial instability using a mixed-method exploratory approach. Methods and Materials: The research followed a sequential mixed-method design. In the first phase, a qualitative literature-based analysis was conducted to identify core themes and subthemes related to financial distress and coping strategies. Data were extracted through a systematic literature review and analyzed thematically using NVivo 14 software until theoretical saturation was reached. Six main thematic categories emerged from the analysis: economic stressors, emotional and psychological strain, family relationship dynamics, coping strategies and hierarchies, social and community support, and adaptive resilience processes. In the second phase, a quantitative ranking was performed among 210 participants from Iraq selected through purposive sampling. Data collection employed a structured questionnaire derived from qualitative results. SPSS version 26 was used to perform Friedman’s test and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (W) to determine the statistical ranking and consistency of participants’ responses. Findings: The analysis revealed significant differences across the six thematic domains (χ² = 112.47, p < 0.001; W = 0.71). Economic stressors received the highest mean rank (4.58), followed by emotional and psychological strain (4.44) and family relationship dynamics (4.27). Coping strategies and hierarchies (4.05) and social and community support (3.86) followed, while adaptive resilience processes ranked lowest (3.54). The strong Kendall’s coefficient indicated a high level of agreement among respondents, confirming a shared perception of financial instability as a multidimensional challenge with economic and emotional dimensions. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that financial instability generates complex, hierarchical stress patterns within families, with economic hardship triggering psychological strain and relational tension. Enhancing both structural financial security and emotional resilience is essential for sustainable family adaptation.
Prioritizing Emotional Climate Factors in Families with Adolescent Anxiety
Objective: This study aimed to identify, categorize, and prioritize the emotional climate factors influencing families with adolescents experiencing anxiety through an integrated qualitative–quantitative approach. Methods and Materials: A mixed-methods exploratory–quantitative design was employed in two sequential phases. In the qualitative phase, an extensive literature review was conducted until theoretical saturation, and data were analyzed using NVivo 14 through thematic coding. Seven main themes were identified, including parental emotional expression, communication patterns, parental control and autonomy, family cohesion and support, parental mental health influence, emotional validation and empathy, and family stress and conflict climate. In the quantitative phase, a structured questionnaire was developed based on the qualitative findings and administered to 220 participants from Kenya, consisting of parents and adolescents aged 13–18 years. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26, applying the Friedman ranking test to determine the relative importance of emotional climate factors. Findings: Results indicated statistically significant differences in the prioritization of emotional climate factors (p < .01). Family Cohesion and Support received the highest mean rank score (4.72), followed by Emotional Validation and Empathy (4.51), Parental Emotional Expression (4.38), and Communication Patterns (4.12). Parental Control and Autonomy (3.89), Parental Mental Health Influence (3.65), and Family Stress and Conflict Climate (3.47) ranked lower, suggesting that affective closeness and empathic validation are stronger predictors of adolescent emotional well-being than external stress factors. Conclusion: The study highlights that family cohesion, empathy, and emotional validation are the most influential components of a healthy emotional climate in mitigating adolescent anxiety. These results emphasize the need for family-centered interventions that enhance emotional communication, promote empathy, and strengthen relational bonds as preventive and therapeutic strategies for adolescent anxiety.
Prioritizing Predictors of Family Cohesion in Dual-Earner Households
Objective: This study aimed to identify, categorize, and prioritize the key predictors of family cohesion in dual-earner households through a mixed-method approach integrating qualitative synthesis and quantitative ranking analysis. Methods and Materials: The research employed a sequential exploratory mixed-method design. In the first phase, a qualitative thematic synthesis was conducted through a systematic literature review until theoretical saturation was achieved, focusing on determinants of family cohesion among dual-earner couples. Data were coded and analyzed using NVivo 14, resulting in the identification of six overarching themes and multiple subthemes. In the second phase, a structured questionnaire was developed from the qualitative findings and distributed to 170 dual-earner participants from Spain. Using SPSS version 26, ranking analysis and descriptive statistics were applied to prioritize the predictors. The reliability of the ranking scale was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (W = 0.81) indicated high inter-rater agreement. Findings: Quantitative results revealed that work–family balance ranked as the strongest predictor of family cohesion (M = 4.71), followed by communication patterns (M = 4.56) and emotional and marital quality (M = 4.38). Parenting practices (M = 4.22) and psychological well-being of partners (M = 4.08) were also significant but ranked lower, while socioeconomic and cultural context (M = 3.84) was perceived as moderately influential. The findings suggest that internal relational and emotional processes have a greater impact on family cohesion than external structural or socioeconomic variables. Conclusion: Family cohesion in dual-earner households is primarily sustained through effective work–family integration, open communication, and emotional attunement between partners. These results underscore the importance of relational and psychological factors over structural determinants, providing a framework for family interventions, workplace policies, and future cross-cultural research.
