The effectiveness of self-differentiation training on family process and marital intimacy in couples with marital conflict

Background: The rising prevalence of marital conflict and its detrimental impact on individual and family well-being underscores the urgent need for effective interventions. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of self-differentiation training on family process and marital...

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Main Authors: Seyedeh Farzaneh Jafari, Kobra Kazemian Moghaddam, Maryam Gholamzadeh Jofreh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services 2024-11-01
Series:Preventive Care in Nursing and Midwifery Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://nmcjournal.zums.ac.ir/article-1-940-en.html
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author Seyedeh Farzaneh Jafari
Kobra Kazemian Moghaddam
Maryam Gholamzadeh Jofreh
author_facet Seyedeh Farzaneh Jafari
Kobra Kazemian Moghaddam
Maryam Gholamzadeh Jofreh
author_sort Seyedeh Farzaneh Jafari
collection DOAJ
description Background: The rising prevalence of marital conflict and its detrimental impact on individual and family well-being underscores the urgent need for effective interventions. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of self-differentiation training on family process and marital intimacy in couples with marital conflict. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design was utilized. The study population comprised all couples residing in Ahvaz, Iran, aged between 20 and 45, who sought divorce counseling at psychological centers in 2023. A convenience sample of 30 couples was recruited. Participants completed the Family Process Scale and the Marital Intimacy Scale at baseline, post-intervention, and a 45-day follow-up assessment. The intervention consisted of eight weekly 90-minute self-differentiation training sessions. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Post-hoc comparisons were conducted employing the LSD test. Results: A significant increase in family process scores was observed between the pre-test and post-test assessments among couples experiencing marital conflict (p<0.001). Similarly, significant improvements in marital intimacy were found between the pre-test and both the post-test and follow-up assessments (P<0.001). These sustained effects at follow-up indicate the long-lasting impact of self-differentiation training. Conclusion: Self-differentiation training significantly improved family processes and marital intimacy in couples experiencing conflict, suggesting its effectiveness in addressing the core issues underlying marital discord. Therefore, mental health professionals and family therapists should consider incorporating self-differentiation training into their practice when working with couples experiencing marital conflict, particularly those considering separation or divorce.
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spelling doaj-art-477ac09339774d68a90c9f1be1036dd42025-02-04T09:14:09ZengZanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health ServicesPreventive Care in Nursing and Midwifery Journal2588-44412588-445X2024-11-01144526010.61186/pcnm.14.4.52The effectiveness of self-differentiation training on family process and marital intimacy in couples with marital conflictSeyedeh Farzaneh Jafari0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1556-2922Kobra Kazemian Moghaddam1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5457-8105Maryam Gholamzadeh Jofreh2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2516-7619Department of Counseling, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, IranDepartment of Psychology, Dezful Branch, Islamic Azad University, Dezful, IranDepartment of Counseling, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, IranBackground: The rising prevalence of marital conflict and its detrimental impact on individual and family well-being underscores the urgent need for effective interventions. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of self-differentiation training on family process and marital intimacy in couples with marital conflict. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design was utilized. The study population comprised all couples residing in Ahvaz, Iran, aged between 20 and 45, who sought divorce counseling at psychological centers in 2023. A convenience sample of 30 couples was recruited. Participants completed the Family Process Scale and the Marital Intimacy Scale at baseline, post-intervention, and a 45-day follow-up assessment. The intervention consisted of eight weekly 90-minute self-differentiation training sessions. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Post-hoc comparisons were conducted employing the LSD test. Results: A significant increase in family process scores was observed between the pre-test and post-test assessments among couples experiencing marital conflict (p<0.001). Similarly, significant improvements in marital intimacy were found between the pre-test and both the post-test and follow-up assessments (P<0.001). These sustained effects at follow-up indicate the long-lasting impact of self-differentiation training. Conclusion: Self-differentiation training significantly improved family processes and marital intimacy in couples experiencing conflict, suggesting its effectiveness in addressing the core issues underlying marital discord. Therefore, mental health professionals and family therapists should consider incorporating self-differentiation training into their practice when working with couples experiencing marital conflict, particularly those considering separation or divorce. https://nmcjournal.zums.ac.ir/article-1-940-en.htmlself-differentiationfamily processintimacyfamily conflict
spellingShingle Seyedeh Farzaneh Jafari
Kobra Kazemian Moghaddam
Maryam Gholamzadeh Jofreh
The effectiveness of self-differentiation training on family process and marital intimacy in couples with marital conflict
Preventive Care in Nursing and Midwifery Journal
self-differentiation
family process
intimacy
family conflict
title The effectiveness of self-differentiation training on family process and marital intimacy in couples with marital conflict
title_full The effectiveness of self-differentiation training on family process and marital intimacy in couples with marital conflict
title_fullStr The effectiveness of self-differentiation training on family process and marital intimacy in couples with marital conflict
title_full_unstemmed The effectiveness of self-differentiation training on family process and marital intimacy in couples with marital conflict
title_short The effectiveness of self-differentiation training on family process and marital intimacy in couples with marital conflict
title_sort effectiveness of self differentiation training on family process and marital intimacy in couples with marital conflict
topic self-differentiation
family process
intimacy
family conflict
url https://nmcjournal.zums.ac.ir/article-1-940-en.html
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