Massoumeh Jalili, Zahra Eftekhar Saadi, Reza Pasha, Parviz Askary, Fariba Hafezi,
Volume 21, Issue 81 (5-2022)
Abstract
Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Imago-Therapy and Transactional Analysis in improving communication skills, conflict resolution, and rejection sensitivity of couples referred to Masjed Soleiman counseling centers. Methods: The method of this experimental study was pre-test and post-test, with follow-up, on an experimental and control groups. The statistical population of this study included all couples who referred to Masjed Soleiman counseling centers in 2019. Four counseling centers were selected randomly from the statistical population, and then 20 couples (40 persons) were randomly assigned into two experimental groups (10 couples for each group). Experimental groups were trained for ten 1.5 hour sessions. To collect the data, Quinn Dam Communication Skills Questionnaire, Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ), and Marital Conflict Questionnaire (MCQ) were used. Multivariate repeated measures analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. Findings: The results of the analysis showed that Transactional Analysis was more effective on the variables of communication skills, conflict resolution and rejection sensitivity than imago-therapy (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, it can be said that imago-therapy and transactional analysis effective on communication skills, conflict resolution, and rejection sensitivity of couples, but transactional analysis was more effective than imago-therapy.
Mojtaba Hafezi, Masoud Janbozorgi, Masoud Azarbayejani,
Volume 25, Issue 97 (5-2026)
Abstract
Ai,m: The present study aimed to explore the lived experience of factors sustaining distress following romantic breakup among women and men who had experienced a romantic breakup within the cultural context of Iran. ▌Methods: This study was conducted using a qualitative approach based on Bengtsson’s (2016) qualitative content analysis method. The study population consisted of all men and women residing in the city of Qom who had experienced a romantic breakup. Using purposive sampling with maximum variation and continuing sampling until data saturation was achieved, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants (10 women and 5 men). Data analysis was carried out through four stages: decontextualization, recontextualization, categorization, and compilation. To ensure the trustworthiness of the findings, the four criteria of credibility, confirmability, transferability, and dependability were evaluated according to the standards proposed by Lincoln and Guba. To strengthen dependability, 10 experts reviewed the findings, and the Content Validity Index (CVI) was calculated to confirm the adequacy of the extracted categories. ▌Results: The findings indicated that the factors sustaining distress following romantic breakup comprised 14 subcategories, 2 categories, and 1 overarching theme. These factors included sustaining reactions (failure to terminate contact, insistence on meeting again, pursuing the former romantic partner, frequent exposure to reminder cues, social withdrawal and inactivity, self-harming behaviors, and low social support) and sustaining cognitions (conflicting spiritual cognitions, conflicting personal cognitions, rumination about causal explanations, self-blame, hope for the relationship’s restoration, suppression of thoughts and emotions, and thoughts of meaninglessness and emptiness). ▌Conclusion: The findings of this study provide a basis for developing culturally grounded counseling and therapeutic interventions that can be applied in counseling centers and psychological services with the aim of reducing the clinical symptoms associated with romantic breakup.
