Comparing the Effects of Social Problem Solving and Assertiveness Training on the Adaptability and Marital Satisfaction in Incompatible Couples

Marriage is among the vital aspects in the formation of a healthy society, and the concept of adaptability and marital satisfaction is of significant importance. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of social problem–solving training and assertiveness training on improving adaptability and marital satisfaction in incompatible couples.

This was a quasi–experimental study with a pretest–posttest and a control group design. In this research, 18 eligible couples referring to counseling centers in Ardebil City, Iran, to solve marital conflicts in 2017 were selected using a random sampling method. They participated in the study voluntarily and were randomly divided into three groups, as follows: one test (6 couples), a trial of two tests (6 couples), and one control (6 couples).  Educational interventions were conducted in eight 60–minute sessions to the experimental groups; however, the control group received no intervention. The required data were collected using the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (FACES) and ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale. Alson (2000), calculated Cronbachchr('39')s alpha coefficient of FACES as 0.90. Moreover, Abbaspour (2008) reported the reliability of this test using Cronbachchr('39')s alpha coefficient (0.95). Mahdaviyan tested the validity of the ENRICH Marital Satisfaction Scale using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and re–test method at a one–wk interval (for men: 93; for women: 94 and for men and women: 94.), and the reliability obtained using the method Cronbachchr('39')s alpha coefficient was .95. The validity of the questionnaire was also evaluated by Suleimanian, and the correlation of the subscales of the questionnaire with the total score was obtained from 0.44 to 0.85. Alson (2000) also reported Cronbachchr('39')s alpha coefficient for the questionnaire as 0.92. In this research, its internal consistency, using Cronbachchr('39')s alpha, was calculated equal to 0.85. In addition, Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was used to analyze the study assumptions, and the collected data were analyzed in SPSS.

The Box’ test results (0.365) on the research variables suggested that the homogeneity of the variance–covariance matrix was well–established. Furthermore, the mean (SD) posttest scores of the experimental group (1), in relation to the adaptability variable, was 21.23(17.25), and the same value for the experimental group (2) was 112.20 (18.22). Moreover, the mean(SD) posttest values of the experimental group (1), in relation to the marital satisfaction variable, was 142.12 (13.86) and in the experimental group (2), it was 129.11(97.7) According to these results, the increase in the posttest scores of the experimental groups 1 and 2 was more than that of the control group. In addition, the present results revealed that the difference between the mean scores of adaptability and marital satisfaction in the posttest stage was significant after controlling the pretest scores in the experimental groups 1 and 2 and the control group (p≤0.001). As a result, social problem–solving training and assertiveness training improved the level of adaptability and marital satisfaction in the studied couples. The MANCOVA results of adaptability, based on social problem solving and assertiveness training method, indicated a difference between the scores of social problem–solving and improved the status of adaptability in the investigated incompatible couples (p≤0.001) Is available. Finally, the Bonferroni posthoc test was used to compare the effects of the interventions on the subjects. The relevant results suggested the social problem solving and assertiveness training was effective. There was a significant difference between adaptability status and marital satisfaction. Accordingly, the difference between the two groups concerning the adaptability variable was 3.90; concerning marital satisfaction is 4.15, i.e., significant at p≤0.001. Therefore, the social problem–solving method, in improving the status of adaptability and marital satisfaction, was more effective than the method of assertiveness training.

The present study results suggested that social problem solving and assertiveness training provided more intimacy to the study couples. Furthermore, the social problem–solving method was more effective than the practice of assertiveness training and increased adaptability in the study subjects.