In collaboration with Payame Noor University and Iranian Health Psychology

Document Type : research

Authors

1 Senior expert in family counseling, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of solution-focused couple therapy (SFCT) on marital satisfaction and adjustment among couples coping with spousal leukemia.
Method: A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design with a three-month follow-up was employed. The target population comprised all couples in which one partner was diagnosed with leukemia, receiving outpatient care at the Cancer Research Center of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences in 2022. A purposive sample of 30 couples was randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a waitlist control group (n=15n = 15n=15 couples per group). The experimental group received eight weekly 90-minute group sessions of MacDonald’s (2007) solution-focused couple therapy protocol, while the control group received no therapeutic intervention during this period. Data were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and at the 3-month follow-up using Hudson’s Index of Marital Satisfaction (IMS) and Spanier’s Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). Repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) was performed using SPSS (Version 26).
Results: The results of the present study showed that solution-focused couple therapy has an effect on marital satisfaction and adjustment in couples with a spouse with leukemia (P<0.05), and this effect was stable at a three-month follow-up (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Solution-focused couple therapy is a viable, strengths-based intervention that enhances relationship quality and relational resilience in couples facing the burdens of leukemia. Incorporating SFCT into standard supportive and psychosocial oncology programs is strongly recommended.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Article Title [Persian]

اثربخشی زوج درمانی کوتاه مدت متمرکز بر راه حل بر رضایت و سازگاری زناشویی زوجین دارای همسر مبتلا به سرطان خون

Authors [Persian]

  • راضیه آبزن 1
  • باب الله بخشی پور جویباری 2

1 کارشناس ارشد مشاوره خانواده، دانشکده علوم تربیتی و روانشناسی، دانشگاه پیام نور، تهران، ایران

2 دانشیار، دانشکده علوم تربیتی و روان‌شناسی، دانشگاه پیام نور، تهران، ایران

Abstract [Persian]

هدف:. هدف این پژوهش اثربخشی زوج درمانی راه‌حل مدار بر رضایت و سازگاری زناشویی زوجین دارای همسر مبتلا به سرطان خون بود.
روش: پژوهش حاضر از نوع نیمه‌آزمایشی با طرح پیش‌آزمون - پس‌آزمون با گروه گواه و پیگیری ۳ماهه بود. جامعه آماری این پژوهش، شامل کلیه زوجین دارای همسر مبتلا به سرطان خون تحت پوشش مرکز تحقیقات سرطان دانشگاه علوم پزشکی استان بوشهر که در سال 1401 بودند. نمونه پژوهش 30 نفر از زوجین دارای همسر مبتلا به سرطان خون بودند به روش هدفمند انتخاب و به‌صورت تصادفی در دوگروه آزمایشی وگواه گمارش شدند (هر گروه 15 نفر). پس از اجرای پیش آزمون، شرکت کنندگان گروه آزمایشی، زوج درمانی راه‌حل مدار مکدونالد (2007)، به مدت 8 جلسه هر جلسه 90 دقیقه (یکبار در هفته) به صورت گروهی دریافت کردند. سپس مرحله پس‌آزمون وبعد از 3 ماه مرحله پیگیری انجام گردید. ابزار گردآوری داده‌ها شامل پرسشنامه‌ی رضایت زناشویی هادسون (1999) و پرسشنامه‌ی سازگاری زناشویی( اسپانیر، 1976) بود. جهت تجزیه ‌وتحلیل دادها، از تحلیل واریانس با اندازه‌گیری مکرر با استفاده از نرم افزار Spss-26 انجام شد.
نتایج: نتایج مطالعه حاضر نشان داد که زوج درمانی راه‌حل مدار بر رضایت و سازگاری زناشویی زوجین دارای همسر مبتلا به سرطان خون تأثیر دارد (05/0>P) و این تأثیر در پیگیری سه ماهه نیز پایدار بود (05/0>P).
نتیجه‌گیری:. براساس نتایج این پژوهش، به نظر می‌رسد زوج‌درمانی راه‌حل‌مدار می‌تواند به عنوان یک مداخله مؤثر در بهبود کیفیت روابط زناشویی زوجین درگیر با سرطان خون مورد استفاده قرار گیرد. این روش با تمرکز بر توانمندی‌های زوجین و راه‌حل‌های عملی، می‌تواند به آنها در سازگاری با شرایط دشوار بیماری کمک کند. پیشنهاد می‌شود این مداخله به عنوان بخشی از برنامه‌های حمایتی مراکز تخصصی سرطان مورد توجه قرار گیرد.

