The Effectiveness of Group-Based Solution-Focused Therapy on Communication Skills and Marital Adjustment
Keywords:
Group-Based Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Communication Skills, Marital Adjustment, Married StudentsAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of group-based solution-focused brief therapy on communication skills and marital adjustment among married students at Islamic Azad University.
Methods and Materials: The present study employed a quasi-experimental design with pretest–posttest assessments and a control group. The statistical population consisted of all married students enrolled at Islamic Azad University of Ahvaz during the 2023–2024 academic year. From among students who had referred to the university counseling center within six months prior to the study, 30 participants were selected voluntarily and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). The experimental group received eight weekly 90-minute sessions of group-based solution-focused brief therapy, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Queendom Communication Skills Questionnaire (2004) and the Spanier Dyadic Adjustment Scale (1976). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA).
Findings: The results of multivariate analysis of covariance indicated a significant overall difference between the experimental and control groups in communication skills components at posttest (F(5,19)=4.31, p<0.05). Univariate analyses demonstrated significant improvements in message understanding (F=9.26, p=0.006), insight into communication processes (F=8.24, p=0.009), and assertiveness (F=8.15, p=0.009) in the experimental group compared with the control group, whereas listening and emotion regulation did not reach statistical significance. In addition, the multivariate covariance analysis for marital adjustment components revealed a significant group effect at posttest (F(4,21)=10.65, p<0.05). Significant improvements were observed in marital satisfaction (F=4.62, p=0.042) and affectional expression (F=6.35, p=0.019), while marital consensus and marital cohesion were not statistically significant.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that group-based solution-focused brief therapy is an effective intervention for improving several dimensions of communication skills and marital adjustment among married students.
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References
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