The Role of Psychological Empowerment and Family Resilience in Predicting Family Functioning among Malaysian Adults
Objective: This study aimed to examine the predictive roles of psychological empowerment and family resilience in determining levels of family functioning among adults in Malaysia. Methods and Materials: A correlational descriptive design was employed with a sample of 440 Malaysian adults, determined using the Morgan and Krejcie sampling table. Data were collected through standardized instruments, including the Family Assessment Device (Epstein et al., 1983) for family functioning, the Psychological Empowerment Scale (Spreitzer, 1995) for empowerment, and the Family Resilience Assessment Scale (Sixbey, 2005) for resilience. Participants completed the measures voluntarily through online and community-based surveys. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27, employing descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation to assess relationships between variables, and multiple linear regression to determine predictive effects. Assumptions of normality, linearity, and multicollinearity were tested and confirmed prior to analysis. Findings: Results showed significant positive correlations between family functioning and both psychological empowerment (r = .52, p < .001) and family resilience (r = .61, p < .001). The regression model was statistically significant, F(2, 437) = 193.21, p < .001, with an R² value of .47, indicating that empowerment and resilience jointly explained 47% of the variance in family functioning. Both predictors made significant contributions to the model, with psychological empowerment (β = .34, t = 7.41, p < .001) and family resilience (β = .48, t = 10.26, p < .001) emerging as strong predictors. Family resilience demonstrated the stronger standardized effect, highlighting its central role in family adaptation. Conclusion: The findings suggest that psychological empowerment and family resilience are critical determinants of healthy family functioning. Interventions that strengthen empowerment and resilience among family members may promote adaptability, cohesion, and well-being within Malaysian families.
The Role of Psychological Capital and Trust in Predicting Marital Intimacy among Married Individuals in Pakistan
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the predictive roles of psychological capital and trust in determining levels of marital intimacy among married individuals in Pakistan. Methods and Materials: A correlational descriptive research design was employed to explore the relationships among psychological capital, trust, and marital intimacy. The study sample consisted of 410 married participants (196 males and 214 females) selected through a simple random sampling method based on the Morgan and Krejcie table. Participants completed three standardized instruments: the Marital Intimacy Scale (Waring & Reddon, 1983), the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (PCQ-24) (Luthans et al., 2007), and the Dyadic Trust Scale (Larzelere & Huston, 1980). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 through Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression to determine the direction and strength of relationships between the variables. Findings: The results indicated strong positive correlations between marital intimacy and both psychological capital (r = .68, p < .001) and trust (r = .72, p < .001). The regression model predicting marital intimacy was statistically significant (F(2, 407) = 345.27, p < .001), explaining 63% of the variance (R² = .63). Both psychological capital (β = .38, p < .001) and trust (β = .49, p < .001) were significant predictors of marital intimacy. These results demonstrate that individuals with higher psychological resources and greater trust in their partners reported stronger emotional, cognitive, and relational closeness. Conclusion: Psychological capital and trust significantly and positively predict marital intimacy, underscoring the importance of both internal psychological strengths and interpersonal trust in maintaining healthy, satisfying marital relationships. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing optimism, resilience, and mutual trust may effectively strengthen marital bonds.
The Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy on Marital Burnout in Couples with Experience of Emotional Divorce
Objective: Emotional divorce is one of the common yet concealed phenomena in marital relationships and is associated with extensive psychological consequences, including marital burnout. The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) on marital burnout among couples with experience of emotional divorce. Methodology: The present research employed a quasi-experimental design with pretest, posttest, and follow-up phases including a control group. The statistical population consisted of all couples who referred to the Ganj-e Mehr Counseling Center in Babol in 2024. Using convenience sampling, 30 couples were selected and randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group. Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy sessions were conducted once weekly in two-hour sessions over a period of 10 weeks. Marital burnout was measured using the Pines Marital Burnout Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Findings: The results indicated a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups after the intervention. Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy significantly reduced marital burnout and its components among couples with experience of emotional divorce. Moreover, these effects remained statistically stable during the follow-up period (p < .001). Conclusion: Based on the findings, Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy can be considered an effective intervention for reducing marital burnout among couples, particularly those experiencing emotional divorce and who are at risk of formal separation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Askari Asghariganji (Corresponding Author)
Comparison of the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment–Based Couple Therapy and Cognitive–Behavioral Couple Therapy on Cognitive Distortions, Emotion Regulation, and Emotional Intimacy in Couples Experiencing Marital Disenchantment
Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment–based couple therapy and cognitive–behavioral couple therapy on interpersonal cognitive distortions, emotion regulation strategies, and emotional intimacy in couples experiencing marital disenchantment. Methods and Materials: The study employed a quasi-experimental design with pretest, posttest, and three-month follow-up assessments and a control group. The statistical population consisted of couples aged 20–40 years who sought counseling for marital disenchantment in Tehran in 2023. Using purposive sampling and based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 45 couples were selected and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group. The first experimental group received acceptance and commitment–based couple therapy, and the second experimental group received cognitive–behavioral couple therapy, each delivered in 12 sessions of 90 minutes over three months, while the control group remained on a waiting list. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires measuring interpersonal cognitive distortions, emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and suppression), and emotional intimacy at three time points. Data analysis was conducted using repeated-measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc tests. Findings: The results of repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated significant group × time interaction effects for all components and the total score of cognitive distortions, emotion regulation strategies, and emotional intimacy. Acceptance and commitment–based couple therapy produced significantly greater reductions in rejection in relationships, misperception, and total cognitive distortions compared with cognitive–behavioral couple therapy. Additionally, acceptance and commitment–based couple therapy led to a significantly greater increase in cognitive reappraisal and a greater reduction in emotion suppression. Emotional intimacy increased significantly in both experimental groups compared with the control group; however, the increase was significantly greater in the acceptance and commitment–based couple therapy group. These effects remained stable at the three-month follow-up. Conclusion: Acceptance and commitment–based couple therapy was more effective than cognitive–behavioral couple therapy in reducing interpersonal cognitive distortions, improving emotion regulation strategies, and enhancing emotional intimacy in couples experiencing marital disenchantment, suggesting its particular suitability for interventions targeting emotional disengagement and cognitive rigidity in distressed marital relationships.
Copyright (c) 2026 Azin Haji Abbasi (Author); Fatemehsoghra Karbalai Herofteh (Corresponding Author); Gholamreza Sanagouye Moharer (Author)
The Effectiveness of Emotional Intelligence Training on Marital Burnout and the Quality of Marital Relationships in Couples Aged 20 to 50
Objective: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of emotional intelligence training on reducing marital burnout and improving marital relationship quality among couples aged 20 to 50 who referred to counseling centers. Methods and Materials: The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group. The statistical population consisted of couples aged 20 to 50 who referred to counseling centers in Babol County in 2024. Using convenience sampling, 32 couples were selected and randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group, each comprising 16 participants. Data were collected using the Pines Marital Burnout Questionnaire and the Marital Relationship Quality Questionnaire. The experimental group received emotional intelligence training in 12 structured sessions of 90 minutes, conducted twice weekly, while the control group received no intervention. Pretest and posttest assessments were administered to both groups, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS version 27. Findings: After controlling for pretest scores, ANCOVA results revealed a statistically significant group effect for marital burnout, indicating that the experimental group reported significantly lower posttest burnout scores compared to the control group. Similarly, a significant group effect was found for marital relationship quality, demonstrating that participants who received emotional intelligence training showed significantly higher posttest marital quality scores than those in the control group. Effect size indices indicated large and meaningful intervention effects for both outcome variables. Conclusion: The findings indicate that emotional intelligence training is an effective intervention for reducing marital burnout and enhancing marital relationship quality among couples seeking counseling services, highlighting the importance of emotional competence development in marital counseling and preventive family interventions.
