Document Type : Research/Original/Regular

Authors

• Mahsa Rabiei ¹
• Hossein Ebrahimi moghaddam ²
• Fariba Hasani ³

¹ Master of Personality Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran.

² Associate Professor of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen Branch, Tehran, Iran

³ Associate Professor of Psychology. Islamic Azad University of Tehran center Branch, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effect of acceptance and commitment therapy on differentiation of self and irrational beliefs of women with marital conflicts. This study is a pre-test-post-test of applied purpose and methodologically in terms of semi-experimental research. The statistical population included all women with marital conflicts in Tehran, which 30 participant (15 in experimental group) And 15 participant in the control group were selected. Self-Differentiation (DSI), Marital Conflict(R-MCQ) and Jones Irrational Beliefs (IBT) Questionnaire, were used to collect data. After collecting data, they were analyzed using SPSS-23 statistical software and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA). The results showed that among the components of Emotional Reactivity; “I” Position; Emotional Cutof and Fusion with others, as well as expecting approval from others; high self-expectations; blame proneness; frustration reaction; Emotional irresponsibility; anxious over concern, problem avoidance; Dependency; Helplessness for change and perfectionism, There is a difference between the experimental and control groups, which is also statistically significant. Findings show that ACT has been effective in differentiating of self and irrational thoughts in women with marital conflicts.

Highlights

Background and Purpose

Conflicts and psychological pressures are inseparable from married life (Yousfi and Karimnejad, 2017). The way marital conflicts are managed is the main factor in improving the quality of marital life and intimate relationships between couples (Papp, 2017). The strategies couples use to solve their conflicts are an important predictor in solving these conflicts and the family's mental health (Lee et al., 2017). One of the main areas for the emergence and influence of irrational and ineffective beliefs is married life (Haratian et al., 2020). One of these interventions that can solve marital conflicts by influencing self-differentiation and irrational thoughts is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

According to ACT, pervasive mindfulness is the state of not being distracted by thoughts and being open, interested, and accepting of the experience as it arises in the present moment (Eilenberg et al., 2017). Acceptance and commitment therapy focuses on the client's behavioral functioning rather than its etiology while encouraging openness to more established therapeutic traditions (Hayes, 2006).

 Numerous studies have been done in the area of acceptance and commitment therapy, but the subjects of these studies were not women who were experiencing marital conflict.

Received: 19  December  2022                                                                     Accepted: 25 April 2023

The replication of implementing this therapy approach can serve as evidence that it is beneficial in dysfunctional populations. Given the significance of the current study, the aim of this investigation is to examine the efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in enhancing self-differentiation and reducing irrational thoughts among women experiencing marital conflict. The current study posits two hypotheses: firstly, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is efficacious in improving self-differentiation among women experiencing marital conflict, and secondly, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is efficacious in reducing irrational thoughts among women experiencing marital conflict..

Method

The present investigation is characterized as an applied study in terms of its purpose and is semi-experimental in terms of its methodology. The study's population consisted of women experiencing marital conflict in Tehran. From this population, 30 participants were selected, with 15 participants assigned to the experimental group and 15 to the control group. The study employed the Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI), the Revised Marital Conflict Questionnaire (R-MCQ), and Jones' Irrational Beliefs Test (IBT). The data were analyzed through SPSS-23 statistical software using Multivariate Analysis Of Covariance (MANCOVA).

Findings

The findings revealed that there is a difference between the experimental and control groups that is also statistically significant for the emotional reactivity, "I" position, emotional cutoff, and fusion with others, as well as demand for approval, high self-expectations, blame proneness, frustration reaction, emotional irresponsibility, anxious overconcern, problem avoidance, dependency, helplessness, and perfectionism components. The results indicate that the utilization of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has yielded positive outcomes in enhancing self-differentiation and minimizing irrational beliefs among women who have experienced conflict in their marriages.

Table 1. Regression coefficients and significance test for predicting readiness for marriage

The findings presented in Table 1, pertaining to multivariate analysis of variance, indicate that after controlling for the pre-test effects, a statistically significant difference exists between the experimental and control groups at a 95% confidence level (p < 0.05). Upon controlling for the pre-test effects, it has been observed that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy has yielded significant improvements in self-differentiation among women experiencing marital conflicts.

Table 2. Tests of Between-Subjects Effects

The findings presented in Table 4 indicate that, following the adjustment of pre-test effects, a statistically significant difference was observed between the experimental and control. This difference was significant at a 95% confidence level (p≤ 0.05). The study found that the application of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for irrational thoughts in women experiencing marital conflicts yielded positive results after controlling for pre-test effects.

Discussion and Conclusion

The efficacy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may be attributed to its emphasis on fostering concordance between spouses and instructing them on adaptive coping strategies for dealing with challenging aspects of marital life rather than attempting to control these stressors and sources of conflict. The literature (Bond & Bunes, 2003; Hayes et al., 2006) indicates that experiential avoidance is linked to various behavioral and psychological issues. The findings pertaining to the second hypothesis indicate that there exists a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of the components of demand for approval from others; high self-expectations; blame proneness; frustration reactive; emotional irresponsibility; anxious overconcern; problem avoidance; dependency; helplessness to change; and perfectionism, after controlling for the effects of the pre-test. The observed difference is statistically significant, indicating that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is efficacious in mitigating irrational thoughts among women experiencing marital conflict after controlling for pre-test effects. This finding is consistent with the outcomes of previous studies conducted by Jafari and Pouyamanesh (2020), Fasihi et al. (2017), and Sin and Lyubomirski (2009). The present finding can be explained by stating that the utilization of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy techniques, such as meditation practices, experiential exercises, metaphors, and linguistic contracts (Hayes & Strosahl, 2011), frequently enhances individuals' capacity for adjustment.

Keywords

• acceptance and commitment therapy
• differentiation of self
• irrational beliefs
• marital conflicts

20.1001.1.23452692.1402.11.2.6.4

Main Subjects

• Woman and family