Volume 7, Issue 2 (June 2025)
IEEPJ 2025, 7(2): 1-14 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Alizadeh Sani Z. (2025). Comparing Imago Therapy with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in Effectiveness in Resolving Marital Conflicts and Improving Marital Intimacy. IEEPJ. 7(2), 1-14.
URL: http://ieepj.hormozgan.ac.ir/article-1-1164-en.html
URL: http://ieepj.hormozgan.ac.ir/article-1-1164-en.html
M.A. in Psychology and Director of Astan Mehr Psychology Clinic, Valiasr Branch, Mashhad, Iran , Zohrehalizadehsani@gmail.com
Abstract: (669 Views)
Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Imago Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) in resolving marital conflicts and enhancing marital intimacy among couples.
Methods: A quasi‑experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group was used. The statistical population consisted of all couples who attended the Rasa Counseling and Psychological Services Center between February 20 and May 21, 2022. Using convenience sampling, 24 couples were selected and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group (8 couples per group). Participants completed Sanaie’s Marital Conflict Questionnaire (MCQ) and the Walker and Thompson Intimacy Scale (WTIS) before and after the interventions. The first experimental group received ten 90‑minute sessions of Imago Therapy, and the second experimental group participated in nine 90‑minute sessions of ACT. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA).
Results: The results indicated significant differences between the experimental groups and the control group (p < .05). Both interventions effectively reduced marital conflict and increased marital intimacy. However, ACT produced significantly greater improvements in both variables compared to Imago Therapy.
Conclusions: Both Imago Therapy and ACT can serve as effective interventions for promoting marital adjustment by decreasing conflict and enhancing intimacy. Nevertheless, ACT appears to be the more powerful approach, suggesting that focusing on acceptance, mindfulness, and value‑guided behavior may yield deeper and more lasting relational improvements.
Methods: A quasi‑experimental design with a pretest–posttest control group was used. The statistical population consisted of all couples who attended the Rasa Counseling and Psychological Services Center between February 20 and May 21, 2022. Using convenience sampling, 24 couples were selected and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group (8 couples per group). Participants completed Sanaie’s Marital Conflict Questionnaire (MCQ) and the Walker and Thompson Intimacy Scale (WTIS) before and after the interventions. The first experimental group received ten 90‑minute sessions of Imago Therapy, and the second experimental group participated in nine 90‑minute sessions of ACT. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA).
Results: The results indicated significant differences between the experimental groups and the control group (p < .05). Both interventions effectively reduced marital conflict and increased marital intimacy. However, ACT produced significantly greater improvements in both variables compared to Imago Therapy.
Conclusions: Both Imago Therapy and ACT can serve as effective interventions for promoting marital adjustment by decreasing conflict and enhancing intimacy. Nevertheless, ACT appears to be the more powerful approach, suggesting that focusing on acceptance, mindfulness, and value‑guided behavior may yield deeper and more lasting relational improvements.
Type of Study: Original |
Subject:
Evolutionary Psychology
Received: 2025/01/8 | Accepted: 2025/04/19 | Published: 2025/06/1
Received: 2025/01/8 | Accepted: 2025/04/19 | Published: 2025/06/1
References
1. Abolghasami, M. (2013). The relationships of communication patterns and self efficacy with life satisfaction of married students studying at the Islamic Azad University, Birjand Branch (Master's thesis). Islamic Azad University, Birjand Branch.
2. Amini, N., Ebrahimi, A., & Deire, E. (2017). Effects of imago therapy on adjustment, intimacy, and resilience of couples residing in Bushehr. Journal of New Advances in Behavioral Sciences, 2(9), 75-89.
3. Aslani, Kh., Jameie, M., & Rajabi, Gh. (2015). Effect of imago therapy on quality of marital relationships of couples. Quarterly of Applied Psychology, 9(4), 37-53.
4. Davoudvandi, M. (2018). Effects of Gottman's couple therapy method on marital adjustment and intimacy of Iranian couples. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, 2(13), 135-140.
5. Dokanheeifard, F., & Farahani, F. (2017). Comparison of emotion focused couple therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy on mental health and marital satisfaction of couples. Biannual Journal of the Iranian Psychological Association, 12, 691-695.
