The efficiency of solution-based couple therapy on the conflicts and marital burnout of couples

Abstract

Background and Aim: Couples are required to learn new methods for communicating with each other and alter the basic assumptions connecting them with their spouse. When couples fail to accomplish this matter, mutual intimacy and commitment fall apart, and marital burnout is created. During this period, it is needed to repair the basis for the intimacy of couples. It is needed to analyze intrapersonal and interpersonal dynamics to restore intimacy. Accordingly, this study was aimed at determining the efficiency of solution-based couple therapy on marital conflicts and marital burnout of couples.  Methods: This study was quasi-experimental with the experimental and control groups and pre-test, post-test design, and one-month follow-up. The statistical population contained couples who went to the Goroohe Hamrah Counseling Center of Tehran district 2 in April and May 2017 due to having conflicts and communication problems. After screening the couples with marital conflict and marital burnout scale and primary examination (interview), 20 couples were selected as study samples. And they were randomly assigned to two groups; 10 couples (wife and husband) in the experimental group and 10 couples (wife and husband) in the control group. The couples of the experimental group received the solution-based couple therapy intervention of McDonald (2007) for eight sessions of 90 minutes, and couples of the control group were placed on the waiting list. In the three stages of pre-test, post-test, and follow-up, both groups completed the marital conflict and marital burnout scale. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and repeated measurement analysis methods.  Results: The results indicated that solution-based couple therapy has significantly reduced the level of marital conflict (F = 10.68, P = 0.002) and marital burnout (F = 13.58, P = 0.001), and the results were stable at the follow-up stage. Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that solution-based couple therapy reduces marital conflict and marital burnout among couples.