Shahid Beheshti University Applied Psychology 2008-4331 18 4 2024 12 21 The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy Based on Communication Imagery on Marital Burnout and Attitudes Towards Extramarital Relationships in Conflicted Couples The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy Based on Communication Imagery on Marital Burnout and Attitudes Towards Extramarital Relationships in Conflicted Couples 194 218 105182 10.48308/apsy.2024.236395.1682 FA Saber Beiramloei PhD Student, Department of Psychology, Arak Branch, Islamic Azad University, Arak, Iran 0009-0002-7172-667X Fariba Monazami Tabar Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Hamedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran 0000-0002-0529-1711 Iraj Safaei Rad Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Hamedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran 0000-0002-7555-5436 Journal Article 2024 07 24 Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of couple therapy based on communication imagery in reducing marital burnout and changing attitudes toward extramarital relationships in conflicted couples. Method: The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test, post-test, and three-month follow-up, including a control group. The statistical population comprised all conflicted couples who visited counseling centers in Hamedan during 2022–2023. Using the Marital Conflicts Questionnaire (Sanaei, Alaghemand, Felahati, & Hooman, 2008), 30 couples scoring above the cutoff point of 135 were purposively selected and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15 couples) and a control group (n = 15 couples). The experimental group received a communication imagery couple therapy intervention based on Hendrix and Hunt’s (2013) protocol, conducted in 10 weekly sessions lasting 90 minutes each, while the control group received no intervention. The research instruments included the Marital Burnout Questionnaire (Pines, 1996) and the Attitudes Toward Extramarital Relationships Questionnaire (Whatley, 2008). Data analysis was conducted using repeated measures analysis of variance in SPSS-26. Results: Communication imagery couple therapy significantly reduced marital burnout and positive attitudes toward extramarital relationships in conflicted couples. These effects remained stable during the follow-up phase (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The findings suggest that counseling centers can utilize communication imagery couple therapy to effectively reduce marital burnout and discourage positive attitudes toward extramarital relationships in conflicted couples. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of couple therapy based on communication imagery in reducing marital burnout and changing attitudes toward extramarital relationships in conflicted couples. Method: The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test, post-test, and three-month follow-up, including a control group. The statistical population comprised all conflicted couples who visited counseling centers in Hamedan during 2022–2023. Using the Marital Conflicts Questionnaire (Sanaei, Alaghemand, Felahati, & Hooman, 2008), 30 couples scoring above the cutoff point of 135 were purposively selected and randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15 couples) and a control group (n = 15 couples). The experimental group received a communication imagery couple therapy intervention based on Hendrix and Hunt’s (2013) protocol, conducted in 10 weekly sessions lasting 90 minutes each, while the control group received no intervention. The research instruments included the Marital Burnout Questionnaire (Pines, 1996) and the Attitudes Toward Extramarital Relationships Questionnaire (Whatley, 2008). Data analysis was conducted using repeated measures analysis of variance in SPSS-26. Results: Communication imagery couple therapy significantly reduced marital burnout and positive attitudes toward extramarital relationships in conflicted couples. These effects remained stable during the follow-up phase (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The findings suggest that counseling centers can utilize communication imagery couple therapy to effectively reduce marital burnout and discourage positive attitudes toward extramarital relationships in conflicted couples.

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