Investigating Psychological-Marital Problems of Women who Filed for a Divorce and Examining the Effectiveness of Affective-Reconstructive Therapy

The aim of this study was to investigate psychological-marital problems of women who filed for a divorce and examining the effectiveness of affective-reconstructive therapy on it.

The research design was mixed-method. In the qualitative stage, 15 women who field for a divorce were selected using purposive sampling and interviewed. The statistical population included all women who field for a divorce with a history of early marriage in 1399 in Ardabil. To analyze the data, the thematic analysis was used. This analysis in psychological-marital dimensions led to the identification of 7 themes (anxiety, depression, nostalgia and loss, confusion, insecurity and pessimism, lack of mutual understanding, and marital conflict). Then, based on these themes, a psychological-marital problem questionnaire (PMPQ) was designed and after confirming the psychometric properties, in order to determine the effectiveness of affective-reconstructive therapy, this questionnaire was used.

The results of the qualitative part showed that women who filed for a divorce with a history of early marriage, experience problems in the psychological-marital dimension. The questionnaire of psychological-marital problems of marriage (PMPQ), had good validity and reliability. Also, Affective-reconstructive therapy was effective in all dimensions of psychological-marital problems and led to the reduction of problems.

Therapists and researchers can use the psychological-marital problems of marriage questionnaire and Affective-reconstructive therapy to assess and improve the problems of women who field for a divorce with a history of early marriage.