Keywords [Persian]

  • زوج درمانی کوتاه مدت متمرکز بر راه حل
  • رضایت زناشویی
  • سازگاری زناشویی
  • سرطان خون همسر
  • روانشناسی سرطان
  • تاب آوری زوجین
Alavi, T., Mafakheri, A., & Jahanian, A. (2021). The effectiveness of solution-oriented couple therapy on marital burnout, marital forgiveness and communication styles of couples affected by extramarital relationships. Feyz Medical Sciences Journal, 25(3), 908-916.
Alquran, N. (2024). The Degree of Marital Compatibility and Family Stability during the Corona Pandemic according to a Number of Variables among a Sample of Married Couples in Irbid Governorate. Journal of Ecohumanism, 3(8), 65-353.
Anyamene, A., Nwokolo, C., & Etele, A. (n.d.). Relationship between self-efficacy and marital satisfaction of married teachers in public secondary schools in Anambra State, Nigeria. European Journal of Social Sciences Studies, 6(3), 2021.
Besharat Qaramaleki, R., Panah Ali, A., & Hosseini Nasab, D. (2024). The effectiveness of reality-based couple therapy in a group setting on marital adjustment, emotional differentiation, and intimacy in emotionally divorced couples. Quarterly Journal of New Psychological Research‎, 18(72), 61-70.
Chen, J., Pang, W., Deng, M., Zheng, R., Chen, Y., Zhang, Z., & Bai, Z. (2025). Global, regional, and national burden of leukemia, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis of the global burden of disease in 2021. Frontiers in Medicine. Frontiers in Medicine, 12, 1542317.
CIHAN, H., & Aydogan, D. (2020). Relational resilience as a protective factor in marital adjustment of couples with cancer: A dyadic model. Dusunen Adam, 33(3).
Creswell, C., Violato, M., Fairbanks, H., White, E., Parkinson, M., Abitabile, G., & Cooper, P. (2017). Clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of brief guided parent-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy and solution-focused brief therapy for treatment of childhood anxiety disorders: a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet Psychiatry, 4(7), 529-539.
Didehban, R., & Mohebi Nouredinvand, M. (2025). The Effectiveness of Positive Couple Therapy on Marital Adjustment and Marital Fusion in Couples with Marital Conflicts. International Journal of Education and Cognitive Sciences, 120-127.
El-Mneizel, A., Al Gharaibeh, F., & Majed Al Ali, M. (2022). Marital Compatibility in the UAE Society among a Sample of Households in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (UAE). Inf Sci, 11(4), 1225-38.
Farahani, H., & Roshan Chesley, R. (2023). Calculation and justification of sample size in psychological science research: using G* Power software. Clinical psychology and personality. Clinical psychology and personality, 20(2), 34-221.
Faryabi, M., Rafieipour, A., Haji Alizadeh, K., & Khodavardian, S. (1401). Determining the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy on anxiety, perceived stress, and pain coping strategies in patients with leukemia. Disability Studies, 12(0), 0-0.
Guven, M., & Farhadi, R. (2024). Comparative of Marital Adjustment Between Iranian and Turkish Couples. Social Welfare Quarterly, 24(94), 0-0.
Hasannejad, L., Heydarei, A., Makvandi, B., & Talebzadeh, M. (2021). The comparison effect of emotionally focused couple therapy and solution-focused therapy on sexual satisfaction in women affected by marital infidelity. Iranian Journal of Psychiatric Nursing (IJPN) Original Article, 9(4).
Hosseini Koucheh Ghaziyani, S., Mansouri, A., Bolghan-Abadi, M., & Khodabakhsh, M. (2024). Combined couple therapy of acceptance and commitment and schema therapy on marital satisfaction and psychological well-being of cancer patients during medical treatment. Journal of Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences., 10(11), 39-51.
Jonidi, G., Zandi , A., & Kayvan, S. (2021). The Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Couple Therapy in Improving Marital Satisfaction and Adjustment of Couples. Journal of Assessment and Research in Applied Counseling (JARAC), 3(2), 38-49.
