اثربخشی زوج‌درمانی متمرکز بر خشونت خانگی بر احساس گناه، دلزدگی زناشویی و تنظیم هیجان در زنان آسیب‌دیده از خشونت خانگی شهر دزفول

محمدحسین  سبزقبا; فریبا حافظی; فاطمه سادات  مرعشیان

Authors

Mohammad Hossein Sabzeghaba Department of Psychology, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3786-2638
Fariba Hafezi Department of Psychology, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran. Corresponding author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7453-8327
Fatemeh Sadat Marashian Department of Psychology, Ahv.C., Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran. Author https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6316-7040

Keywords:

Guilt, Emotion Regulation, Domestic Violence, Marital Detachment, Couple Therapy

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of domestic violence-focused couple therapy on guilt, marital burnout, and emotion regulation among women victimized by domestic violence in Dezful. This quasi-experimental study employed a pretest–posttest control-group design. The statistical population consisted of women exposed to domestic violence who attended two psychological centers in Dezful in 2026. Thirty eligible participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=15) or a control group (n=15). The experimental group received a domestic violence-focused couple therapy protocol adapted from Stith et al. in 12 weekly 90-minute sessions, whereas the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Kugler and Jones Guilt Inventory, Pines Marital Burnout Scale, and Gross and John Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Multivariate and univariate analyses of covariance were conducted using SPSS version 26. Multivariate analysis of covariance demonstrated a significant overall group effect on the combined dependent variables (Wilks’ λ=0.031, F=240.55, p<0.001, η²=0.95). After controlling for pretest scores, significant between-group differences were found in guilt (F=181.86, p<0.001, η²=0.87), marital burnout (F=382.12, p<0.001, η²=0.93), and emotion regulation (F=409.13, p<0.001, η²=0.93). The intervention significantly reduced guilt and marital burnout while improving emotion regulation among women in the experimental group. Domestic violence-focused couple therapy appears to be an effective intervention for reducing guilt and marital burnout and enhancing emotion regulation among women exposed to domestic violence and may therefore be incorporated into specialized psychological services for this population.

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