The effectiveness of Emotional Focused Couple Therapy on fear of intimacy and experiential avoidance couples with a stonewalling communication style in covid-19 pandemic

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

department of educational sciences, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad university, Rudehen, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: Experiential avoidance and fear of intimacy are the characteristics of couples with a stonewalling communication style that poses a serious risk to the stability of life. Aims:The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of EFCT on experiential avoidance and fear of intimacy of couples in Tehran with a stonewalling communication style in 1400 during the epidemic of Covid-19 pandemic.
Method: The present research is a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, follow-up and control group. The statistical population of this research was the stonewalling couples in Tehran in 1400 who responded positively to the invitation for cooperation in the present research in virtual networks. A total of 40 individuals (20 pairs) were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Participants in the experimental and control groups responded to the Multidimensional Experiential Avoidance Questionnaire(MEAQ) and Fear of Intimacy Scale(FIS) in three stages of pre-test, post-test and follow-up. Then, Emotional Focused Group Couple Therapy(EFGCT) was performed only for the experimental group in 10 online group sessions. Data were analyzed using ANOVA with repeated measure.
Results: The results showed that emotion-oriented couple therapy reduced the fear of intimacy and experimental avoidance and their components in couples with stone wall communication style (P <0.01).
Conclusions: Based on the results, attention to this approach in treatment programs and counseling as an effective method to reduce fear of intimacy and experimental avoidance of couples in Tehran with a stone wall communication style can be useful.

Keywords


Miller J. Multiple Sclerosis. In: Ronald P, editor. Merritts text book of, neurology. Philadelphia: Lippincott &
Wilkins; 2000.
2. Coleman CI, Sidovar MF, Roberts MS, Kohn C. Impact of mobility impairment on indirect costs and healthrelated quality of life in multiple sclerosis. Plos One. 2013; 8(1):1-8
3. Harizchi ghadim S, Ranjbar Kuchsaryi F, Talebi M, Zakaria M. [Effects of ‘’written emotional expression” on
anxiety and depression in patients with multiple sclerosis (Persian)]. Current Journal of Neurology (Iranian
Journal of Neurology). 2013; 8(25):465-75.
4. 19.Snyder CR, Lopez SJ. Handbook of Positive Psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2001.
5. 20.Miri F, Ghodsi P. [The relationship between lifestyle and life expectancy with psychological well-being of
patients with Multiple Sclerosis (Persian)]. Depiction of Health. 2018; 8(4): 202-8.
6. Snyder R, Anderson J. Hope and health: measuring the will and ways handbook of social and clinical
psychology: the health perspective. New York: Program Press; 1991.
7. Soundy A, Benson J, Dawes H, Smith B, Collett J, Meaney A. Understanding hope in patients with Multiple
Sclerosis. Physiotherapy. 2012 Dec 1;98(4):344-50.
8. Seligman MEP, Csikszentmihalyi M (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist,
159-160.
9. Snyder CR (2000). Handbook of hope: theory, measures, and applications. Academic Press: USA.
10. Lynch SG, Kroencke DC, Denney DR (2001). The relationship between disability and depression in multiple
sclerosis: the role of uncertainty, coping, and hope. Mult Scler.7(6):411-6.
11. Vellone E, Rega ML, Galletti C, Cohen MZ (2006). Hope and related variables in Italian cancer patients.
Cancer Nurs, 29(5):356-66.
12. Vandar, W. S. P., Evers, A., Gongen, P. J., Bleijenberg, G. (2003). The role of hopelessness as Mediator
between neurological disabilities, emotional instability. Experienced fatigue and depression in patient with
Multiple Sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis. 9 (1), 89 – 94.
13. Shun SC, Hsiao FH, Lai YH, Liang JT, Yeh KH, Huang J. Personality trait and quality of life in colorectal
cancer survivors. InOncol Nurs Forum 2011 May 1 (Vol. 38, No. 3, pp. E221-E228).
14. Abedini E, Ghanbari-Hashem-Abadi BA, Talebian-Sharif J. [Effectiveness of group therapy based on hope
approach on hope and depression in women with Multiple Sclerosis (Persian)]. Journal of Clinical Psychology.
2016; 2(30):1-11.
15. Rezaii A, Refahi Zh, Ahmadikhah MA. [Effectiveness of group logo therapy to reduce depression in patients
with cancer (Persian)]. Journal of Psychological Models and Methods. 2012; 2(7):37-46.
16. Leahy R.L. (2012). Emotional Schema therapy: A bridge over Troubled Waters in: Herbert JD, Forman EM
editors. Acceptance and Mindfulness in cognitive Behavior Therapy: Understanding and Applying in New
Therapies. New York; John Wiley Sons.
17. Rezaei M, Ghadampur E, Kazemi R. Effectiveness of Emotional Schema Therapy on rumination and severity
of depression in patients with major depressive disorder. J Clin Psychol; 2016; 7 (4): 45-58
18. Khaleghi M, Mohammadkhani S, Hasani J. Effectiveness of Emotional Schema Therapy in Reduction of
Worry and Anxiety's Signs and Symptoms in Patients with Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Single-Subject
Design. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 2016; 2 (30).
19. Erfan A, Noorbala AA. , Mohammadi A, Adibi P. The effectiveness of emotional schema therapy on the
severity and frequency of physical symptoms and life quality of patients with irritable bowel syndrome: singlesubject design. Scientific - Research Journa l of Shahed University 24th Year; 2016; No. 12.
20. Nikyar H, Reisi Z, Farokhi H. Efficacy of Cognitive-behavioral Group Therapy for Depression in Patients with
Brain Tumors and Increased Hope. Jorjani Biomed J. 2013; 1 (2) :56-63
21. Leahy RL, Tirch D, Napolitano LA. Emotion regulation in psychotherapy. New York: The Guilford Press;
2011.