Karasu, F., Ayar, D., & Çopur, E. (2023). The effect of solution focused level on marital disaffection and sexual satisfaction in married individuals. Contemporary Family Therapy, 45(1), 75-84.
Karunarathna, I., De Alvis, K., Gunasena, P., & Jayawardana, A. (2024). Leukemia: Classification, risk factors, and diagnostic challenges.
Khosravi, F., Mirzamani Bafghi, S., & Jaafari Roshan, M. (2022). The effectiveness of solution-focused therapy on couples' marital adjustment in Conflicted Couples. Iranian Evolutionary Educational Psychology Journal, 4(4), 113-122.
Kianfar, F., Asadpour, E., & Zahrakar, K. (2023). The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment-based group counseling on resilience and marital adjustment of mothers of children with leukemia‎. Journal of Principles of Mental Health, 25(2), 133-139.
Krok, D., Telka, E., & Moroń , M. (2023). Marital satisfaction, partner communication, and illness acceptance among couples coping with breast cancer: A dyadic approach. Psycho‐Oncology, 32(8), 1240-7.
Kuo, P., Xu, W., & Yang, Z. (2024). Dyadic associations between marital satisfaction and coparenting quality: gender differences and the moderating role of caregiving identity. Frontiers in Sociology, 9, 1422404.
Macdonald , A. (2007). Solution focused therapy theory: Theory, research & practice. London:Sage Publications.
Mirhashemi, M., & Akbari Moghadam, Z. (2020). Predicting extramarital relationships based on personality traits, sexual satisfaction, and attachment styles‎. Women and Family Studies, 8(3), 75-97.
Moeiri, H., Foroughi, E., Seyda Lashhodai, S., Aziz Rasouli, M., & Rezagholi, P. (2023). The relationship between marital satisfaction and marital stress with the type of mastectomy surgery in women with breast cancer. Medical Journal of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 45(2), 141-148.
Mohammadipour, M., Shojaei Kalatehbali, N., & Bakhshipour, A. (2021). The effect of solution-focused couple therapy on marital adjustment, quality of marital relationships, and social health in couples seeking divorce‎. Social Psychology, 8(57), 75-85.
Mollazadeh, J. (2002). Relationship between marital adjustment and personality factors and coping styles in control children. Tarbiat Modarres University.
Moradi, S., Samani, L., & Abolghasemi, J. (2021). Study of marital satisfaction in women with a history of genital cancers referred to selected centres in Tehran, 2019-2020. Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences, 10(4), 212-217.
Mullis, M., Wollney, E., Bylund, C., Campbell-Salome, G., Wright, K., Sae-Hau, M., & Fisher, C. (2024). A Caregiver’s Marriage”: The Impact of Blood Cancer on the Spousal Connection. Cancer Care Research Online, 4(2), e055.
Nader Pilehroud , M., Mossavian, S., Aakizadeh, R., Esmaeili, M., & Tajabbadipour, S. (2022). The effectiveness of solution-focused brief therapy couples' therapy on irrational thoughts and marital adjustment of incompatible couples. Journal of research in psychopathology, 3(9), 37-44.
Najarpourian, S., Hassani, F., Samavi, A., & amani, S. (2021). Comparing the Effectiveness of Positive Couple Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy on Improving Marital Adjustment and Psychological Well-Being among Family in Shiraz. Psychological Methods and Models, 11(42), 7-59.
Naseh, M., Badiezadeh, S., Rafieifar, M., Taridashti, S., Reddy, S., & Panisch, L. (2025). Solution‐Focused Brief Therapy for Improving Couple Dyadic Relationships in Iran: A Systematic Review. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy,, 51(1), e12758.
Noshi, M., Arefi, M., Nia, K., & Amiri, H. (2023). Comparing the Effects of Solution-based Couple Therapy and Training of Couple Communication Program on the Style of Marital Conflict Resolution. nternational Journal of Health Studies (Undergoing change to Shahroud Journal of Medical Sciences), 9(2), 7-10.
Parizad, N., Hassanpour, A., Nozwad, A., & Khalkhali, H. (1401). The effect of acupressure on the SP6 point on fatigue in patients with leukemia hospitalized in Imam Khomeini Hospital (RA) in Urmia: A single-blind clinical trial. Journal of Urmia School of Nursing and Midwifery, 20(11), 864-873.
