The Effectiveness of Communication Skills Training on Forgiveness, Empathy, and Marital Burnout in Couples Applying for Divorce
Keywords:
Couples applying for divorce, Marital burnout, Empathy, Forgiveness, Communication skillsAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of communication skills training on forgiveness, empathy, and marital burnout in couples applying for divorce.
Methods and Materials: A semi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group was employed. The sample included 30 couples from Tehran, randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group participated in ten 90-minute communication skills training sessions, while the control group was placed on a waiting list. Data were collected at pretest, posttest, and two-month follow-up using standardized questionnaires for forgiveness, empathy, and marital burnout. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and repeated measures ANOVA.
Findings: Results indicated that communication skills training significantly increased forgiveness and empathy and significantly reduced marital burnout in the experimental group (P<0.001). These effects persisted at the two-month follow-up. Significant differences between the experimental and control groups over time were observed. Bonferroni post-hoc tests showed significant changes from pretest to posttest and from pretest to follow-up, while differences between posttest and follow-up were not significant, indicating the stability of intervention effects.
Conclusion: Communication skills training is an effective intervention to enhance forgiveness and empathy and reduce marital burnout among couples applying for divorce, with effects maintained up to two months post-intervention.
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