اثربخشی زوج‌درمانی هیجان‌مدار بر ناگویی هیجانی زوجین دارای تعارض زناشویی

فاطمه بذرگرزاده; سیده سریرا   هاشمی پور

Authors

Fatemeh Bazregarzadeh Department of Psychology,BA.C.,Islamic Azad University,Bandar Abbas.Iran. Corresponding author https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6432-2890
Seyede Sarira Hashemipour Department of Psychology,BA.C.,Islamic Azad University,Bandar Abbas.Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7685-0365

Keywords:

Emotion-focused couple therapy, emotional alexithymia, marital conflict

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of emotionally focused couple therapy (EFT) in reducing alexithymia and its dimensions among couples experiencing marital conflict in Bandar Abbas. This applied study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with an experimental and a control group. The statistical population consisted of couples experiencing marital conflict in Bandar Abbas during 2024–2025. Using convenience sampling and online recruitment, 30 couples were selected and assigned to an experimental group and a control group, with 15 couples in each group. The experimental group received 12 online 60-minute sessions of emotionally focused couple therapy based on Johnson’s protocol, whereas the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Barati Marital Conflict Questionnaire and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance and Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons in SPSS version 24. Analysis of covariance indicated that emotionally focused couple therapy had a significant effect on difficulty identifying feelings (F=32.817, p<0.001, η²=0.374). The intervention also produced a significant effect on externally oriented thinking (F=27.410, p<0.001, η²=0.333). However, its effect on difficulty describing feelings was not statistically significant (F=1.773, p=0.188, η²=0.031). Bonferroni-adjusted comparisons further demonstrated significant differences between the experimental and control groups in difficulty identifying feelings (MD=-5.347, p<0.001) and externally oriented thinking (MD=-5.725, p<0.001). The largest intervention effect was observed for difficulty identifying feelings, accounting for 37.4% of the variance, followed by externally oriented thinking, accounting for 33.3%. Emotionally focused couple therapy can effectively reduce important dimensions of alexithymia, particularly difficulty identifying feelings and externally oriented thinking, among couples experiencing marital conflict. Accordingly, EFT may be incorporated into couple counseling and therapeutic programs to enhance emotional awareness, facilitate healthier emotional processing, and improve emotional interactions between partners.

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