Copyright (c) 2025 Seyedeh Somayeh Sayadi Kenari , Forozan Gholipor (Author); Maryam Mazlomi (Corresponding Author); Hengame Katal (Author)
Conceptual Framework of Healthy Divorce in Iran: A Qualitative Study
Objective: This study aimed to develop and validate a culturally grounded, multidimensional conceptual framework of healthy divorce in Iran by identifying and prioritizing the biological, psychological, social, cultural, ethical, and spiritual factors shaping the divorce process. Methods and Materials: The study employed a qualitative, integrative design combining systematic literature review, qualitative content analysis, semi-structured interviews, and the fuzzy Delphi method. Participants included experts in family and divorce studies from psychology, social sciences, and social work, as well as married, divorcing, and divorced individuals selected through purposive sampling. Initial indicators were extracted from Persian and English literature and refined through expert consensus. Pairwise comparisons were conducted to calculate fuzzy weights for indicators within each dimension, followed by defuzzification to determine their relative importance. Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview data, and methodological triangulation ensured the credibility and rigor of findings. Findings: The results indicated that healthy divorce is a dynamic outcome of interaction among six dimensions. Psychological factors showed the strongest influence, particularly psychological problems, hardiness, irrational beliefs, and differentiation of self. In the biological dimension, chronic physical illness, addiction, and sexual dissatisfaction were most salient. Social competence, moral–behavioral violence, and communication skills emerged as key social determinants. Cultural factors were dominated by adverse life events, family interference, and value differences. Ethical factors, especially lack of commitment and infidelity, held the highest weights overall. The spiritual dimension, although not weighted due to its single-indicator structure, functioned as a regulating conceptual component in the final model. Conclusion: Healthy divorce in Iran should be understood not as the absence of conflict or a purely legal resolution, but as a multidimensional, ethically grounded, and culturally embedded process whose quality depends on the effective management of individual, relational, and contextual resources.
Copyright (c) 2025 Samaneh Amiri Siavashani (Author); Hooman Namvar (Corresponding Author); Reza Ghorban Jahromi (Author)
Comparison of the Effectiveness of Narrative Therapy and Structural Couple Therapy on Marital Burnout and Negative Emotions in Couples with a Physically Disabled Spouse in Ahvaz
Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of narrative therapy and structural couple therapy in reducing marital burnout and negative emotional experiences among couples with a physically disabled spouse. Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest control group design with a two-month follow-up period. The statistical population included all couples with a physically disabled spouse who were registered at the Welfare Organization of Ahvaz in 2025. Using purposive–voluntary sampling, 30 eligible couples were selected and randomly assigned to two experimental groups (narrative therapy and structural couple therapy) and one control group, each consisting of 10 couples. Both interventions were delivered in eight weekly 90-minute sessions, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Marital Burnout Questionnaire and the Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire (negative emotions subscale). Statistical analysis was conducted using repeated measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post-hoc tests with SPSS version 22. Findings: Inferential analysis revealed significant main effects of time and group as well as significant time-by-group interactions for both marital burnout and negative emotions (p < 0.001). Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons indicated that both experimental groups showed significant reductions from pretest to posttest and from pretest to follow-up (p < 0.001), whereas the control group demonstrated no significant changes. No significant differences were found between the narrative therapy and structural couple therapy groups at posttest or follow-up, indicating comparable effectiveness of both interventions. Conclusion: Both narrative therapy and structural couple therapy were highly effective in reducing marital burnout and negative emotional experiences among couples with a physically disabled spouse, and these therapeutic gains were maintained over time.
Copyright (c) 2026 Razie Fathalipouri (Author); Seyedeh Zahra Alavi (Corresponding Author); Masoud Shahbazi (Author)
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.