Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Rahim Rabet ¹
• Ali Rezaeisharif ²
• Hossein Qamari kivi ²

¹ Department of Counseling, Faculty of Educational sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

² Department of Counseling, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, University of Mohaghegh, Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran.

Abstract

Extended Abstract:

Introduction

Marriage is a fundamental institution that shapes societies and individuals (Harsono et al., 2024). A harmonious family is one in which there is intimacy between couples with effective communication patterns and minimum conflict (Musthof & Lutfia, 2024). However, recently, worrying trends have been reported in the field of marriage and the tendency to divorce; the divorce rate is increasing in most countries (Aami BandehGharaei, 2023; Sbara & Coan, 2017), which has also affected Iranian society in this regard (Khani, 2023; Jafari et al., 2021). Iran ranks fourth in the world in terms of divorce (Sarfarazi & Sadattabatabayi, 2023); therefore, interventions and training programs for couples in the field of marital skills seem necessary. Research has identified several problems for conflicting spouses, including controlling behaviors and deficits in communication patterns in couples (Salimi et al., 2024). Marital control is a variety of non-physical abusive behaviors used to control a partner (Lohmann et al., 2024). Given that controlling spouses lack effective communication skills, lack empathy skills, and have unconstructive communications (Xyrakis et al., 2024; Modirzare et al., 2021), this characteristic of spouses is linked to another variable called communication patterns. Communication patterns are the ways in which information, thoughts, and feelings are transmitted to and ultimately returned to both parties in a relationship (Zhang et al., 2024).
Experts attribute this critical situation partly to factors such as the lack of couples equipped with marital skills (Modirzare et al., 2021; Xyrakis et al., 2024). When such skills are taught to couples, it is referred to as marital enrichment programs. Research suggests that combining therapeutic approaches (i.e., eclecticism) is more effective (Wedding & Corsini, 2019).
By developing a marital skills enrichment package based on eclecticism, the present study presents various skills and interventions for conflicting couples. On the other hand, it aims to answer the question of whether the developed package is effective in improving marital control and communication patterns of conflicting spouses.

Literature Review

Controlling behavior was introduced in 2005 by Graham-Kevan and Archer (Başkan & Alkan, 2023). Concrete examples include one spouse trying to prevent the partner from meeting friends, restricting travel to and from the parents' house, insisting on knowing where his or her partner is at all times, determining what type of clothing his or her wife should wear, asking his or her permission before doing anything, being extremely pessimistic about his or her partner's infidelity (Aizpuru et al., 2021). A spouse's interference in their partner's use of cyberspace and social networks, and constant checking of text messages, contacts, and conversations on their mobile phone are also considered new indicators of marital controlling (Belotti et al., 2022).
A variety of communication patterns are displayed by spouses, ranging from constructive dialogue to uncompromising behavior (Omoboye et al., 2024). Spouses' awareness of different types of communication patterns can help them improve their married life and reduce marital tensions and conflicts (Wang, 2021). Theorists in the field of marital communication have identified many communication patterns, among which Christensen and Schenk (1991; as cited by Abdi Zarin & Sanei Taheri, 2010) divided communication patterns into three categories: 1. mutual constructive pattern, 2. mutual avoidance pattern, and 3. demand-withdraw pattern. Constructive and effective communication patterns are so important that some researchers believe that the ability of spouses to communicate effectively plays a vital role in marital adjustment and reducing marital conflicts (Krok et al., 2023).

Methodology

The present study was a developmental research in terms of objective and a mixed-methods study in terms of data collection method. In the qualitative part, the Delphi method was used for validation. The research design in the quantitative part is a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test–post-test design with a control group and a two-month follow-up phase. The statistical population of the Delphi section included all Iranian specialists in the fields of marriage, family, and couple counseling. Among them, 30 individuals were selected through purposive sampling method to be part of the Delphi expert panel. In the quantitative section, all couples referred to counseling centers in Zanjan comprised the statistical population of the present study, from which 50 couples, whose scores on the Graham-Kevan and Archer Controlling Behaviors Questionnaire (2005) and the Christensen and Salavi Communication Patterns Questionnaire (1984) were high, were selected through convenience sampling. They were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups (25 couples in each group). The experimental group received training based on the developed protocol for eight two-hour sessions, while the control group received no training. After completing the training sessions, both groups were evaluated by a posttest. The experimental group was re-evaluated after a two-month follow-up period. Data were analyzed using Kendall’s coefficient of agreement (W), univariate analysis of covariance, and the Bonferroni post hoc test in SPSS.

