Evaluating the Impact of Attachment-Based Couple Therapy Intervention on Enhancing Emotional Security in Marital Relationships
Keywords:
Couple therapy, Attachment theory, Emotional security, Marital relationshipsAbstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a couple therapy intervention on enhancing the sense of emotional security in marital relationships, with a specific focus on restructuring attachment styles and strengthening emotional bonds.
Methods and Materials: This applied research employed a quasi-experimental design using a pretest-posttest model with a control group. The statistical population consisted of couples who sought services at counseling centers in Tehran in 2025. Participants were selected through purposive and voluntary sampling, and 30 couples were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups after screening. The experimental group participated in ten weekly 90-minute sessions of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), while the control group received no intervention. The research instruments included the Inventory of Secure Emotional Expression (ISES), the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire, and a demographic information form. Data were collected at two time points and analyzed using independent t-tests and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) via SPSS version 26.
Findings: The results revealed that the intervention had a significant effect on improving the quality of the couples’ relationships. The posttest results of the independent t-test indicated that the mean scores of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group across all measured components (p < .001). The components showing the greatest differences included trust in the partner, overall marital satisfaction, effective communication, and emotional acceptance and support. Additionally, ANCOVA results, while controlling for pretest effects, confirmed a significant difference between the groups in the posttest stage (p < .01). The highest F values were related to fundamental components of marital relationships such as trust, perceived partnership, and overall marital satisfaction. Overall, the findings demonstrated that the intervention effectively enhanced multiple dimensions of couple relationships.
Conclusion: The findings indicated that the proposed intervention had a significant and positive impact on improving the quality of couple relationships, such that the experimental group showed significantly better performance than the control group in all examined components. These results confirm the efficacy of the intervention in enhancing various aspects of marital relationships, including trust, overall satisfaction, emotional support, and effective communication.
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