Journal of Counseling Research

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Introduction: Emotional or silent divorce is the most dangerous type of divorce. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of reality-based couple therapy and group forgiveness therapy on marital adjustment, emotional differentiation, and intimacy of divorced couples.
Materials and Methods: The research design of this study is semi-experimental and the type of design is multi-group pre-test and post-test. The statistical population is all married couples referred to Tabriz Andisheh Relief Centers and Allameh Amini for counseling. Purposeful sampling was performed based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria (year of marriage, age, education and emotional divorce), thus, 42 patients (21 couples) were randomly divided into three reality therapy groups. (8 sessions), forgiveness therapy (8 sessions) and control group were selected. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to analyze the results and repeated measures test was used to evaluate the scores at follow-up.
Results: Findings indicated that despite the favorable effect of both therapies, reality therapy had more significant effect on adaptation variable than therapeutic forgiveness. Also, none of the above treatments had a significant effect on the differentiation variable, and only the reality therapy had a significant effect on the intimate variable.
Conclusion: Training the principles of reality therapy, informing the spouses about the severity of their needs and creating a sense of responsibility for the satisfaction of their needs can play an important role in establishing and improving intimate relationships and couple adjustment.
 

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Aim: Adolescent aggression causes significant disruption to one’s individual and interpersonal life and, if left unchecked, can change their destiny. The purpose of this study was to conduct a comparison between the effects of two approaches, namely metacognitive therapy and dialectical behavior therapy, on reducing aggression in adolescent boys with divorced parents. Methods: The design of the present study was a quasi-experimental research including control group with pre-test, post-test and follow-up. The sample, consisting of 36 male students whose parents were divorced, was selected by convenience sampling method. The research tool was Aggression Questionnaire (Buss & Perry,1992). Research data were analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Findings: The analysis of covariance in adolescents undergoing dialectical behavior therapy (p <0.05) and metacognitive therapy (P <0.01) interventions showed significant results. Both groups showed less aggression than adolescents in the control group and a significant difference was observed between the effects of these two types of interventions in reducing aggression. Conclusion: Based on the findings and the two-month follow-up, it can be concluded that dialectical behavior therapy reduced aggression among children of divorce by changing the components of emotional regulation, and metacognitive therapy did so by changing negative and irrational cognitions

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The aim of this study was to present a model for predicting emotional divorce based on attachment styles, personality traits and job self-efficacy mediated by perceived social support in employed married women. The method of this research was descriptive-correlational and explanatory with a structural model approach. 400 people were selected from the community of married women working in Tehran Municipality by cluster random sampling method. Guttman Emotional Divorce Questionnaire, Collins and Reed Attachment Questionnaire (1996), NEO-FFI Personality Traits, Job Self-Efficacy (Riggs & Knight, 1994) and Perceived Social Support Questionnaire (MSPSS) were used to collect data. The results showed that the highest factor load belongs to the indicator of individual consequences (β = 0.882) and the smallest factor load belongs to the indicator of individual beliefs (β = 0.675) job self-efficacy. Thus, considering that the factor loads of all indicators were higher than 0.32, it can be said that all of them have the necessary power to measure the latent variables of the present study. The results showed that according to the obtained results, perceived social support can play a mediating role between emotional divorce, attachment styles, personality traits and job self-efficacy in married working women.

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Abstract
 
Aim: The present study was conducted to investigate the life experience of divorced men and women in coping with divorce. Methods: This qualitative study was performed using phenomenological methodology. The research was conducted using purposive sampling of divorced individuals in Shiraz during 1398-99. Finally, after conducting 22 semi-structured interviews, data saturation was reached. The interviews were analyzed using the phenomenological methodology. Results: In this study, 3 main themes and 12 sub-themes were obtained, which are: 1- Family is an effective source in achieving adaptation, 2- Individual resilience, and 3- Social resilience. The theme of family as a source includes 2 sub-themes: Emotional support, material support (acceptance, sympathy, housing, etc.), individual resilience theme including 5 sub-themes of mourning, connection to spirituality, accepting divorce, moving towards excellence, controlling emotions (thanksgiving, accepting current living conditions, planning for the future, growing positive emotions, etc.). The theme of social inclusion includes 2 sub-themes of personal growth, earning income and financial independence (strengthening individual skills, earning income and economic stability, etc.). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate the need for comprehensive attention to the issues of divorced men and women after separation and to take effective measures to empower them to achieve adaptation to the conditions after separation

