Comparison of the Effectiveness of Imago Therapy and Narrative Therapy on Regret about Spouse Selection, Marital Burnout, and Resilience in Women Victims of Domestic Violence

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Imago therapy and narrative therapy on regret about spouse selection, marital burnout, and resilience in women who have experienced domestic violence.

Methodology: This semi-experimental study employed a pretest-posttest design with a three-month follow-up. The statistical population included women subjected to domestic violence who referred to counseling centers in Isfahan during the fall of 2022. A total of 54 participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to three groups (Imago therapy, narrative therapy, and control). The interventions were conducted in 10 weekly 90-minute sessions for the experimental groups. Data collection tools included Schwartz's Regret about Spouse Selection Scale, Pines’ Marital Burnout Scale, and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RIS). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests.

Findings: The results of repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant main effects of time and group for all three variables (p < 0.01). Additionally, the interaction effect of time and group was significant for regret about spouse selection (F = 9.59, p < 0.01), marital burnout (F = 5.61, p = 0.01), and resilience (F = 10.11, p < 0.01). Bonferroni post hoc tests indicated that Imago therapy had a greater effect compared to narrative therapy in reducing regret about spouse selection (MD = -1.10, p = 0.04) and marital burnout (MD = -3.80, p = 0.02) as well as in increasing resilience (MD = 2.90, p = 0.03).

Conclusion: Imago therapy and narrative therapy are effective interventions for improving relationship quality and enhancing resilience in women affected by domestic violence. However, Imago therapy demonstrated superior efficacy compared to narrative therapy. Incorporating these approaches into counseling programs can provide practical solutions for addressing marital and psychological challenges in this population.