The Effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy on Sexual Function in Women Affected by Spousal Infidelity
Keywords:
Sexual function, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, women affected by spousal infidelityAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) on sexual function in women affected by spousal infidelity.
Methodology: This research is a quasi-experimental study employing a pretest-posttest design with a control group, including baseline measurement, post-intervention assessment, and 3-month follow-up. A total of 105 women affected by spousal infidelity, who sought help at counseling centers and psychological service clinics of the Welfare Organization in District 1 of Tehran between May and September 2023, were considered based on the inclusion criteria. Out of them, 30 women who expressed willingness to participate in the study (with written consent) were randomly selected and assigned to either the experimental group (EFCT) or the control group, with 15 participants in each group. All participants completed the Sexual Function Questionnaire at three different stages of the study. The EFCT sessions (eight 90-minute sessions) were conducted in a group setting. The hypothesis regarding the effectiveness of the intervention was analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests.
Findings: The results showed no significant difference in the mean sexual function variable between the two groups at the pretest stage, indicating homogeneity between the groups. However, a significant difference was observed between the groups at the posttest and follow-up stages, suggesting the effectiveness of the intervention on the mentioned variable and the stability of the effect at the follow-up stage (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy can be used as a psychological intervention to improve the sexual function of women affected by spousal infidelity.
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References
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