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Aim: Today, considering the growing divorce and its consequences in society, it is important to examine it in different aspects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of narrative medical exposure on quality of life and emotional regulation of divorced women in zarrinshahr city (Iran). Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest and control group. The statistical population of the present study consisted of all divorced women of Zarrinshahr Relief Committee. A sample of 30 women under the Imam Khomeini Relief Organization was selected by voluntary sampling method and randomly divided into two experimental groups (15 subjects) and control (n = 15). Data were gathered in two stages: pre-test and post-test. World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire Group of Experts of the World Health Organization (1996) and Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (Gross, et al., 2003) were used. The experimental group received 7 days of treatment and 90 minute treatment group (NET); while the control group received no intervention. The collected data were analyzed using univariate covariance (ANCOVA) and analyzed by SPSS-23 software. Findings: The results showed that after controlling the effects of pre-test, there was a significant difference between the post-test scores of the two groups in the dimensions of physical health (F = 369.965; P <0.001), mental health (F = 75.457; P <0.000), Social health (F = 52.905; P <0.003) and environmental health (F = 320.321; P <0.001) and dimensions of cognitive reassessment (F = 260.901; P <0.001) and subduction (1/359; F= P> 0.005). Conclusion: The results of this study show that oral exposure can be a suitable health plan for improving the quality of life and emotional problems of divorced women.

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Aim: Today, divorce is one of the risks threatening marital life which can create many psychological and social problems, in particular, for women, so more attention should be given to it. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the subliminal approach on depression and resilience among women with addict husbands who were appealing to divorce. Methods: The research method was of semi-experimental type in which a pretest-posttest with control group design was used to achieve objectives. The statistical population of the study included all the women with addict husbands appealing for divorce in the first half of 2020 who were referring to different branches of the family courts of Tehran, Iran. Among the population, 30 women meeting the inclusion criteria of the study were selected through available sampling method, and then, were assigned into two experiment and control groups by random assignment method (15 subject in each group). Both groups completed Beck Depression Inventory (1991) and Connor and Davidson’s Resilience Scale (2003). The experimental group was delivered the Subliminal therapy approach and the control group was not delivered any therapy protocol. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics indices and covariance analysis method. Findings: Results showed that the subliminal approach has led to significant reduction in the scores of depression (P<0.01, Ƞ²=0.63) and significant increase in the scores of resilience (P<0.01, Ƞ²=0.68) in the experiment group compared to the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion: According to the results, it can be said that the subliminal approach is effective in reducing depression and increasing resilience in women with addict husbands who appeal for divorce. Therefore, this approach can be used as an appropriate interventional method to cure depression and increase resilience in psychological and counseling centers.

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Aim: Each parent plays a vital role in the life of their children and intergenerational transmission of divorce shows that children who experience the divorce of their parents are more exposed to marital injuries. the goal of this study was to design and validate a model for preventing the intergenerational transmission of divorce in the children of single guardians due to divorce and its effectiveness on boredom and marital expectations. Methods: The present research was conducted with a mixed exploratory type. For the qualitative part of the research, classical grounded theory was used, while for the quantitative part a quasi-experimental method of experimental group - control group with pre and post test with follow-up was used. Research participants in the qualitative section included interviews with 26 couples with single-parent families resulting from divorce and the research sample in quantitative part included 32 couples with a single-parent family due to divorce. The qualitative part of the research was conducted with semi-structured interviews and the research tools in the quantitative part included the Omiedvar Marital Expectations and Pines Marital Burnout Questionnaires. In order to analyze the data, repeated measurement analysis of variance was used. Findings: From the total findings of the qualitative section, five main categories which expressed the marital damage of single-parent children caused by divorce discover and based on them and the opinion of experts the model for prevention of intergenerational transmission of divorce in single-parent children due to divorce was designed. Data analysis showed the effectiveness of the divorce prevention model on intergenerational transmission of divorce on boredom and marital expectations (p<0.01). Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, the model presented in this study can be used in preventing intergenerational transfer of divorce and to ensure and enduring married life for children of divorce

