اثربخشی مشاوره عصب‌شناسی بر صمیمیت زناشویی، تعارض زناشویی و رضایت زناشویی

فاطمه جمشیدی; مصطفی  بلقان آبادی; احمد  منصوری

Authors

Fatemeh Jamshidi Phd Student, Department of Counseling, Ar.C., Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9243-2841
Mustafa Bolghan-Abadi Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran Corresponding author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5916-8217
Ahmad Mansouri Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Ne.C., Islamic Azad University, Neyshabur, Iran Author

Keywords:

Neurocounseling, Marital Intimacy, Marital Conflict, Marital Satisfaction, QEEG

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of neurocounseling in improving marital intimacy and marital satisfaction and reducing marital conflict among women attending a counseling center. This applied experimental study employed a pretest-posttest-follow-up design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of 340 women who attended Behesht Counseling Center in Arak, Iran, in 2025. Using convenience sampling, 44 eligible women were selected and randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group, with 22 participants in each group. The experimental group received an eight-session neurocounseling intervention based on QEEG assessment and neuroscience-informed counseling techniques, whereas the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Bagarozzi Marital Intimacy Needs Questionnaire, the Kansas Marital Conflict Scale, and the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc comparisons were conducted using SPSS. The main effect of group on marital intimacy was significant (F=11.69, p<.001, η²=.22), and a significant time effect was also observed (F=68.28, p<.001, η²=.62), whereas the time-by-group interaction was not significant (p=.052). For marital conflict, neither the time effect (p=.108), group effect (p=.529), nor time-by-group interaction (p=.752) was statistically significant. Regarding marital satisfaction, both the group effect (F=8.21, p=.006, η²=.16) and the time-by-group interaction (F=12.47, p<.001, η²=.23) were significant. Bonferroni comparisons further indicated significant between-group differences in marital satisfaction at posttest and follow-up (p<.001). Neurocounseling appears effective in enhancing marital intimacy and marital satisfaction among women; however, it does not appear sufficient as a standalone intervention for reducing marital conflict. Integrating neurocounseling with direct couple-therapy approaches and communication-skills training may therefore yield more comprehensive improvements in marital functioning.

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