The Effectiveness of Treatment Based on Hardening and Acceptance with an Emphasis on Shared Spiritual Values on Reducing marital Conflict and Emotional Divorce in Women at Risk of Divorce
Journal of Pizhūhish dar dīn va Salāmat (i.e., Research on Religion & Health),
Vol. 12 No. 2 (1405),
15 July 2026
,
Page 17-29
https://doi.org/10.22037/jrrh.v12i2.42967
Abstract
Background and Objective: With the rising divorce rates in Iran, the need for effective therapeutic interventions to reduce marital conflict and emotional divorce is increasingly evident. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with an emphasis on shared spiritual values in reducing marital conflict and emotional divorce among women at risk of divorce.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in the second half of 1400 (2021). Using convenience sampling, 20 participants referring to family counseling centers in Zanjan were selected and randomly assigned to two groups of 10 (intervention and control). The intervention group received ten 60-minute sessions (twice weekly for five weeks) of ACT with an emphasis on shared spiritual values, while the control group was placed on a waiting list and received no intervention (post-study intervention was provided to the control group). Marital conflict (Barati & Sanaei) and emotional divorce (Gottman) scales were used to assess pre- and post-test scores. Independent samples t-tests on SPSS version 24 were employed to compare the intervention and control groups in their mean scores related to marital conflict and emotional divorce between. In the present study, all ethical considerations were observed and the authors reported no conflicts of interest.
Results: ACT with an emphasis on shared spiritual values effectively reduced marital conflict and emotional divorce scores in the intervention group compared to the control group. The mean score related to marital conflict decreased significantly from 172.50±18.23 to 147.25±15.68 in the intervention group (P<0.001, d=0.85), while the control group showed no significant change. The mean emotional divorce score decreased from 16±2.35 to 12±1.93 in the intervention group (P<0.001, d=0.82), with no significant change in the control group.
Conclusion: ACT with an emphasis on shared spiritual values is an effective psychotherapeutic approach to reducing marital conflict and emotional divorce in women at risk of divorce.
- Acceptance and commitment therapy
- Divorce
- Emotional divorce
- Marital conflict
- Spirituality
- Women
How to Cite
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