The Effects of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy on Emotion Regulation and Cognitive Flexibility of Emotionally Divorced Couples

Background: The upward trends in divorce and the conflicts and distress in couples’ relationships made researchers seekcost-effective interventions to reduce marital problems.Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of integrative behavioral couple therapy (IBCT) on emotion regulation andcognitive flexibility among emotionally divorced couples (EDCs).Methods: The study was conducted on ۲۰-۵۰-year-old EDCs visiting Ramshir counseling centers in Iran in ۲۰۲۲. The purposivesampling method was used to select ۱۲ couples (۲۴ individuals). This experimental research adopted a pretest-posttest designwith follow-up. The experimental group received ten ۹۰-minute IBCT sessions. The research instruments included the GottmanEmotional Divorce Scale, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and Cognitive Flexibility Inventory—the repeated measures ANOVAwas then used for data analysis in SPSS software version ۲۷.Results: The mean (± SD) of emotion regulation was ۸۰.۲۵ ± ۷.۹۲ on the pretest, whereas it was ۱۲۴.۸۸ ± ۱۱.۶۳ and ۱۲۰.۸۸ ± ۸.۷۰ onthe posttest and follow-up. Moreover, the mean (± SD) of cognitive flexibility was ۶۰.۵۰ ± ۵.۷۰ on the pretest, while it was ۱۰۰.۴۶± ۶.۳۳ and ۹۷.۱۳ ± ۴.۴۷ on the posttest and follow-up. The results indicated that IBCT improved emotion regulation and cognitiveflexibility in EDCs (P < ۰.۰۰۱).Conclusions: Based on the results, IBCT can enhance emotion regulation and cognitive flexibility in couples experiencing maritalconflicts and emotional divorce. Couples therapists should hold IBCT training workshops to improve emotion regulation andcognitive flexibility in EDCs.

کلیدواژه ها:

Behavioral Couple Therapy ، Emotion ، Cognitive ، Family Conflict