The Effectiveness of Domestic Violence-Focused Couples Treatment on Marital Violence, Mental Health, and Sexual Intimacy of Couples with Marital Maladjustment

The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Domestic Violence-Focused Couples’ Treatment (DVFCT) on marital violence, mental health, and sexual intimacy of couples with marital maladjustment. A single-case non-concurrent multiple-baseline design was adopted. The statistical population comprised all volunteering couples with marital maladjustment visiting counseling centers in Ahvaz (Iran) in 2021. After screening, two eligible couples (4 people) were purposively selected. The therapy protocol was administered to all the participants in two phases (18 intervention sessions) and four stages (baseline, intervention, a 45-day first follow-up, and a three-month second follow-up.) The participants were assessed before the therapy, on sessions 4, 8, 12, 16, and 18, and on the 45-day and 3-month follow-up. The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, Couples' Sexual Intimacy Questionnaire, and the Violence against Women Questionnaire were used to collect data. The data were analyzed visually using the reliable change index and the improvement percentage formula. The DVFCT significantly improved mental health and sexual intimacy and reduced marital violence, an effect that persisted through the follow-up stages (p < 0.001). The present study achieved promising results concerning the applicability of DVFCT. This therapy can thus mitigate couples’ marital violence and promote their mental health and sexual intimacy.