Pirmoradi, S., Amini, N., Keykhosrovani, M., & Shafiabadi, A. (2023). Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy on Marital Commitment and Marital Burnout among Couples with Marital Conflicts: A Randomized Trial. Journal of Midwifery & Reproductive Health, 11(1), 3614.
Qiu, M., & Wu, Y. (2024). Understanding the experience of family caregivers of patients with leukemia: a qualitative analysis of online blogs. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11(1), 1-11.
Ramshi, H., Panah Ali, A., Aghdasi, A., & Livarjani, S. (2024). The effectiveness of solution-oriented treatment on emotional divorce, marital burnout and emotional differentiation of couples applying for divorce in Sari city. Rooyesh-e-Ravanshenasi Journal (RRJ), 13(6), 118-109.
Rashid, K., & Karimi , K. (2024). Investigating the Relationship between Marital Satisfaction, Marital Adjustment, and Cultural Perspective of Feminism in Married Women. Two Quarterly Journal of Contemporary Sociological Research, 13(24), 9-36.
Rast Gofar, S., & Khodadadi, J. (2024). Antecedents and consequences of marital adjustment in couples satisfied with their married life‎. Quarterly Cultural-Educational Journal of Women and Family, 19(66), 79-110.
Rezaeifar, N., Dousti, Y., & Mirzaian, B. (2019). The Effectiveness of Psychotherapy Based on Transactional Analysis on Marital Intimacy and Sexual Satisfaction in Women with Non-Clinical Depression. IJPN, 6(1), 35-42.
Safavi, R., Hamid, N., & Hashemi, S. (2026). Comparison of the effectiveness of reality therapy and solution-focused therapy on the quality of life of motherless girls. Journal of Psychological Science, 25(157), 1-20.
Salami, F., Sadeghi Avalshahr, H., & Haghani, S. (2024). Spousal social support, hopefulness, and happiness in women with breast cancer: A cross-sectional study. ranian Journal of Breast Diseases, 17(2), 54-68.
Salimi, H., & Sodani, M. (2023). The Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Brief Couple Therapy on Increasing Couples’ Marital Self-Regulation and Emotional Distress Tolerance. Research in Clinical Psychology and Counseling,, 13(1), 5-24.
Salimi, H., & Sodani, M. (2023). The Effectiveness of Solution-Focused Brief Couple Therapy on Increasing Couples’ Marital Self-Regulation and Emotional Distress Tolerance. Research in Clinical Psychology and Counseling, 13(1), 5-24.
Sarhadi, M. (2023). Effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral training on marital adjustment of couples with type 2 diabetes. Iranian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 25(1), 16-24.
Sarhadi, M., Navidian, A., Mehdipour-Rabori, R., & Nouhi, E. (2022). Explaining positive couple interactions after myocardial infarction: a qualitative study. Journal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences. Journal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences, 11(4), 224-230.
Shariatzadeh Junidi, G., Arvand, J., andi, A., & Keyvan, S. (2021). The effectiveness of solution-focused couple therapy on couples' marital satisfaction and adjustment. Assessment and Research in Counseling and Psychology, 3(2), 38-49.
Sohrabi Azandariani, S., & Mirshahi, F. (2025). The effectiveness of group-based solution focused couple therapy on marital compatibility and intimacy and quality of life of women with husbands recovering from addiction. Rooyesh., 13(9), 231-240.
Spanier, G. (1976). Measuring dyadic adjustment: New scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 15-28.
Suo, R., Zhang, L., Tao , H., Ye, F., Zhang, Y., & Yan, J. (2021). The effects of dyadic coping and marital satisfaction on posttraumatic growth among breast cancer couples. Supportive Care in Cancer, 9(54), 25-33.
Yadollahi, P., Doostfatemeh, M., Khalajinia , Z., Karimi, Z., & Ghavi, F. (2025). Perceived social support, marital satisfaction, and resilience in women with abortion experience through structural equation modeling. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 332.