Comparing the effectiveness of emotion regulation training (ETF) and Gutman couple therapy on emotional regulation of married women facing divorce in Tehran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student, Department of Psychology, Arsanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arsanjan, Iran.

2 Professor, Department of Psychology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Department of Educational Sciences, Farhangian University, P.O. Box 14665-889, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: The quality of couples' relationships plays an important role in their mental health, and in cases where couples' interactions are inappropriate, marital conflicts and divorces occur. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to compare the effectiveness of emotional regulation training and Gutman's couple therapy on emotional regulation of married women facing divorce in Tehran.
Method: The research method will be semi-experimental in terms of practical purpose and in terms of data collection with a pre-test and post-test design with an unequal control group. The statistical population of the present study consisted of all women seeking divorce who referred to "Delsa" and "Aramesh" clinics and counseling centers in Tehran in 2023. 48 people were selected from the statistical population using the purposeful sampling method and then randomly assigned to two experimental groups (16 people in the first experiment, 16 people in the second experiment and 16 people in the control group) based on the inclusion criteria. The experimental group participated in therapy sessions. While the control group did not receive the treatment and were put on the waiting list. The research tool, including the emotion regulation scale, was calculated and confirmed by implementing the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) on different samples from two clinical and non-clinical groups.
Results:  The findings of this research showed that there is a difference between the effectiveness of Guttman's model and emotion regulation training on the level of emotion regulation and its components, i.e. non-acceptance, difficulty in purposeful behavior, difficulty in impulse control, lack of emotional awareness, limited access and lack of emotional clarity of women. There is a significant difference in the post-examination and follow-up phase of married people facing divorce. The findings also indicated that despite the effectiveness of emotion regulation training and Gutman, emotion regulation training had a greater effect on emotion regulation and its sub-components.
Conclusion: In general, it can be said that knowing and understanding one's own and others' emotions and using constructive emotional regulation strategies in different situations of life significantly reduces the amount of emotional disturbances and consequently the emotional divorce of women applying for divorce and causes couples to have better relationships. Establish a more favorable marriage.

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