Results

In this qualitative research (Delphi method), the number of participants in the expert panel was 30; this panel reached a strong consensus in the fourth round. (see Table 1). The Delphi method used in this research consisted of four rounds. In the first round, based on the developed package, expert panel members extracted indicators. After collecting, organizing, classifying, analyzing, and reviewing the opinions, 36 indicators were finally developed.
Table 1.  Comparison of Central Tendencies and Kendall’s Correlation Coefficient (W) in Three Delphi Stages




Round


Mod


Median


Mean


Standard Deviation


Kendall Value (W)


Significance Level




2nd


3


3


3.44


.77


.496


.000




3rd


4


4


4.09


.57


.856


.000




4th


6


5


4.74


.43


.894


.000




Descriptive indicators of marital control and communication patterns are included in Table 2.
Table 2. Descriptive Indicators of the Marital Control Variable and Communication Patterns




Variable


Experimental Group


Control Group




Pretest


Posttest


Follow- up


Pretest


Posttest


Follow- up




M


SD


M


SD


M


SD


M


SD


M


SD


M


SD






Marital Controlling


93.20


4.76


22.48


5.49


21.64


4.87


97.56


4.10


98.56


3.49


101.48


3.58




mutual Constructive pattern


-25.36


4.36


17.96


2.24


17.08


1.36


-25.32


3.24


-24.52


3.29


-24.04


2.89




mutual avoidance pattern


23.48


2.06


8.52


1.96


8.48


1.61


24.84


1.14


23.96


1.40


23.56


1.39




demand-withdraw pattern


32.56


3.55


8.56


1.53


8.24


1.36


31.52


2.74


30.76


2.47


30.60


2.27




 
Table 2 shows the descriptive indicators for the two groups across the three stages. As shown, the mean scores for marital controlling decreased sharply for the experimental group after the intervention and were maintained at follow-up, while the control group's scores remained high or increased slightly. Similarly, the communication pattern scores improved for the experimental group and were sustained at follow-up.
Regarding the variable of communication patterns, it can be said that the mutual constructive communication pattern in the experimental group improved compared to the control group and remained stable during the two-month follow-up. The experimental group's mutual avoidance communication pattern decreased and remained stable after two months. Finally, regarding the demand-withdraw pattern, it is important to note that the average scores of both groups were high when participating in training sessions, and this communication pattern also decreased after applying the experimental variable in the experimental group and remained stable after two months; while there was no decrease for the control group.
The results of the analysis of covariance showed that, after controlling for the pretest effect, there was a significant difference between the couples in the experimental and control groups in terms of marital control (p < 0.05, F = 2977.440), mutual constructive pattern (p < 0.05, F =74.851), mutual avoidance pattern (p < 0.05, F =11.167), and demand-withdraw pattern (p < 0.05, F =1545.799). These results indicate that the developed training package has been able to improve the marital controlling of couples in the experimental group, increase their mutually constructive communication pattern, and reduce their mutual avoidance and demand-withdraw communication patterns.

Conclusion

The present study aimed to develop and validate a marital skills package based on an eclectic approach to reduce marital controlling behaviors and improve communication patterns for couples experiencing conflict. The results of the qualitative study indicated that the present educational package possesses good content validity, and the expert panel reached a strong level of agreement in this regard. This finding is consistent with the findings of studies that have shown that enrichment and treatment packages based on an eclectic approach have high validity and effectiveness (Amirbeik et al., 2021; Beyrami & Azhideh, 2025; Jalalvand et al., 2023; Kavehei Sedeh et al., 2022; Mehrjou & Fatehizadeh, 2023; Mostajeran et al., 2021; Namdarppour et al., 2023; Pirsaghi, 2024; Tashakori & Sedrpoushan, 2023).
In the quantitative part, the effectiveness of the package developed as a nine-session training on marital control and communication patterns was examined. The data analysis showed that the marital skills package based on eclecticism could reduce the level of marital control of conflicting couples in the experimental group compared to the control group; it transformed their unconstructive communication patterns into constructive communication patterns. The findings of this study are consistent with those of studies that have examined the approaches of strategic model, intergenerational theory, structural family therapy, schema therapy, McMaster Family Function Model, Gottman Couple Therapy and Satir Approach on improving marital control and communication patterns of conflicting spouses and have been confirmed (Modirzare et al., 2021; Aalami et al., 2019; Asghari Ganji & Tabaripour, 2023; Deylami et al., 2021; Genç, 2021; Omidi et al., 2022; Rahespar et al., 2022; Salehi et al., 2024; Saniei, 2021; Kiadarbandsari et al., 2022).
Acknowledgments
The researchers would like to appreciate all participants for participating in the study.
Keywords: Eclecticism, Communication Patterns, Delphi Method, Marital Controlling, Marital Skills, Validation of Psycho-Educational Package.

Keywords

• eclecticism
• communication patterns
• Delphi method
• marital control
• Validation

Main Subjects

• family counselling