The Effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy on Marital Commitment and Communication Patterns in Women Affected by Marital Infidelity
Keywords:
Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy, Marital Commitment, Communication Patterns, Marital Infidelity, Affected WomenAbstract
Introduction and Aim: Marital infidelity is one of the most damaging interpersonal experiences, often resulting in diminished marital commitment and disrupted communication patterns between partners. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) in enhancing marital commitment and improving communication patterns among women affected by marital infidelity.
Methodology: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with pretest–posttest measurements and a control group. The statistical population consisted of women affected by marital infidelity who attended counseling centers in District 3 of Tehran during 2025. Thirty participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 15) or a control group (n = 15). The experimental group participated in eight 90-minute EFCT sessions, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Dimensions of Commitment Inventory (DCI) and the Communication Patterns Questionnaire (CPQ). Multivariate and univariate analyses of covariance were conducted to analyze the data.
Findings: Multivariate analysis of covariance revealed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the combined outcomes of marital commitment and communication patterns after controlling for pretest scores (p < .001, η² = .71). Univariate analyses further demonstrated that EFCT significantly increased marital commitment (p < .001, η² = .64) and significantly improved communication patterns (p < .001, η² = .68) among women affected by marital infidelity.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy is an effective intervention for rebuilding marital commitment and improving communication patterns in women affected by marital infidelity. Therefore, EFCT may serve as a valuable therapeutic approach in counseling and family therapy settings to facilitate relationship recovery and strengthen marital functioning following infidelity.
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