Investigating the Effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy and McMaster’s Functional Model on Reducing Mood and Anxiety Symptoms in Conflicting Couples
Keywords:
conflicting couples, anxiety , mood symptoms , emotion-focused couple therapy , McMaster's functional modelAbstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy and McMaster’s Functional Model in reducing mood and anxiety symptoms among conflicting couples.
Methodology: This quasi-experimental study followed a pretest–posttest design with a control group. The sample consisted of 45 married women experiencing marital conflict who were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two intervention groups and one control group. Data collection tools included the mood–anxiety symptoms questionnaire and the marital conflict questionnaire. Interventions were delivered over six sessions for the emotion-focused therapy group and eight sessions for the McMaster model group. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests.
Findings: Results indicated significant differences among the three groups regarding reductions in general distress, anxiety arousal, and anhedonia. Both therapeutic approaches significantly improved mood–anxiety symptoms, while the McMaster model demonstrated greater effectiveness in reducing general distress and anhedonia. No meaningful changes were observed in the control group.
Conclusion: Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy and McMaster’s Functional Model are both effective in reducing mood and anxiety symptoms in conflicting couples, with the McMaster model showing superior outcomes in certain dimensions.
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