Volume 29, Issue 11 (1-2023)
RJMS 2023, 29(11): 569-577 |
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Research code: 01
Ethics code: 01
Clinical trials code: 01
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Sadeghinyeri F, Jahangir P. Comparison of the Effects of Group Counseling Based on Metacognitive Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Couples' Communication Beliefs and Self-Differentiation. RJMS 2023; 29 (11) :569-577
URL: http://rjms.iums.ac.ir/article-1-8282-en.html
URL: http://rjms.iums.ac.ir/article-1-8282-en.html
Assistant Professor, Counseling Department, Rudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rudehen, Iran , Jahangirpantea@gmail.com
Abstract: (305 Views)
| Background & Aims: Marital life, as one of the most important human relationships, is influenced by a set of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral factors. Couples' communication beliefs and the degree of self-differentiation are among the key variables that affect the stability and quality of relationships. Unrealistic communication beliefs can lead to marital conflicts, decreased intimacy, and increased dissatisfaction in the relationship. On the other hand, self-differentiation, which indicates an individual's ability to maintain a balance between independence and dependence in relationships, plays an important role in emotional regulation and managing marital conflicts. In the field of psychological interventions to improve the quality of couples' relationships, metacognitive therapy and dialectical behavior therapy are among the approaches of interest. Metacognitive therapy is a cognitive-behavioral approach that focuses on how individuals process information and ways of thinking. This approach believes that many psychological problems are caused by dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and incorrect ways of processing information. In fact, people not only experience their thoughts, but also have beliefs about them that can be adaptive or maladaptive. For example, a person who believes that “if I think about relationship problems a lot, I can find a solution,” may be caught up in mental rumination and excessive worrying that create more problems instead of solving the problem. In metacognitive therapy, these beliefs are examined and modified so that people can use healthier ways of processing their thoughts. One of the main goals of metacognitive therapy in the context of couples’ relationships is to reduce maladaptive thought patterns such as rumination, excessive worrying, and focusing on negative thoughts about their partner. This method helps couples to distance themselves from dysfunctional cognitive processing, have greater cognitive flexibility, and use more effective strategies for regulating emotions and resolving conflicts. Metacognitive therapy also focuses on controlling attention and correcting maladaptive beliefs, teaching couples how to direct their attention to more rational and solution-oriented thoughts instead of focusing on negative thoughts or unrealistic worries. The couple relationship is one of the most complex and multidimensional human relationships, which has wide and diverse dimensions and is therefore unrivaled. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of group counseling based on metacognitive therapy and dialectical behavior therapy on couples' communication beliefs and self-differentiation. Methods: This study is a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test-post-test design and a control and follow-up group. The statistical population included all couples facing divorce who referred to the Family Court of Tehran Judicial Complex No. 2 in the first half of 2022. Among them, 60 couples were selected through convenience sampling and were randomly divided into two experimental (30 couples) and control (30 couples) groups. The experimental group received 8 sessions of dialectical behavior therapy training and counseling on their communication and differentiation beliefs. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance. Results: The results showed that group counseling based on metacognitive therapy and dialectical behavior therapy produced simultaneous changes in communication beliefs and self-differentiation in the experimental and control groups. In the intervention group, the mean communication beliefs decreased significantly and self-differentiation increased significantly. In the control group, no significant changes were observed in communication beliefs and self-differentiation. Based on the results of the repeated measures analysis of variance in Table 1, the effect of time was significant (P < 0.001), so it can be said that there is a significant difference between the mean communication beliefs of couples in the three stages before and after the intervention and follow-up. Also, according to the results of Table 1, which show that the interaction effect is significant and there is an interaction between group and time (P < 0.001), it is clear that the intervention has created changes in different groups and different times simultaneously, and group counseling based on metacognitive therapy and dialectical behavior therapy has had a significant effect on couples' communication beliefs. According to the results, there is no significant difference between the mean communication beliefs of couples in the intervention and control groups in the pre-test phase (p = 0.071). However, in the post-test and follow-up phase, the mean communication beliefs of individuals in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.001). A pairwise comparison of the assessment stages (pre-test, post-test, and follow-up) is presented separately for the two groups in Table 3. According to the results of Table 3, it is observed that in the intervention group, there is a significant difference between the average communication beliefs of couples in the pre-test stage and the post-test and follow-up stages (p < 0.001). So that the average communication beliefs of couples in the pre-test were significantly higher than the post-test and follow-up stages. However, no significant difference was observed between the average communication beliefs of individuals in the intervention group in the post-test and follow-up stages (p = 0.098). In the control group, there is no significant difference between the average communication beliefs of couples in any of the pre-test, post-test and follow-up stages. Conclusion: According to the results of the study, group counseling based on metacognitive therapy and dialectical behavior therapy has a significant effect on improving communication beliefs and self-differentiation in couples. This concept means the ability of an individual to separate feelings and thoughts from each other. In interventions such as dialectical behavior therapy, individuals learn to perceive their emotions as something independent of themselves and to view them as external phenomena rather than becoming involved in them. This differentiation helps individuals to be less affected by negative emotions in their relationships and to be better able to respond rationally and appropriately to communication challenges. This process reduces the level of emotional dependence of individuals and makes them more capable of facing the challenges of their relationships. In contrast, no significant changes were observed in communication beliefs and self-differentiation in the control group. This indicates that without intervention, couples were unable to make positive changes in their beliefs and attitudes towards communication and self-awareness. Also, since the control group did not receive any specific intervention, it can be concluded that group counseling based on metacognitive therapy and dialectical behavior therapy has a positive and significant effect on improving communication relationships and the ability to differentiate themselves. These results, in light of psychological explanations, can lead to the conclusion that counseling based on these two therapeutic approaches can be an effective tool for improving communication skills and self-awareness of individuals in marital relationships. |
Keywords: Group Counseling, Metacognitive Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Communication Beliefs, Self-Differentiation
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Clinical Psychiatry
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