Journal of Counseling Research

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Aim: The aim of this study was to explain the relationship between self-differentiation and forgiveness with marital satisfaction based on the mediating role of religious orientation. Methods: The research method was descriptive-correlational and the statistical population included all married teachers working in the sixth and seventh grade in Tehran's 6th educational district, with a total of 4,080 people, among whom 28 schools and 304 volunteer teachers were randomly selected. To collect research data, the following tools were used:  Differentiation of Self Inventory by Skowron, E. A., & Schmitt (2003), Family Forgiveness Scale by Pollard, Anderson, Anderson & Jennings (1998), Religious Orientation Questionnaire by Allport & Ross (1967), and ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale by Fournier, Olson & Druckman (1983) were used. After deleting 10 distorted questionnaires and 3 outliers, structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. Results: In this study, the direct path coefficient between internal religious orientation and marital satisfaction (P<0.01, β=0.337) was positive and significant at the 0.01 level. Indirect path coefficient between self-differentiation and marital satisfaction (β = 0.149, P <0.01) and indirect path coefficient between forgiveness and marital satisfaction (P <0.01, β = 0.129) were positive and significant at 0.01 level. Conclusion: Since internal religious orientation can be effective in improving relationships and marital satisfaction, it is suggested that in marital counseling, strengthening the religious beliefs of couples be used.

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The purpose of the present study was to qualitatively study the factors on marital satisfaction from the viewpoint of divorced women before and after marriage. Methods: A qualitative study design based on grounded theory was used. Among the women who referred to the family court of Meybod city and were separated from their husbands, 12 women were selected to participate in the study. The sample size was selected based on theoretical saturation and data was obtained using a semi-structured deep interview. Findings: Results show divorced women before their marriage, either had specific and postmodern viewpoint toward marital satisfaction, or had idealistic and superficial viewpoint about marital life considering a minimal number of problems. After divorce, they believed in concrete and specific criteria for achieving marital satisfaction. The factors affecting marital satisfaction from the viewpoints of the participants before their marriage were classified in concepts such as idealism, superficial, attitudinal understanding, non-specific attitude; after divorce these factors were classified in concepts such as behavior and emotion control, personal and family fitness, rational-intellectualism, management of relationships, and accountability. However, before marriage, divorced women believed in logical criteria, which were retained after divorce. Conclusion: Based on the results, it can be concluded that change in postmodern, unrealistic, and idealistic ideas about marital satisfaction and the tendency to accept the realities of marital relationship can play an effective role in preventing divorce.

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This research investigates mediating role of relationship attributions and marital forgiveness on the relationship between neuroticism, attachment styles and marital satisfaction. Methods: The research method was descriptive-correlational and used path analysis. Total of 240 male and females were selected among all married males and females in Shahrekord city using purposive sampling method according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. They responded to Quality of Marital Index (Norton), Relationship Attribution Measurement (Fincham & Bradbury), the Neuroticism Subscale (Costa & McCrae), Behavioual Systems Questionnaire (Furman & Wehner), Experiences in Close Relationship (Wei & et al), and Interpersonal Forgiving in Close Relationships (McCullough, & et al.). Findings: The results showed that evaluated structural model had good fit. The relationship attributions, marital forgiveness, neuroticism, attachment styles directly affected the marital satisfaction (p<0.001); also indirect effect of attachment styles through relationship attributions and marital forgiveness on marital satisfaction (p<0.001). Finally, indirect effect of neuroticism of through only marital forgiveness on marital satisfaction. Conclusion: Family counselors and psychologists should help couples whose lives have faced difficulties because of and/or attachment styles (avoidance) to eliminate distorted cognitions and promote forgiveness among them.

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Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the dimensions of intimacy, commitment, and marital satisfaction in couples with and without pre-marrital counseling. Methods: The present study is a causal-comparative study, and the statistical population includes two groups of married people in Tehran between 2018-2019, one of which had experienced premarital counseling while the other group did not have this experience. The sample consisted of two groups of married people using available and convenient sampling method which consisted of total of 60 couples. Three questionnaires of intimacy, commitment and marital satisfaction were applied. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics indices and the mixed variance analysis method using SPSS software. Results: Findings showed that there was a significant difference between the two groups regarding the dimensions of marital intimacy in the dimension of psychological intimacy. And comparing the dimensions of marital commitment in the two groups showed that there is a significant difference in the dimension of personal commitment. Comparison of the dimensions of marital satisfaction showed that the counseling group in the dimension of children and parenting was significantly higher than in the counseling group. Conclusion: Therefore, it seems that pre-marital counseling programs need training and interventions in order to promote intimacy, commitment, and marital satisfaction.

