Proposing an integrated model of emotional focused approach and Gottman model and its effectiveness on quality of marital relationship in married women

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated model of emotionally focused approach and Gottman model on the quality of marital relationship in married women. In this study the quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test and follow up with a control group were used. The study population included married women who went to Tehransar health center, district 21. The sample consisted of 26 volunteer participants, which were selected using convenience sampling method, in two groups, including experimental (n = 13) and control (n = 13) groups. All participants were asked to complete the Perceived Relationship Quality Components (PRQC) questionnaire. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA). Results showed that the integrated model of emotionally focused approach and Gottman model significantly increased marital relationship quality and its six subscales (relationship satisfaction, trust, commitment, intimacy, passion, and love). Additionally, using repeated measures in the follow-up conducted one month later showed satisfactory results about the effectiveness of the integrated model in the experiment group. Therefore, it can be concluded that the specifically designed integrated model of emotionally focused approach and Gottman model can be used to increase the quality of marital relationship for married women.

Keywords


Johnson, S. M. (2003). The Revolution in couple therapy: A practitioner-scientist perspective. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 29(3), 365-384.
Johnson, S. M. (2004). The practice of emotionally focused couple therapy (2nd Ed.). New York, NY: Brunner-Routledge.
Johnson, S. M. (2007). The contribution of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 37, 47-52.
Johnson, S. (2008). Hold me tight: Seven conversations for a lifetime of love. New York, NY: Little, Brown.
Kazemi, P., Aghamohammadian, Sh. H., Modares, Gh. M., Mahram, B. (2012). The efficacy of life-enhancement program on mental health and marital satisfaction. Research in Clinical Psychology and Counseling, 1 (2), 71-86 (In Persian).
Khazeni, S. (2016). The effectiveness of marital training based on Gottman’s model on marital adjustment and relationship beliefs. Shahid Beheshti University. Master’s thesis (In Persian).
Lavis-sorokowsk, M., (2003).Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy. ProQuest Dissertation & Theses.Lebow, J. (1997). The integrative revolution in couple and family therapy. Family Process, 36(1), 1-17. Lebow, J. (2003). Integrative family therapy for disputes involving child custody and visitation. Journal of family Psychology, 17(2), 181.
Locke, K. D. (2008). Attachment styles and interpersonal approach and avoidance goals in everyday couple interactions. Personal Relationships, 15, 359-374.
Lute, M. (2015). The relationship between Gottman’s four horsemen of the apocalypse mindfulness, and relationship satisfaction. (Doctoral dissertation, Indiana University of Pennsylvania).Markman, H. J., Renick, M. J., Floyd, F. J., Stanley, S. M., & Clements, M. (1993). Preventing marital distress through communication and conflict management training: a 4-and 5-year follow-up. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 61(1), 70. McGoldrick, M., & Carter, B. (2001). Advances in coaching: Family therapy with one person. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 27(3), 281-300.
Metz, M. E., & Epstein, N. (2002). Assessing the role of relationship conflict in sexual dysfunction. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 28, 139–164.
Meunier, V. (2013). How I Integrate Gottman Method Therapy and Susan Johnson’s Emotionally Focused Therapy in My Work with Couples. https://www.gottman.com/blog/featured-blogger-vagdevi-meunier-psyd.
Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2003). The attachment behavioral system in adulthood: Activation, Psychodynamics, and interpersonal processes. In M. P. Zanna (Ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology (vol35). San Diego: Academic Press.
Najafi, M., Soleimani, A. A., Ahmadi, K., Javidi, N., Hoseni, E., Pirjavid, F. (2015).The study of the effectiveness of couple emotionally focused therapy (EFT) on increasing marital adjustment and improving the physical and psychological health of the infertile couples . Iranian Journal of Obstetrics Gynecology andInfertility, 7 (133), 8-21 (In Persian).
Noftle, E. E., & Shaver, P. R. (2006). Attachment dimensions and the big fivepersonality traits: ssociations and comparative ability to predict relationship quality. Journal of Research in Personality. 40, 179-208.
Rajaei, A. (2015). The effectiveness of couple therapy based on Gottman’s method of decreasing emotional divorce among conflicted couples in Mashhad city. Ferdowsi university of Mashhad. Master’s thesis (In Persian).
Randall C. Wyatt. (1998). An Interview with John Gottman.
Ranjbari, M. (2013). Compare the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy (EFCT) and solution-focused (SFCT) on marital happiness and attitudes inefficient communication. Ferdowsi university of Mashhad. Master’s thesis (In Persian).
Rodrigues.J (2009).Attachment Style and Intimacy satisfaction .Keam University for the degree of M A .Psychology.
Sakizadi, F., Zahrakar, K., Sanaee Zaker, B., Ahmadi, M. (2014). The effectiveness of marital skills training based on Guttman’s Model on marital happiness. Counseling Research & Developments, 13 (52), 37-50 (In Persian).
Sandberg, J. G. kenstel, A. (2011). The experience of learning emotionally focused couples Therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. 37 (4), 393-410.
Sandford, K. (2006).Communication during marital conflict: When couple alter appraisal, they change their behavior. Journal of Family Psychology. 20(2):256-65.
Snyder, D. K., Castellani, A. M., & Whisman, M. A. (2006). Current status and future directions in couple therapy. Annu. Rev. Psychol., 57, 317-344.
Westerop, Karem. (2002). Building healthy couple relationship: Do communication skills, gender, hope, and family types make a difference? Doctoral dissertation, Trinity western university. Canada.
Wilcox, W.B., & Nock, S.L. (2006). Commitment to marriage, emotional engagement key to wives happiness. www.physorg.com.1519-1530.
Yeh, H. C., Lorenz, F. O., Wickma, K. A. S., Conger, R. D., & Elder, G. H., Jr.(2006). Relationship among sexual satisfaction, marital quality and marital instability at midlife. Journal of Family Psychology, 20, 339-343.