Comparison of Compassion-Based Positive Couple Therapy and Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy on Positive Emotional Expression Among Young Couples in Tehran
Keywords:
Compassion, based positive couple therapy, emotionally focused couple therapy, positive emotional expression, young couples, marital relationshipsAbstract
Introduction and Aim: Positive emotional expression toward one’s spouse is one of the most important indicators of marital health and relational stability, and its reduction may contribute to emotional conflicts, marital burnout, and emotional divorce. The present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of compassion-based positive couple therapy and emotionally focused couple therapy on positive emotional expression among young couples in Tehran.
Methodology: This study employed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group and follow-up phase. The statistical population consisted of young couples referring to counseling centers in District 5 of Tehran in 2024. A total of 45 couples were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned into three groups of 15 couples, including compassion-based positive couple therapy, emotionally focused couple therapy, and a control group. Both interventions were implemented in fifteen two-hour sessions, while the control group remained on a waiting list. Data were collected using the Positive Emotional Expression Toward Spouse Questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using repeated measures ANOVA, multivariate analysis of variance, and Bonferroni post hoc tests in SPSS-26 software.
Findings: The results of repeated measures ANOVA revealed that the effect of time was significant for general emotional feelings (F = 28.65, P < 0.001) and positive emotional feelings (F = 26.19, P < 0.001). Furthermore, in the positive emotional feelings component, the effect of group (F = 11.64, P = 0.002) and the interaction effect of time and group (F = 3.11, P = 0.049) were also significant. Post hoc analyses demonstrated that both interventions significantly improved positive emotional expression toward spouses at posttest and follow-up stages, although the compassion-based positive couple therapy group showed greater improvement. No significant difference was found between posttest and follow-up scores, indicating the stability of treatment effects.
Conclusion: The findings indicated that both compassion-based positive couple therapy and emotionally focused couple therapy effectively improved positive emotional expression among couples, although the compassion-based approach demonstrated greater effectiveness. Therefore, incorporating compassion- and emotion-based interventions into family counseling programs may enhance emotional relationships and reduce marital conflicts.
Downloads
References
Amini, R., & Eshghi Nogoorani, R. (2024). The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral couple therapy on marital satisfaction, cognitive distortions in interpersonal relationships, and emotional orientation towards sexual relations in married women experiencing marital boredom. https://civilica.com/doc/2120911/
Ammari, S., Deyreh, E., Keykhosrovani, M., & Ganji, K. (2023). The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy on Depressive Symptoms and Sexual Function in Women Affected by Infidelity. Razi Journal of Medical Sciences, 29(7), 54-63. https://www.magiran.com/paper/2520730
Atapour, N., & Darbani, S. A. (2024). Cultural Dynamics in Couple Therapy: Enhancing Marital Intimacy Through Tailored Interventions. Journal of Psychosociological Research in Family and Culture, 2(1), 4-9. https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/jprfc/article/view/1965
Bahrami Hidaji, H., Alkbari, B., & Moghtader, L. (2023). The Effectiveness of an Educational Package for Sustainable Living Based on the Lived Experience of Couples on Their Emotional Intimacy, Marital Adjustment, and Reduction of Marital Conflicts. Journal of Behavioral Science Research, 21(2), 304-316. https://rbs.mui.ac.ir/article-1-1532-en.html
Bibak, M., Hossein Abasi, N., Eteshamzadeh, P., Alipour, H. G., & Aqa Amiri, M. (2025). The Efficacy of Schema Therapy on Emotion Regulation Styles, Emotional Expression, and Marital Satisfaction of Couples on the Brink of Divorce. Iranian Nursing Research Journal, 20(2), 64-78. https://ijnr.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-2074-6&sid=1&slc_lang=en
Dokuzlar, Ş., Özbiler, Ş., Schweer‐Collins, M. L., & Işık, E. (2024). The Mediating Role of Emotional Expressivity Between Differentiation of Self and Co-Dependency Among Couples: A Common Fate Mediation Model. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4283543/v2
Entazarkheir, N., Aliavandi Vafa, M., & Hosseini Nasab, S. D. (2022). Emotional Divorce and Emotional Schemas in Couples with Experience of Emotional Divorce: The Mediating Role of Emotional Intelligence. Applied Family Therapy, 3(2), 361-377. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.aftj.3.2.18
Farokhtaj, M., Marashi, S. A., & Hashemi, S. I. (2024). Comparing the Effectiveness of Positive Psychotherapy with Schema Therapy on Quality of Life and Irrational Beliefs in Couples Seeking Divorce. Psychological studies, 20(4), 121-136. https://doi.org/10.22051/psy.2025.48184.3013
Ghaderi, S. (2024). The Effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy on Emotional Experiences Towards Spouse, Marital Burnout, and Family Relationships of Married Women. PWJ, 5(2), 124-132. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.pwj.5.2.16
