Journal of Counseling Research

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Life is purposeful by nature. The universe purposefulness is the first important issue in Islamic ontology. The family serves numerous purposes in different forms. The family function is the concept that directly affects needs, goals, satisfaction, and emotions directly.  

There are numerous functions assumed for the marriage. The purposefulness of such function needs to be investigated. This study adopts a qualitative method to scrutinize the intended variable, i.e. the marriage functions purposefulness, in both satisfied/ dissatisfied couples. All the people who are married for at least three years and have one child participated in this study. They all live in Ahvaz.  24 people were selected using systematic sampling procedure. These people were actually the ones who were referred to counseling center of Ahvaz education office. They scored over 70 and less than 30 in Enrich Marital Satisfaction questionnaire. The relevant data was analyzed using in - depth interviews. Grounded theory was also used to analyze the interview findings.   

The results revealed both satisfied/ dissatisfied couples were similar concerning primary functions of marriage. The difference was noticed regarding social skills, affection, and emotions.  

Regarding ontology, the couples' beliefs and attitudes play an important role in their marital life. Attitudes, behaviors, interactions, and communications follow unique directions based on a specific ontological view.  

Key words: marital satisfaction, marriage functions, purposefulness.

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Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of couples therapy based on the ecological model in reducing marital conflicts and desire to divorce in couples. Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study with control and treatment groups. The statistical population of this study consisted of all of the couples referred to State Welfare Organization in city of Markazi (Iran). The sample consisted of 30 couples who were randomly divided into two groups (15 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group). The data gathering tools in this study were marital conflict scale (Sanaee, 2012) and the Divorce Tendency Scale (Roswelt, Jonson &, Moro, 1986). Results: The results showed that couples therapy based on the ecological model has a meaningful positive effect on reducing marital conflicts and divorce tendency (p<0/05). Conclusion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that interventions using ecological model is effective in reducing tendency for divorce.

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify and explain the communication reactions of female victims of infidelity. Methods: The present study employed a phenomenoogical qualitative methodology. The study population consisted of female victims of infidelity in Shemiranat in the year 2016. Data collection continued through interviews until theoretical saturation was obtained. For this 18 women who were victims of infidelity were selected through purposive sampling and were investigated using semi-structured interviews, and the elicited data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings: The data analysis in regards to the communication reactions of women victimized by infidelity resulted in two main themes, 10 subthemes, and 29 initial concepts. The main theme and associated sub-themes were: A). ‘The dissociation of communications’ consisting of the following subthemes: 1. the dissociation of mother-child relationship, 2. the dissociation of father-child relationship, 3. the dissociation of marital relationship, 4. The dissociation of family relationships, 5. the dissociation of interpersonal relationships, 6. the dissociation of relationship with God; and B). "Communications continuity", consisting of the following sub-themes: 1. the continuity of spousal relationship, 2. improving the mother-child relationship, 3. getting social support, 4. improving the relationship with God. Conclusions: This study showed that infidelity has similar and sometimes different communicational effects that are experienced by female victims of infidelity. the effects of infidelity can be either maladaptive or adaptive. The results were interpreted based on the social construction and attachment theories.

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Aim: Child abuse is one of the problems facing humanity. Families must be trained to distinguish the differences between parenting attitudes with harmful attitudes about children. This study aimed to investigate the comparison and recognition of parents with and without a college education about a variety of child abuse. Methods: This was a qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews and the research population included 28 people (parents) with and without college education which were selected through purposive sampling. Results: parental knowledge about the type of child abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, and neglect) were examined in two different tables and in two groups with and without a college education and also knowledge and awareness of the risk factors and the consequences of child abuse provided in separate tables by considering college education and concepts and the main expressions is classified using open axial and selective coding. Findings: Based on conducted interviews, the recognition of physical abuse in both groups with and without a college education is equally high, but with the exception that the parental knowledge about the scope of types of child abuse is more in the group with college education  than the other group. In this study, parents without a college education in their parenting methods relied considerably  on physical abuse. Also knowledge of emotional abuse is high in parents with a college education, but there is awareness of emotional neglect among parents with a university education due to their education and employment. There is knowledge about sexual harassment in both groups with the exception that the information and awareness of sexual harassment among parents with a college education is much higher. Another significant point in this research was emotional neglect, due to preoccupation of parents with the virtual world in today's age. Conclusions: It may be concluded that the factor of education can be effective in recognition of types of child abuse. One interesting point was that most college-educated parents used third-person in their sentences, such that it appeared these parents did not use abusive behaviors in their parenting, but are aware of what constitutes abusive behavior for other parents, or they intelligently resisted self-disclosing. On the other hand, majority of parents without college education seemed to use sentences that pointed to their own behaviors and reactions in relation to their children, showing less resistance, talking more about their objective and personal experiences.
 

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Aim: The purpose of this study was to present a model to explain the evolution of Weness in couples. Method: Hence, based on the specific characteristics of Weness structure, qualitative research approach and grounded theory method was applied. The population of this study consisted of all couples living in Tehran who, according to their own statements, had a successful married life. The method of sampling was purposeful sampling and The number of participants in this study, after theoretical saturation, was 7 successful couples who were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was performed based on three techniques of open coding, axial coding and selective coding. Findings: The results showed that Weness structure includes two categories of intera- and extra-marital interaction strategies. Weness impelling factors also include three categories of cognitive, supportive and motivational impelling. The Weness consequence also occurs in the form of two central components of egocentrism in the couple's identity and the preservation of individuality in the couple's identity. Conclusion: There are three categories of cognitive, motivational and supportive factors that move couples towards Weness. Couples also use two categories of intramarital and extramarital strategies in process of becoming We. If these factors are properly combined and interconnected, Weness process in couples will be fulfilled, according to which, prevention of egocentrism in the couple's identity and the preservation of individuality in the couple's identity will be seen as a result.

