The Effectiveness of the Adlerian-Based Premarital Education on Relationship Maintenance Strategies and Tolerance in Engaged Couples

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.A. in Family Counseling, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz

2 Associate Professor, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

3 M.A. in Family Counseling, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

10.48308/apsy.2025.240581.1858

Abstract

Aim: The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of an Adlerian-Based Premarital Education Program on relationship maintenance strategies and tolerance among engaged couples in Yasuj.
Method: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest-follow-up structure and a control group. The statistical population consisted of all engaged couples (n = 94; 47 couples) who attended the Shahid Ashrafi Health Center in Yasuj in 2024. From this population, 60 individuals were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups (30 participants in each). Participants completed the Relationship Maintenance Strategies Scale (Canary & Stafford, 1992) and the Tolerance Scale (Khojestemehr, et al, 2020) across three stages: pretest, posttest, and follow-up. The experimental group participated in eight 90-minute sessions of the Adlerian-Based Premarital Education Program. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (mixed) and SPSS-26 statistical software.
Results: Findings demonstrated that the Adlerian-Based Premarital Education Program significantly enhanced relationship maintenance strategies (F = 41.66, p < 0.001) and tolerance (F = 29.27, p < 0.001) in the experimental group compared to the control group from pretest through follow-up.
Conclusion: The Adlerian-based premarital education program, by enhancing relationship maintenance strategies and fostering tolerance, plays a significant preventive role in reducing instability in relationships. Accordingly, it is recommended that this educational program be implemented in premarital counseling centers for engaged couples.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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