A Comparison of the Effectiveness of a Marital Quality of Life-Based Therapeutic Package and Mindfulness Therapy on Marital Relationship Quality and Alexithymia in Married Women with Breast Cancer

Zohreh Zadhasan; Maryam Gholamzadeh Jofreh; Kobra  Kazemian Moghadam

Authors

Zohreh Zadhasan Department of Counseling, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1797-9716
Maryam Gholamzadeh Jofreh Department of Counseling, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran Corresponding Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2516-7619
Kobra Kazemian Moghadam Department of Psychology, Dez.C., Islamic Azad University, Dezful, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5457-8105

Keywords:

breast cancer, marital relationship quality, alexithymia, mindfulness therapy, marital quality of life, therapeutic package

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a marital quality of life-based therapeutic package and mindfulness therapy on marital relationship quality and alexithymia in married women with breast cancer.

Methods and Materials: This quantitative quasi-experimental study used a pretest-posttest-follow-up design with two experimental groups and one control group. The statistical population consisted of married women with breast cancer who referred to treatment centers in Babol, Iran. A total of 60 participants were selected through purposive sampling based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to three groups: marital quality of life-based therapeutic package, mindfulness therapy, and control, with 20 participants in each group. The first experimental group received the marital quality of life-based therapeutic package in 11 structured sessions, while the second experimental group received mindfulness therapy in eight 60-minute sessions. The control group received no intervention during the study period. Data were collected using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Marital Relationship Quality Questionnaire at pretest, posttest, and three-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post-hoc tests in SPSS-22.

Findings: The results showed significant effects of group, time, and group-by-time interaction for both marital relationship quality and alexithymia. For total alexithymia, the group effect was significant (F = 19.34, p < .001, η² = .48), as were the time effect (F = 13.62, p < .001, η² = .39) and group-by-time interaction (F = 11.08, p < .001, η² = .36). For total marital relationship quality, the group effect (F = 21.61, p < .001, η² = .52), time effect (F = 25.78, p < .001, η² = .52), and interaction effect (F = 12.96, p < .001, η² = .47) were also significant. Bonferroni comparisons indicated that both interventions were effective, but the therapeutic package produced greater improvement than mindfulness therapy.

Conclusion: The marital quality of life-based therapeutic package was more effective than mindfulness therapy in improving marital relationship quality and reducing alexithymia among married women with breast cancer, and its effects were maintained at follow-up.

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