The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Couple Therapy and Islamic Spirituality Therapy on Conflict Management and Psychological Flexibility among Couples Referred to Counseling Centers in Bushehr
Keywords:
Mindfulness-Based Couple Therapy, Islamic Spirituality Therapy, Conflict Management, Psychological Flexibility, CouplesAbstract
This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based couple therapy and Islamic spirituality therapy in improving conflict management and psychological flexibility among couples referred to counseling centers in Bushehr. This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest design with a control group. The statistical population comprised couples referred to counseling centers in Bushehr, from whom 60 participants were recruited through voluntary sampling and assigned to the mindfulness-based couple therapy, Islamic spirituality therapy, and control groups. Data were collected using Rahim’s 28-item Conflict Management Styles Questionnaire and Dennis and Vander Wal’s 20-item Psychological Flexibility Questionnaire. Each intervention was delivered in six weekly 90-minute sessions. The data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance and follow-up univariate analyses of covariance while controlling for pretest scores. Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the combined conflict-management components (Wilks’ Lambda=0.148, F=21.92, p<0.0001, η²=0.852). Follow-up analyses indicated significant intervention effects on integrating (F=16.91, η²=0.424), dominating (F=6.86, η²=0.230), obliging (F=19.66, η²=0.461), avoiding (F=20.44, η²=0.471), and compromising styles (F=12.18, p=0.002, η²=0.346). A significant between-group effect was also found for psychological flexibility (F=9.82, p=0.003, η²=0.219), indicating significantly greater improvement in the intervention groups than in the control group. Mindfulness-based couple therapy and Islamic spirituality therapy appear to be effective interventions for improving conflict-management styles and psychological flexibility among couples and may therefore be incorporated into counseling programs designed to enhance adaptive marital functioning.
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