مقایسه اثربخشی زوج‌درمانی هیجان‌مدار و زوج‌درمانی سیستمی بر اختلالات خلقی و میزان ارتباط ایمن در زوجین ناسازگار دارای تعارض

فاطمه کیانی پور; امیر پناه علی; سید داوود حسینی نسب; شهرام واحدی

Authors

Fatemeh Kianipor Department of Psychology and Counseling, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5269-8205
Amir Panah Ali Department of Psychology and Counseling, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran Corresponding author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8403-7841
Seyed Davoud Hosseininasab Department of Psychology and Counseling, Ta.C., Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0056-4191
Shahram Vahedi Department of Educational Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6573-2294

Keywords:

Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy, Structural Couple Therapy, mood disorders, depression, anxiety

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) and systemic couple therapy in reducing mood-related symptoms, including depression and anxiety, and improving secure relating dimensions, including accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement, among maladjusted couples experiencing marital conflict. This applied study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with two intervention groups and one control group. The statistical population consisted of maladjusted couples with marital conflict who attended Hekmat Bakhsh Clinic in Tehran in spring 2025. A total of 42 participants were selected through purposive sampling and allocated to three groups: emotionally focused couple therapy, systemic couple therapy, and control, with 14 participants in each group. Data were collected using the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) and the Brief Accessibility, Responsiveness, and Engagement Scale (BARE). The emotionally focused intervention was implemented based on Johnson’s model, whereas the systemic intervention followed Minuchin’s structural/systemic approach. Data were analyzed using within–between repeated-measures analysis of variance, multivariate analyses, and post-hoc comparisons. Inferential analyses indicated significant main effects of time and significant time×group interaction effects for both anxiety and depression (p<0.01), demonstrating significant reductions following the interventions. Significant time and time×group effects were also observed for accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement (p<0.01), indicating improvements in secure relating. Post-hoc comparisons demonstrated that reductions in anxiety and depression were significantly greater in the emotionally focused couple therapy group than in the systemic therapy and control groups. Similarly, improvements in accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement were significantly greater following emotionally focused couple therapy than systemic couple therapy and the control condition (p≤0.05). Both emotionally focused and systemic couple therapies were effective in reducing mood-related symptoms and strengthening secure relating among maladjusted couples; however, emotionally focused couple therapy demonstrated greater effectiveness across all assessed outcomes. Its direct emphasis on underlying emotional experiences, attachment needs, and restructuring negative interactional cycles may provide a more effective mechanism for simultaneously improving emotional well-being and relational security in couples experiencing marital conflict.

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