Investigating the effect of acceptance and commitment therapy on emotional empathy, adaptability, emotional inadequacy and marital functioning in incompatible young couples.
Investigating the effect of acceptance and commitment therapy on emotional empathy, adaptability, emotional inadequacy and marital functioning in incompatible young couples.
Design
A controlled, randomized clinical trial on 52 people, using the table of random numbers.
Settings and conduct
The target community includes all the incompatible young couples of Yazd city who refer to the counseling and divorce centers of this city in 1402. The research design of the current study is a clinical trial research method with pre-test and post-test measurements in both groups (experimental group and control group) with a six-month follow-up period.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Having at least 3 years of living together; Ability to participate in meetings as two people. Exclusion criteria: Suffering from severe psychiatric or medical disorders.
Intervention groups
For the experimental group, a specific treatment protocol based on acceptance and commitment is performed in 8 sessions of 60 to 90 minutes per week and as weekly group sessions (one session per week).
Investigating the effect of acceptance and commitment therapy on emotional empathy, adaptability, emotional inadequacy and marital functioning in incompatible young couples.
Public title
Investigating the effect of ACT treatment on cognitive and emotional variables in incompatible young couples.
Purpose
Treatment
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Having at least 3 years of cohabitation.
Ability to participate in meetings as two people.
Age range 20 to 35 years.
Exclusion criteria:
Suffering from severe medical or mental disorders
The person is undergoing psychotherapy with another method.
Action and involvement in the divorce process.
Marital infidelity in the first years after marriage.
Age
From 20 years old to 35 years old
Gender
Both
Phase
N/A
Groups that have been masked
No information
Sample size
Target sample size:
52
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
All 3 sampling centers provided the researcher with a list that only included the surnames of the men, their contact number and the date of their visit to the center. In the next step, with the list of people in hand, which actually only includes men (wives), 52 items will be marked from among the items in the list through the table of random numbers. It should be noted that the process of random numbers will be done using the kitset.ir site. In the next step, within 3 days from 5 to 8 August 1402, each of the numbers will be contacted and the first questions will determine whether the reference is still married or not. If couples do not meet the initial conditions in the sampling process, randomization will be done again from the rest of the list.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Not blinded
Blinding description
Placebo
Not used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics Committee of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Street address
Tehran Province, Tehran، Velenjak، Bldg No.2 SBUMS, Arabi Ave
City
Tehran
Province
Tehran
Postal code
1985717443
Approval date
2023-07-01, 1402/04/10
Ethics committee reference number
IR.SBMU.MSP.REC.1402.143
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Spousal incompatibility and divorce.
ICD-10 code
ICD-10 code description
Primary outcomes
1
Description
One of the influential components of couples' conflicts and incompatibility is emotional empathy. Emotional empathy is actually the result of intimacy, personal romantic relationship based on recognition and understanding and expression of emotions. Emotional empathy is one of the important factors of a stable marriage and its deficiency can cause problems in the marriage relationship. Emotional empathy and creating a sincere relationship with one's spouse is one of the main reasons for marriages in the last century. Research shows that emotional empathy is one of the main variables of marital satisfaction and usually couples with higher satisfaction show more empathy. Emotional empathy in couples has a direct impact on life satisfaction and is the main factor in preventing relationship aggression in couples. Also, proper emotional empathy in couples reduces the amount of personal distress and makes couples deal with incompatibilities with more positive emotions. In simpler terms, emotional empathy makes couples perceive conflict more fairly and more satisfactorily and use more friendly conflict resolution methods. Glaser suggests that the lack of emotional empathy is one of the main causes of couples' incompatibility, which arises due to the inability to recognize the needs of the other party and the lack of compatibility in satisfying personal and common needs. Researches show that conflicted couples are not able to accept the emotional conditions of themselves and their spouses, they have a deficiency in empathy, and for this reason, they use ineffective emotion-oriented coping strategies. For this reason, it is important that the emotional empathy of the couple is corrected and restored. The inability to empathize emotionally in couples is the result of not recognizing emotions and feelings and trying to control and restrain emotions and cognitions. As a result, ACT with the components of acceptance and increasing awareness of the present moment can be effective in improving emotional empathy in couples.
Timepoint
In the present study, measurements are taken once before the intervention, once after and once again 6 months after the intervention.
Method of measurement
Epstein's Emotional Empathy Questionnaire is used to measure this variable.
Secondary outcomes
1
Description
Another component that can be affected by conflicts and incompatibilities in marriage is adaptability. Adaptability is actually a balanced process of attachment, personal independence and emotional connection with clear boundaries in couples. In simpler terms, adaptability is the ability of couples to manage relationships and roles and includes components such as leadership, conversation style, and conflict resolution strategies. Researches consider adaptability in couples in four categories: dry and low level, structured or average, flexible or appropriate, and chaotic or without specific boundaries. Therefore, in the marital incompatibility of couples, their adaptability is reduced and the satisfaction and happiness resulting from the relationship is threatened. For this reason, it is necessary to use trainings and methods to increase the level of adaptability in couples with conflict. Research shows that the ability to adapt is greater in people who have more self-awareness and have a greater capacity to coordinate emotions and behavior. Therefore, the component of mindfulness in therapy based on acceptance and commitment can help increase the level of adaptability.
Timepoint
It is measured in 3 stages before and after the intervention and 6 months after the end of the treatment.
Method of measurement
Olson et al.'s adaptability questionnaire is used.
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention group: In this research, the 8-session treatment protocol based on acceptance and commitment by Forman and Herbert is used. Each session will be around 60 to 90 minutes, and the sessions will be centered around achieving creative frustration and values-based action, respectively.
Category
Behavior
2
Description
Control group: The control group in the present study is actually a waiting group, and after the posttest and follow-up process, the same treatment method that was done for the intervention group is also done for them in order to comply with the ethics in the research.
Category
Behavior
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Yazd Divorce Counseling and Prevention Center
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Yusuf Sabbagh
Street address
Yazd - Imam Javad neighborhood - Yas St
City
Yazd
Province
Yazd
Postal code
8949193775
Phone
+98 35 3833 6981
Email
closet749@gmail.com
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Abbas Masjidi Arani
Street address
Tehran-Volanjak-Arabi St.-Taleghani Hospital.
City
Tehran
Province
Tehran
Postal code
1985717443
Phone
+98 21 23871
Email
dean.medicalschool@sbmu.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Amir Masoud Mirbagheri
Position
student
Latest degree
Master
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Valenjak - Arabi St. - Taleghani Hospital
City
Tehran
Province
Tehran
Postal code
1985717443
Phone
+98 21 23871
Email
goosheamm@gmail.com
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Amir Masoud Mirbagheri
Position
student
Latest degree
Master
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Valenjak- Arabi St.- Taleghani Hospital
City
Tehran
Province
Tehran
Postal code
1985717443
Phone
+98 21 23871
Email
goosheamm@gmail.com
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Amir Masoud Mirbagheri
Position
student
Latest degree
Master
Other areas of specialty/work
Psychology
Street address
Velanjak- Arabi Street- Taleghani Hospital
City
Tehran
Province
Tehran
Postal code
1985717443
Phone
+98 21 23871
Email
goosheamm@gmail.com
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Study Protocol
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Data Dictionary
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Title and more details about the data/document
After the current research, the existing databases are used for data sharing.
When the data will become available and for how long
After doing the research
To whom data/document is available
Researchers and researchers
Under which criteria data/document could be used
Only for use in other research
From where data/document is obtainable
They can refer to the declared database.
What processes are involved for a request to access data/document
First the approval of the executive team and then access