Document Type : Original Research Article
Authors
1
MSc student of Midwifery Counseling, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
2
1- PhD, Global and Women’s Health, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. 2- PhD in Reproductive health, Nursing and
3
Associate Professor, Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
4
Associate Professor of Counseling, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
Background and aim: Emotional divorce refers to a state where couples live together but lack verbal, physical, and emotional communication. This study aimed to assess the effect of group counseling on emotional divorce of married women at risk.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial with a pre-test/post-test design and a control group was conducted on 60 women attending health centers in Torbat Jam city. The control group received routine healthcare services, while the intervention group participated in eight 90-minute group counseling sessions on family strengthening, communication and sexual skills, and marital skills, in addition to routine care. The Gottman Emotional Divorce Questionnaire was completed before and one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS software with statistical significance set at P<0.05.
Results: The two groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic, socioeconomic, and reproductive variables (P>0.05). Emotional divorce scores before the intervention showed no significant difference between the intervention and control groups (10.8±0.3 vs. 10.5±2.5, P=0.916). However, immediately after the intervention (4.7±2.1 vs. 9.7±2.3) and one month later (1.33±0.85 vs. 9.9±2.5), scores in the intervention group were significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.001). Thus, the likelihood of separation dropped from a moderate level before the intervention to a weak level immediately after and sustained at one month follow-up in the intervention group
Conclusion: Group counseling effectively reduced emotional divorce scores, thereby decreasing the likelihood of separation in married women at risk. Implementing such counseling program in comprehensive health centers may help prevent emotional divorce in married women.
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