Effectiveness of ACT Therapy in Treating Marital Disputes from the Perspective of Newlywed Couples in Rasht City
Subject Areas : آسیبهای اجتماعی مرتبط با همسرگزینی، تغییر الگوهای ازدواج، طلاق و ناپایداری خانواده
Reza Ghasemi Jobaneh
1
,
Mojtaba Janalipor Chenarrodkhani
2
*
,
Amirmohamad Tavakhosh
3
,
Maryam Deldar Gohardani
4
1 - Assistant Professor of Counseling, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran.
2 - M.A. in Family Counseling, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
3 - M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran.
4 - M.A. in Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
Keywords: Marriage, Marital Conflict, Couple, Relationship, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. ,
Abstract :
Effectiveness of ACT Therapy in Treating
Marital Disputes from the Perspective
of Newlywed Couples in Rasht City
Reza Ghasemi Joubaneh*
Mojtaba Janalipour Chenarroudkhani**
Amir Mohammad Tokhsh***
Maryam Deldar Gohardani****
Disagreements in a marital relationship are natural, but they require constructive management and resolution, especially in newly married couples. The purpose of the present study was to conduct a case study of the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy in treating marital disputes from the perspective of newly married couples. The present study was conducted using a qualitative method and a phenomenological approach. The study population included all newly married couples who referred to counseling centers in Rasht - who received ACT. According to the researchers' call at the counseling centers in Rasht, 30 people (15 couples) announced that they were willing to participate in the study. The research sampling method was criterion-based purposive sampling. 20 people (10 couples) qualified to participate in the study. Due to theoretical considerations, 12 people (6 couples) of the participants were interviewed. In this study, the researchers used semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analyzed using the Claise seven-step method using MAXQDA software. The main themes of the study included changes in thinking and feeling, reducing disagreement, challenges and barriers in treatment, impact on shared values and goals, and attention to feelings and long-term effects of treatment. Based on the findings, ACT was effective in resolving couples' disagreements, which has important implications for family counselors who can use ACT to enrich couples' married lives, strengthen families, and consequently prevent instability in marriage.
Keywords: Marriage, Marital Conflict, Couple, Relationship, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Introduction
Marital disputes are an inevitable challenge in life together, especially in the early years of marriage. Research shows that the first five years of marriage are a critical and decisive period for the formation of future communication patterns and marital satisfaction (Lavner, 2014). Newly married couples are exposed to increased tensions due to the changes in roles, expectations, and adaptation to the lifestyle of the couple. The inability to constructively manage these conflicts can lead to the accumulation of problems, reduced satisfaction, emotional distress, and in extreme cases, an increased risk of emotional or formal divorce (Abdollahi et al., 2021). According to statistics, the divorce rate is higher in the early years of marriage, which indicates the importance of timely and effective interventions at this stage. In the meantime, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), as one of the third wave behavioral therapies, has attracted considerable attention in the field of couples therapy) Khanjani Veshki et al, 2016(and its main goal is to increase psychological flexibility. Rather than focusing on directly eliminating or changing difficult thoughts and feelings, ACT emphasizes six key processes: acceptance of unpleasant internal experiences, cognitive dissociation, contact with the present moment, self as context, clarification of values, and committed action in line with those values (Ito & Muto, 2020). Although previous studies have confirmed the effectiveness of ACT in reducing marital conflict and increasing satisfaction (Pour seyyed Aghaei et al., 1403; Khosravi et al., 2025), most of these studies have been conducted with quantitative methods and from an external perspective. There is a lack of qualitative research that addresses the lived experience and in-depth understanding of couples themselves of the treatment process. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to conduct an in-depth and case study investigation of the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy in managing marital conflicts, from the perspective of newly married couples themselves.
