The Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy on Psychological Well-Being and Cognitive Flexibility in Couples Seeking Divorce
Keywords:
emotion-focused couple therapy, components of psychological well-being, cognitive flexibility, couples seeking divorceAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of emotion-focused couple therapy on psychological well-being and cognitive flexibility among couples seeking divorce.
Methods and Materials: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest and control group. The statistical population consisted of couples seeking divorce who referred to psychological centers in Mashhad in 2024. A total of 30 participants were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Data were collected using the Ryff Psychological Well-Being Questionnaire and the Dennis and Vander Wal Cognitive Flexibility Questionnaire. The intervention consisted of eight 90-minute sessions of emotion-focused couple therapy based on Johnson’s protocol. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests in SPSS.
Findings: The results indicated significant differences in adjusted mean scores between experimental and control groups in posttest and follow-up stages for psychological well-being and cognitive flexibility (p < 0.001). The intervention demonstrated large and meaningful effect sizes, and Bonferroni comparisons confirmed significant differences across measurement phases.
Conclusion: Emotion-focused couple therapy is an effective intervention for improving psychological well-being and cognitive flexibility in couples seeking divorce and can contribute to enhancing emotional adjustment and relational functioning.
Downloads
References
Abadian, A., & Bikalari, Z. (2023). Examining the Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy on the Psychological Well-being of Married Couples in Babol City. Proceedings of the Third National Conference and the First International Conference on Research and Innovation in Psychology, with a Special Focus on Transdiagnostic Therapies, https://civilica.com/doc/1928325/
Akbari Zargar, N., Haqayeq, A., Jahanian, S., & Jabal Ameli, S. (2021). Comparing the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy on the Psychological Well-Being of Individuals with Cardiac Arrhythmia. Cardiovascular Nursing Journal, 10(1), 62-71. https://journal.icns.org.ir/article-1-696-en.html
Alavi, A. M. (2024). Investigating the effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy on psychological well-being and improving the quality of life of divorced women in Gonbad-Kavoos city. Scientific Journal of Modern Research Approaches in Management and Accounting, 8(28), 575-592. https://majournal.ir/index.php/ma/article/view/2499
Alizadeh, A., Afkaneh, S., & Banisi, P. (2022). The Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy on Psychological Flexibility, Vitality, and Happiness in Couples. Journal of Psychology and Educational Sciences in the Third Millennium(15). https://www.noormags.ir/view/en/articlepage/1971952
Ardestani Balaei, Z., Bani Si, P., & Zomordi, S. (2021). The effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy on psychological well-being, social acceptance, and social competence of teachers. Journal of Educational Sciences and Counseling Research, 7(14), 147-168. https://educationscience.cfu.ac.ir/article_1855.html?lang=en
Ardestani, S. Y., Shakib, N., & Yousefi, S. (2021). The Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Cognitive Therapy on Cognitive Flexibility and Rumination of Adolescents With Practical Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Journal of Studies and Psychological in Adolescents and Youth, 2(1), 160-170. https://doi.org/10.52547/jspnay.2.1.160
Azandaryani, M., Khooyinejad, G., & Akbari Amraghan, H. (2022). Comparing the Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Emotional Self-Regulation and Psychological Well-Being of Couples. Applied Family Therapy, 3(1), 223-242. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.aftj.3.1.12
Deyreh, E. (2021). Effectiveness of Emotion-focused Therapy-based Enrichment Program on Psychological Well-being, Marital Relationship Quality and Marital Satisfaction in Mothers of Children with Specific Learning Disabilities. Razavi International Journal of Medicine, 9(1), 63-68. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Effectiveness-of-Emotion-focused-Therapy-based-on-Deyreh-Asgarian/1226861926d939367faec258f814736a665775eb
Golestanifar, S. (2025). Comparison of the Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused and Compassion-Focused Couple Therapy on Covert Relational Aggression and Psychological Well-Being in Cardiovascular Patients. Injoeacs, 6(1), 157-165. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.ijecs.6.1.16
Goudarzi, M., & Shiri, F. (2020). The effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy on cognitive flexibility and social commitment in couples seeking divorce. Quarterly Journal of Applied Psychology, 14(56), 345-368. https://www.magiran.com/paper/
Hatami, S., Khakpur, M., & Safarian Tosi, M. R. (2023). Comparing the Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Group Exercises and Emotion-Focused Group Therapy on Psychological Well-Being of Hospitalized Patients Recovered from Covid-19. Research in Clinical Psychology and Counseling, 13(1), 64-86. https://tpccp.um.ac.ir/article_44080.html?lang=en
Hosseinzadeh, Z., Qorban Shiroodi, S., Khalatbari, J., & Rahmani, M. A. (2020). The effectiveness of emotion-focused couples therapy on action flexibility and distress tolerance in couples. Applied Family Therapy, 1(3), 23-38. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.aftj.1.3.3
Mazloom, M., Mohammadi Khani, S., & Akbari, M. (2020). Comparison of cognitive-behavioral therapy and emotion-focused therapy in the psychological adjustment of women with breast cancer: The role of cognitive and emotional flexibility, values-based action, and illness perception as mechanisms of change, Kharazmi University.
Mirlouhian, M., Alizadeh, Z. H., Ashkar, B., & Eshaq, S. (2021). Comparing the effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy and Reality Therapy in reducing depressive symptoms and enhancing functional flexibility in couples with marital issues. Applied Family Therapy, 6(2), 250-269. https://ensani.ir/fa/article/496243/
Naseri, K., & Sharifi, A. (2017). The effectiveness of emotion-focused therapy on subjective well-being and personal-social adjustment in divorced women. Research Journal of Women and Culture, 9(34). https://sanad.iau.ir/en/Article/920081?FullText=FullText
Shirmardi, N. (2025). Examining the Relationship Between the Effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy and Emotion-Focused Therapy on Enhancing Flexibility in Individuals With Psychoactive Substance Intoxication. Hn, 3(2), 16-25. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.hn.3.2.3
Shojaeian, S., Khajavand Khoshli, A., Asadi, J., & Azizi, L. S. (2023). Comparing the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy with emotion-focused therapy on cognitive flexibility and impulsivity in adolescents with internet addiction. Journal of Nurse and Physician in Combat, 11(40), 26-33. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/380140314_Comparison_of_the_Effectiveness_of_Mindfulness-Based_Cognitive-Behavioral_Therapy_with_Emotion-Focused_Therapy_on_Sensation_Seeking_in_Adolescents_with_Internet_Addiction
Taghinasab Ardehani, J. M. P. (2018). The Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy on Marital Functioning and Psychological Well-Being of Women with Marital Conflicts. Scientific Journal of Medical Sciences University, 20(3ER -). https://www.sid.ir/paper/79297/fa
Timulak, L., & McElvaney, J. (2016). Emotion-Focused Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: An Overview of the Model. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 46(1), 41-52. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-015-9310-7
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Maryam Golrokh, Abolfazl Bakhshipour, Mahmoud Jajerami (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