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Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of applying the principles of Impact Therapy on problem-solving skills, hopefulness, and life satisfaction in teenage girls living in families with high tension. Methods: This research, in terms of purpose was an applied study using the pretest-posttest control group method. From the community of the 16 to 18-year-old girls from currently divorced parents who had referred to the court during the past 5 years. Individuals were selected through convenience sampling. The life satisfaction questionnaire by Diener, Basadur Creative Problem-Solving and Hopefulness questionnaires were used to collect data. Findings: Intergroup comparison showed that the difference between the mean scores of life satisfaction (p=0.042), problem-solving skills (p=0.049), and hope (p=0.012) between the experimental and control groups was significant. Therefore, administering group Impact Therapy was effective and increased life satisfaction, problem-solving skills and hope of adolescent girls in stressful families. Results: Impact Therapy helped participating teenagers cope with and overcome their stress by promoting resilience. Teenagers from tension-filled families became more determined individuals and gained more control over the events surrounding them. In other words, these interventions helped people to better deal with various issues in life and even consider unpleasant events as opportunities.

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Aim: This study aimed to explain the relationship between personality model and life satisfaction with the mediating role of coping styles and sources of control among Iranian and Armenian students. Methods: The present study population included all Iranian and Armenian students who were studying in Iranian and Armenian universities in the 2009-2010 academic years. For sampling, 768 Iranian and 768 foreign students were selected using a random sampling method. Data were obtained using the NEO (1985) five-factor personality questionnaire, Carver's stress coping (1989), Rutter's control source (1996), and the life satisfaction of Diner et al. (1985). Correlation and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data. Findings: The results showed that all direct paths in the model except the effect of the agreement on the source of control were significant. Also, all indirect paths except the path of the effect of the agreement on life satisfaction through the source of control and the path of the effect of conscientiousness on life satisfaction were significant with the mediating role of the negative emotion-oriented style. Finally, there was a significant relationship between personality traits and control source, coping styles, and satisfaction in Iranian and Armenian students (P <0.05) and the assumed model had a good fit.
Conclusion: As a result, people should use the source of internal control, conscientiousness, flexible personality, and problem-oriented coping style to increase life satisfaction.

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Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the lived experience of employees of services division from their job and employment status. Methods: The research method utilized was qualitative and descriptive phenomenology. The study population was all employees of Services Division working at the University of Guilan. Participants in the study were also selected in a purposeful and criterion-focused manner. Their number was also selected according to the theoretical saturation of 9 people. The data collection tool was also a semi-structured interview. Results: Findings were analyzed using the Colaizzi method. As a result of the analysis, 5 main themes and 21 subcategories were obtained. The first main theme was injustice, which included the sub-categories of unfair judgment, feeling of discrimination, feeling of injustice, high work pressure, high work expectations, and lack of support. The second main theme of low self-esteem with sub-categories was lack of credibility, not being seen, being humiliated, not being valued, not being respected and not being understood. The third main theme was the lack of motivation for progress, which includes the categories of helplessness and despair from changing the existing situation, lack of promotion and job promotion. The fourth main theme was not benefiting from job privileges, which included the subcategories of insufficient salary, delay in receiving salary, lack of loans, lack of supplementary insurance, lack of leave, and the fifth main theme was lack of job satisfaction, which included the subcategories of lack of motivation, Job insecurity and instability. Conclusion: The findings of the present research showed that service sector employees do not have a positive psychological experience of their job situation. These findings can be used for managers of recruitment companies and employers.

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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 aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching emotion management strategies based on Emotional Focus Therapy approach on improving marital satisfaction. Methods: The present study is a quasi-experimental study. The statistical population of this study consisted of all couples who referred to counseling centers in Saadatabad region in Tehran during the year 2021. For sampling, all couples interviewed were selected through convenient sampling and had referred to Amin Pajooh and Binesh Counseling Centers.  After conducting an interview based on marital self-disclosure, 47 couples were identified as conflicted, all of whom volunteered to attend treatment sessions. Among them, 32 couples were randomly assigned to the experimental group (16 couples) and the control group (16 couples). To test the hypothesis, analysis of covariance was done using SPSS-22 software. Findings: According to table 4-11, the proportion of F covariance analysis for family functioning (P=0/001 and F=26/2) and for marital satisfaction (P=0/001 and F=37/3) were obtained. The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference in marital satisfaction during pre-test, post-test and follow-up. Eta squared size shows that 31% of intra-group changes can be explained by receiving training in emotion management strategies on marital satisfaction.  Conclusion: According to the findings, it can be said that emotion management strategies have an effect on marital satisfaction. As a result, this training can be used in couple therapy interventions.

 

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Aim: There are many problems in couples who experience infidelity, and one of the effective methods in this area is schema therapy. The present study was conducted with the aim of determining the effectiveness of schema therapy on boredom and marital satisfaction in people who cheat in marriage. Methods: The current research was semi-experimental. The statistical population of the current research included clients who had experience cheating and had visited Sahel Counseling Center in Tehran during the winter and spring of 2022. The sample of 40 people were selected by purposful sampling method and randomly divided into two groups (20 people in each group) including experimental and control groups. The experimental group underwent schema therapy intervention and the control group did not receive any interventions. The measurement tools included the Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire and the Pines Marital Discomfort Questionnaire. Multivariate analysis of covariance test was used for analysis. Findings: The results showed that schema therapy is significantly effective in modulating all three components of marital dissatisfaction as well as improving all components of marital satisfaction except financial management and relationships with children (p<0.01). Conclusion: In general, the results of this research showed that schema therapy is useful in changing aspects of loneliness and marital satisfaction and can be used to reduce family and psychological problems of people who cheated.