Effectiveness of Group Couple Therapy Using the Transactional Analysis Method on Marital Adjustment, Communication Patterns, and Sexual Satisfaction in Couples with Marital Conflicts
Keywords:
group couple therapy using the method of interactional behavior analysis, sexual satisfaction, communication patterns, marital adjustment, marital conflictsAbstract
Objective: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of group couple therapy using the transactional analysis method on marital adjustment, communication patterns, and sexual satisfaction among couples with marital conflicts.
Methods and Materials: The study used a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population included all couples with marital conflicts referred to counseling centers in Arak in 2024. Thirty qualified couples were purposefully selected and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (15 each). Standardized instruments included the Spanier Marital Adjustment Scale (1976), Christensen and Salaway’s Communication Patterns Questionnaire (1984), and Larson’s Sexual Satisfaction Scale (1998). The experimental group received eight 90-minute sessions of group couple therapy based on transactional analysis principles, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA and mixed ANOVA via SPSS-26.
Findings: Results indicated significant differences between groups in marital adjustment, communication patterns, and sexual satisfaction (p<0.001). The experimental group showed significant improvements in marital adjustment (F=15.09, p<0.001), constructive communication patterns (F=15.37, p<0.001), and sexual satisfaction (F=25.77, p<0.001) compared to the control group at posttest and three-month follow-up.
Conclusion: Group couple therapy using the transactional analysis method effectively enhances marital adjustment, improves communication patterns, and increases sexual satisfaction among couples with marital conflicts. It can be considered a practical therapeutic approach to strengthen marital relationships and reduce relational distress.
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