6. Edalati, A., & Redshank, M. (2020). Perception of women towards family values and their marital satisfaction. Journal of American Science, 6(4), 132-137.
7. Eilenberg, T., Hoffmann, D., Jensen, J. S., & Frostholm, L. (2017). Intervening variables in group based acceptance and commitment therapy for severe health anxiety. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 92, 24-31. [DOI:10.1016/j.brat.2017.01.009]
8. Eslami Nasab, A. (2013). Group psychotherapy: Principles and techniques. Heram Publication.
9. Fatehizadeh, M., & Ahmadi, S. A. (2005). Investigating the relationship between communication patterns and marital satisfaction of couples working in Isfahan University. Journal of Family Research, 1(2).
10. Hamedi, B., Shafiabadi, A., Navabinezhad, Sh., & Delavar, A. (2015). Effect of emotion focused therapy on marital intimacy. Knowledge and Research in Applied Psychology, 16(2), 77-83.
11. Hendrix, H., & Hannah, M. T. (2013). Imago relationship therapy. In Case Studies in Couples Therapy (pp. 205-215).
12. Hosseini Birjandi, S. M. (2005). Family therapy and marital counseling. Asatir Publication.
13. Hosseini, B. (2011). Analytical couple therapy (Imago therapy): Control and dominance theory (5th ed.). Jangal Publication.
14. Isapour Haftkhani, M. (2015). Analytical comparative study of effects of imago therapy and logotherapy on marital satisfaction. In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Research in Behavioral and Social Sciences (pp. 1-8).
15. Iveniuk, J., Waite, L. J., Laumann, E., McClintock, M. K., & Tiedt, A. D. (2014). Marital conflict in older couples: Positivity, personality, and health. Journal of Marriage and Family, 76(1), 130-144. [DOI:10.1111/jomf.12085]
16. Jacobson, N. S., Waldron, H., & Moore, D. (2000). Toward a behavioral profile of marital distress. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 48, 696-703. [DOI:10.1037//0022-006X.48.6.696]
17. Johnson, S. M. (2004). Creating connection: The practice of emotionally focused couple therapy. Brunner-Routledge.
18. Karairmak, O., & Duran, N. O. (2018). Gender differences in attachment style regarding conflict handling behaviors among Turkish late adolescents. [Journal information incomplete], 30, 220-234. [DOI:10.1007/s10447-008-9059-8]
19. Khodayari Fard, M., & Parand, A. (2012). Stress and coping methods. University of Tehran Press.
20. Khoshsirat, M. (2014). Effects of short term imago therapy on marital adjustment and satisfaction of couples in the first two years of marriage (Master's thesis). Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.
21. Koerner, A. F., & Fitzpatrick, M. A. (2012). You never leave your family in the fight: The impact of family of origin on conflict behavior in romantic relationships. Communication Studies, 53(3), 234-251. [DOI:10.1080/10510970209388588]
22. Matin, H., & Hayati, M. (2017). The effectiveness of IMAGO therapy group training on defensive mechanisms and Women's Problems. Counseling and psychotherapy culture, 8(32), 63-87.
23. Milani Far, B. (2016). Mental health. Ghoomes Publication.
24. Minuchin, S. (1974/2019). Family and family therapy (M. B. Sanaie, Trans.). Amir Kabir Publication. (Original work published 1974). [DOI:10.4159/9780674041127]
25. Muro, L., Holliman, R., & Luquet, W. (2016). Imago relationship therapy and accurate empathy development. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 15(3), 232-246. [DOI:10.1080/15332691.2015.1024373]
26. Robbins, S. (2016). Organizational behavior (A. Parsaian, Trans.). Institute for Trade Studies and Research.
27. Routledge.Zedner, M., & Kloda, I. (2019). Emotional intelligence, conflict resolution patterns, and relationship satisfaction: Actor and partner effects revisited. Personality and Individual Differences, 54, 278-283. [DOI:10.1016/j.paid.2012.09.013]
28. Street, E. (1994/2015). Counselling for family problems (A. Alavinia, Trans.). Fararavan Publication. (Original work published 1994).
29. Zolfahari, M. (2001). The relationship between family power structure and marital satisfaction of working women and housewives (Master's thesis). Al Zahra University.
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