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Aim: The purpose of the present study was to explain the human interactions affecting the psychological preparation of airline pilots. Methods: Qualitative approach and thematic analytical method was used to conduct this study. The study population in this research were the pilots of an airline company in Tehran in 2019. In order to gather the necessary data, pilots were selected through purposive sampling criteria. Then, semi-structured interviews were conducted with each pilot and this process continued until theoretical saturation was reached. In this study, a total of 10 pilots were interviewed and the obtained data were classified and coded. Results: The analysis of the findings led to the identification of the influences of human interactions on the psychological preparation of pilots in the form of interactions between the flight crew, interactions between teams related to flight, and interactions outside the work environment. Interactions between the flight crew were extracted as interactions between pilots and other flight personnel and topics such as respect for the job position. Interactions between flight-related teams were inter-sectoral interactions and were identified in the form of relationships between pilots with air traffic controllers and other non-flight sectors. Finally, most of the interactions outside the work environment were related to the pilots' family issues. Conclusions: This study showed that there may be many undesirable interactions in different occupational and family areas of pilots that may lead to their psychological unpreparedness. This demonstrates the need to improve the quality of in-service training for pilots in relation to issues such as flight interactions and interactions between pilots and their families.

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Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a strategic model in relation to the factors threatening the mental health and family structure of employees of the subsidiary staff of oil company, with emphasis on the focus of the third type of change. Methods: In this study, a qualitative approach and grounded theory methodology was used. The statistical population included all subsidiary personnel of South Zagros Oil Company and Falat Ghareh. Targeted sampling was started from those who had information about the subject. Then, considering the direction of information, the theoretical sampling continued  until theoretical development and saturation was achieved. The sample size was closely related to the saturation level. Data were collected through in-depth, qualitative semi-structured interviews. In addition to the interview, the researchers also collected information by forming a focal group. In this study, analysis of three types of open coding, axial coding, and selective coding was used. Findings: After three-step coding, 74 initial codes, 21 axial codes and final 5 nuclear codes were obtained. The final codes of the research were: job and organizational strategies, family strategies, personal and family functionalism, individual strategies, and metaphysics; the last three codes were based on type-three changes. Conclusion: The model obtained from the results of this study included all three types of changes of type one, type two, and type three, which can eventually be used as a complete reference for developing strategies to deal with mental health threats as an individual dimension, and with family structure as an interpersonal dimention, for the oil company’s satellite personnel.

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Aim: This research was conducted with the aim of developing and validating the model of marital satisfaction in pandemics and investigating its effectiveness on psychological well-being being during the coronavirus pandemic. Methods: In this research, a mixed research method was used (in the qualitative part, the systematic method of grounded theory and in the quantitative part, the semi-experimental method and single-subject method with AB design). The research participants in the qualitative part were 24 married women (12 with marital satisfaction and 12 without marital satisfaction) who were selected by following the necessary criteria and the purposive sampling method until data saturation was reached. The target population in the quantitative section was married women aged 25 to 55 with children aged 6 to 13 in Tehran, 3 of whom were selected by purposive sampling and participated in the intervention. The data collection tool in the qualitative part was a semi-structured interview, and in the quantitative part, The ENRICH Marital Satisfaction (EMS) Scale (1993) and Ryff Psychological Well-being (PWB) Questionnaire (1988). The data were analyzed in the qualitative part, using the Strauss and Corbin constant comparison analysis method (in three stages of open, axial and selective coding and in the quantitative part, based on visual analysis indicators. Findings: Data analysis in the qualitative section led to the identification of 79 open codes and 26 axial codes and 4 selective codes including: “communication needs; Personality characteristics; social factors and behavioral strategies". After integrating the categories, the model of marital satisfaction during the coronavirus pandemic was developed and its content validity was confirmed. The results of the research in the quantitative part showed the effectiveness of the model-based intervention on psychological well-being. Conclusion: Based on the results of the present research, the extracted model can be used to conduct counseling interventions in the fields of couple and family to facilitate adaptation to similar crises.

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Aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the communication actions of successful marriages. Method: This study was conducted in a qualitative manner based on grounded theory.  Society: The research includes successful couples based on their own admission, examining the achievements of their joint lives and implementing the Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire (1993), the short form of which was validated by Alidousti et al  successful and satisfied were selected. In total, (10 couples) were studied in Ahvaz city in 1401 by purposeful sampling until the theoretical saturation of the data. The data collection tool was a semi-structured interview using Strauss and Corbin's method of constant comparison analysis. Findings: The analysis of the findings showed that communication actions in successful marriages have four main components including, main family functions, suitable marriage formation factors; Effective communication skills and character formation in childhood. Conclusion: A successful marriage is related to the family structure of people. Therefore, experts can use the concepts extracted in this research to identify and examine the communication characteristics of successful families, which is a guide in couples therapy and pre-marital counseling.