Effectiveness of couple therapy based on Choice Theory on conflict resolution styles and marital relationship quality of incompatible couples

Aim: The present study aim was to determine effectiveness of couple therapy based on the Choice Theory on conflict resolution styles and quality of couple’s relationship.
This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a pretest-posttest and control group, with follow-up. Among 78 couples who referred to a family counseling center in the city of Mashhad in the fall of 1395, 25 couples who scored a high score based on the cut-off 115 in the Sanai Marital Conflict Questionnaire of 2008 were selected, 20 couples were selected. The research in strumpet was the Straus and Rosbult Conflict Behavior Questionnaire 2009 and Fletcher, Simpson & Tumas Relationship Quality Questionnaire 2000, and experimental group received eight, 90-minute sessions of Couple Therapy Based on Choice Theory (Duba, Graham, Britzman & Minatra, 2009). Data were analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA.
Findings: The results showed that this intervention was based on women's conflict resolution styles (P= 0.001, F=26.8, 73.5, 1.26) and men (P= 0.001, F=0.63, 0.93 & 0.32) had effect on the quality of the relationship between women (P= 0.001, F= 1.47) and men (P= 0.001, F= 0.58), except for positive behavior either and has remained steady at the follow-up stage.
Since this intervention leads to the promotion of relationships, awareness of responsibility and reality in couples, it can be used as an effective intervention for conflict resolution and improving couple's relationships.