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Aim: Divorce-seeking couples have many problems in their marital relationships, and one of the effective methods in improving the characteristics related to marital life is through offering a combined-approach educational method. The present study was conducted in order to determine the effect of combined therapy based on acceptance and commitment and schema therapy on values ​​and psychological acceptance in couples applying for divorce. Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental with a pre-test/post-test design with a control group. The statistical population included all couples applying for divorce who were referred from Behshahr City Court to counseling centers dedicated to the Divorce Reduction Program, during the second 6 months of 2018. In this clinical trial, 32 people (16 couples applying for divorce) were selected through available sampling method and were randomly divided into two groups of 16 individuals (treatment and control groups). Combined couple therapy intervention based on acceptance and commitment and schema therapy (Liu and McKay, 2012) was implemented in 14 ninety-minute sessions in a group format (treatment group). Research tools included acceptance and action questionnaire (Bond et al., 2011) and personal values ​​questionnaire (Schwartz, 2002). Data analysis was done by multivariate covariance analysis. Findings: The results showed that integrated couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment and schema therapy has significantly led to the improvement of acceptance and practice and values ​​in couples applying for divorce in the post-test stage (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results of the research show the effectiveness of integrated couple therapy based on acceptance and commitment and schema therapy on values ​​and psychological acceptance in couples applying for divorce.

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Aim: This study aimed to investigate the experience of spouse selection in children of divorce. Methods: The present study was a qualitative phenomenological type. The present study's statistical population included 6 women and 4 men who wanted to divorce and had experienced the divorce of their parents in Kermanshah in 2022. The participants were selected by the available sampling method and the sampling continued until data saturation. The data were first recorded and coded to analyze the data, and then they were analyzed using the thematic analysis method. Findings: The results of the research included 6 main themes and 19 sub-themes of the participants' experiences. The sub-themes included negative social attitude, problems of not being distinguished from the family, psychological problems, communication problems with the spouse and the spouse's family, feeling valuable as a person different from the parents, and adapting and building a life different from the parents. Conclusion: The results of the research showed that the children of divorce have negative experiences during the formation of life and marriage, which can lead to wrong choices or incompatibility and mental health problems in them. On the other hand, they also have positive experiences that make them learn from their parent's mistakes and seek education and counseling services to improve their marital life satisfaction and lead a better life than their parents.

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Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of the family counselors of the judiciary system to identify the effective features of the family counseling in reducing family disputes and strengthening the family. Methods: This was a phenomenonological type of qualitative research. The participants in the research included 20 people (13 women and 7 men) whoe were family counselors at the judiciary system in several Iranian cities during 1399-1400 Persian calendar. Participants were selected using the purposeful sampling method according the entry criteria. Sampling continued until saturation was reached. In order to analyze the data, first, the data were recorded and coded, then analyzed using Van Menen's interpretive phenomenological analysis method. Results: The findings of the research included 6 main themes and 33 sub-themes of counselors' experiences as effective therapeutic features. The main themes obtained include: goals pursued to reduce family disputes and strengthening the family, characteristics of counselors, facilitating and promoting measures of counseling alongside the court proceeding, failure of resistance in clients beside the court, interventions to achieve change in order to reduce family disputes and strengthen the family and the characteristics of the counseling location in order to increase the effectiveness of the counseling near the court. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the counselors of the judiciary system who have a lower divorce rate at the end of the counseling sessions and are more successful in solving family problems than their other colleagues, have personal characteristics and principles governing their meetings as such that it provides safe and favorable conditions for this group of clients and paves the way for raising issues, listening to them, and ultimately resolving their concerns

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Aim: This research was conducted to investigate the effect of emotion-focused approach training on improving interpersonal sensitivity in couples on the verge of divorce. Methods: The research method was quantitative and semi-experimental (pre-test-post-test design, with control group). The statistical population of the present study includes couples on the verge of divorce in Tehran province, regions 11 and 12, who are between the ages of 25 and 35 years old and have been selected voluntarily and based on the inclusion criteria for the study. The sample size of the study was 20 couples on the verge of divorce, who were selected by random sampling from couples on the verge of divorce who had referred to legal centers and counseling centers in Tehran for legal matters. The data collection tool was the interpersonal sensitivity questionnaire, and to test the research hypotheses, multivariate analysis of covariance was used with the assumptions (homogeneity of regression coefficients, linearity of the relationship between variables, normal distribution of the studied characteristic, homogeneity of variances). Findings: The results of the study indicate that the dimensions of interpersonal sensitivity (interpersonal awareness, need for approval, separation anxiety, shyness, and low self-esteem) in couples on the verge of divorce who received emotion-focused approach training were lower than those in couples who did not receive this training. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the emotion-focused approach training program had a significant effect on improving interpersonal sensitivity in couples on the verge of divorce and could be considered as an effective training program by psychologists and counselors.