The Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy on Communication Skills, Family Functioning, and Conflict Resolution Styles in Couples with Insecure Attachment Style

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral family therapy on communication skills, family functioning, and conflict resolution styles in couples with an insecure attachment style in the city of Ramsar. This study was a quasi-experimental research with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population included all couples experiencing marital problems who had referred to the Counseling Center of the Health and Treatment Network of Ramsar County in 2023. The sample consisted of 30 couples who were selected using convenience sampling and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The questionnaires used for data collection from the sample included the Relationship Scales Questionnaire by Griffin and Bartholomew (1994), the Revised Communication Skills Questionnaire by Queendom (2004), the Family Assessment Device by Epstein et al. (1983), and the Conflict Tactics Scale by Straus et al. (1979). The experimental group participated in eight sessions of couple therapy based on the cognitive-behavioral approach. The research findings were analyzed using covariance analysis. The results indicated a significant difference in the posttest scores of communication skills, family functioning, and conflict resolution styles between the experimental and control groups at the significance level of (P < 0.01). Therefore, cognitive-behavioral family therapy is an effective method for improving communication skills, family functioning, and conflict resolution styles in couples with an insecure attachment style.