Research Method
This study was conducted with a qualitative method and a phenomenological approach to understand and describe the participants' shared experience of receiving ACT treatment. The research population included all newly married couples (less than 14 months since the date of marriage) who referred to counseling centers in Rasht and had undergone ACT treatment. Using purposive sampling based on criteria, and considering the inclusion criteria (such as age 25 to 35 years, minimum diploma (qualified), unique receipt of ACT and no use of psychotropic drugs), 10 couples (20 people) were identified as eligible out of 15 volunteer couples. However, for data collection, interviews continued until theoretical saturation was reached, and finally in-depth interviews were conducted with 6 couples (12 people). The main data collection tool was a semi-structured interview, which was conducted with 10 central questions. Each interview lasted between 40 and 50 minutes and was recorded and then transcribed with the consent and confidentiality of the participants. The seven-step Claise method was used to analyze the data with the help of MAXQDA software. The analysis steps included: 1) repeated reading of the interview text, 2) extraction of meaningful phrases, 3) formulation of meanings, 4) organization of meanings in conceptual clusters, 5) creation of subcategories and categories, 6) comprehensive description of the phenomenon, and 7) validation by returning the findings to the participants. Internal validation (acceptability) was carried out through feedback from the participants.
Research findings
The analysis of the interviews led to the extraction of 5 main
themes and 10 subthemes that reflected the participants’ experience of ACT therapy.
- Change in thinking and feeling: This theme refers to a fundamental transformation in the couple attitudes and emotions. Acceptance of negative feelings and thoughts: Participants reported that after therapy, instead of suppressing or fighting feelings such as anger, frustration, or sadness, they learned to accept them as a natural part of the relationship. Change in attitude towards disagreements: The view of conflict changed from a “threat” or “failure” to an “opportunity” for mutual understanding and dialogue.
- Reduced conflict: Participants reported a significant reduction in the intensity and frequency of conflicts. Reduced tension and conflict: The skills learned, such as acceptance and forgiveness, prevented small arguments from escalating into major arguments Improved communication and interactions: Conversations became more constructive and focused on solving the problem. Active listening and non-blaming expression of feelings increased.
- Challenges and barriers to treatment: two main problems were identified. Resistance to accepting unpleasant emotions &Time-consuming changes: Waiting to see tangible and lasting results required patience and persistence.
- Impact on shared values and goals: It helped couples focus on everyday issues deeper than ACT differences. Greater alignment in life goals: Discussions about values made individual and shared goals clearer and more aligned. Strengthening shared values in the relationship: Values such as respect, honesty, and shared growth were strengthened as a framework for evaluating behaviors and decisions.
- Attention to feelings and long-term effects of therapy: Participants noted the lasting effects of therapy on the overall quality of the relationship. Increased feelings of peace and satisfaction in the relationship: With a decrease in fear of conflict and an increase in mutual understanding, feelings of security and peace in the relationship increased. Individual and shared growth: Participants felt that they had grown not only in their relationship, but also as individuals. This individual growth, in turn, enriched the relationship.
Discussion and Conclusion
The findings of this qualitative study showed that acceptance and
commitment therapy (ACT) is an effective intervention in managing marital conflicts from the perspective of newlywed couples. The mechanism of this effectiveness can be summarized in several axes: first, increasing psychological flexibility through acceptance and disengagement allowed couples to break out of the vicious cycle of “emotional reaction-conflict escalation” (Peterson et al, 2009). Second, clarifying and committing to shared values reduced conflicts from the level of personal disputes to an opportunity to move towards larger goals. Third, changing the attitude towards conflict from a destructive phenomenon to a natural and manageable situation increased resilience. These findings are consistent with previous quantitative studies that have shown a reduction in marital conflict (Naderi Moghaddam et al., 2023), increased intimacy (Khanjani-Vashki et al., 2016), and improved satisfaction (Zanganeh et al., 2017) after ACT. However, by exploring lived experience, these studies demonstrate the depth of these changes: ACT is not just a set of techniques, but a process of transformation in cognition, emotion, and action that helps couples build a more meaningful and resilient relationship. Despite the reported effectiveness, challenges such as initial difficulty in accepting negative emotions and the need for patience to stabilize changes were also raised, which highlights the need for a detailed explanation of the treatment process, setting realistic expectations, and ongoing support from the therapist. This study showed that ACT therapy is effective for managing disagreements in novice couples. Therefore, it is suggested that this approach be included in premarital education and initial counseling programs to prevent more serious problems from occurring.
Resources
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*Assistant Professor of Counseling, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2627-462X
** Corresponding Author: M.A. in Family Counseling, Faculty of Literature and Human Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3377-8727
*** M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran.
https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9573-9958
**** M.A. in Psychology and Education of Exceptional Children, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0883-2931
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