Ghaffari, H., Mikaeli Manee, F., & Masoudi, S. (2022). The effectiveness of emotion-oriented therapy on feelings of inferiority, sensation-seeking and attachment styles of married women with experience of extramarital relationships [Research]. Iranian Journal of Rehabilitation Research in Nursing, 9(2), 62-76. https://doi.org/10.22034/IJRN.9.2.7
Ghafourian Mohebi, F., Alivandi Vafa, M., Rasouli, R., & Ramezani, M. A. (2025). Comparison of the Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Therapy in Both Couple and Individual Formats on Experiences in Close Relationships-Relationship Structure (Attachment Security) of Couples with Extramarital Affairs. Clinical Psychology and Personality. https://cpap.shahed.ac.ir/article_4834.html?lang=en
Golestanifar, S. (2025). Comparison of the Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused and Compassion-Focused Couple Therapy on Covert Relational Aggression and Psychological Well-Being in Cardiovascular Patients. Injoeacs, 6(1), 157-165. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.ijecs.6.1.16
Homayi, F., Shalpour, S., Omid Bakhtiari, N., & Mirzaei, Z. (2023). The effectiveness of McMaster systematic couple therapy on self-differentiation, marital burnout, and intimacy in couples experiencing emotional divorce. Journal of Assessment and Research in Applied Counseling, 5(2), 41-47. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.jarac.5.2.6
Jamali, M., Heidari, H., Davoodi, H., & Ghaffari, K. (2024). Comparison of the effectiveness of the Satir communication model and compassion-based cognitive behavioral therapy on behavioral flexibility and anxiety sensitivity in couples with marital conflict. Journal of Assessment and Research in Applied Counseling (JARAC), 6(1), 45-55. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.jarac.6.1.5
Kailanko, S., Wiebe, S. A., Tasca, G. A., Laitila, A. A., & Allan, R. (2022). Somatic experience of emotion in emotionally focused couple therapy: Experienced trainer therapists' views and experiences. Journal of marital and family therapy, 48(3), 677-692. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jmft.12543
Losy, E., & Sinitsaru, L. (2022). Features of Interpersonal Relationships and Emotional Experiences in Married Couples Depending on the Length of Family Life. Выпуск 4(142), Pages 129-139. https://doi.org/10.25730/vsu.7606.21.056
Mohammadpanah, M., Tanha, Z., & Babaei Motlagh, F. (2023). The Effect of Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy on Resilience, Emotional Intelligence, and Emotional Expressiveness of Couples Supported by the Welfare Organization in Khorramabad. Family and Health Journal, 13(2), 114-130. https://en.civilica.com/doc/1821571/
Nazari, H. (2024). The Effectiveness of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) on Intimacy and Marital Adjustment in Order to Improve Family Functioning in Couples Experiencing Emotional Divorce Khatam University, Faculty of Humanities].
Nezami, M., Amirimajd, M., Ghamari, M., & Asadi, M. (2023). Aconceptual model for stable satisfied marriage among couple applying for adoption. Journal of Applied Family Therapy, 4(1), 34-63. https://doi.org/10.22034/aftj.2023.331209.1420
Pazhouhandeh, Z., Mohamadian, F., & Sabzi, F. (2023). The effectiveness of compassion-focused group therapy on conflict resolution strategies and emotion regulation difficulty in couples with marital conflict referring to counseling centers. Rooyesh-e-Ravanshenasi Journal (RRJ), 12(8), 191-200. https://doi.org/10.22062/rrj.2023.4563
Pazhuhandeh, M., Sabzi, & Khorasani Garde, K. (2023). Effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Group Therapy on Conflict Resolution Strategies and Emotion Regulation Difficulties in Couples with Marital Conflicts Referring to Counseling Centers. Scientific Journal of Psychology and Growth, 12(8), 191-200. http://frooyesh.ir/article-1-4563-fa.html
Putri, A. E., & Kusumaningrum, F. A. (2024). The Relationship Between Emotional Expression and Marital Satisfaction Among Couples Living With Parents or in-Laws. Unisia, 42(1), 127-168. https://doi.org/10.20885/unisia.vol42.iss1.art6
Rahimi Kelishadi, H. (2024). The effectiveness of imago therapy-based couples therapy on positive emotions towards spouses, alexithymia, and marital burnout in couples experiencing infidelity
Saleh, U., Usman, Yassir Arafat. (2022). The Relationship Between Married Couple’s Emotional Expressivity and Marital Satisfaction During COVID-19 Pandemic in Makassar. Interdisciplinary Conference of Psychology, Health, and Social Science (ICPHS 2021), https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/icphs-21/125970267
Tseng, C. F., Morgan, P. C., & Wittenborn, A. K. (2024). Predicting change in relationship distress and depressive symptoms among couples in Taiwan: The role of attachment, emotional expressivity, and gender roles in Emotionally Focused Therapy. J Marital Fam Ther, 51(1), e12743. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12743
Zand, M. E. (2023). The Effectiveness of Positive Couples Therapy on Improving the Psychological Well-being of Couples with Marital Conflicts. Proceedings of the Ninth Scientific Research Conference on the Development and Promotion of Educational Sciences and Psychology in Iran, https://sciexplore.ir/Documents/Details/484-817-500-745
Downloads
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Fatemeh Mehdipour (Author); Naser Amini; Marjan Albehbahani (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
