Effectiveness of the Compassion-Focused Therapy on Self-Criticism and Marital Intimacy among Couples

 The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy (CFT) on self-criticism and marital intimacy among couples. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group was implemented.

 The research method was quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest and control group design. The population consisted of all couples that volunteered to participate in the study in Mashhad, Iran, in 2021, and the sample included 30 individuals (15 people in each group). The participants were selected using the volunteer sampling technique and were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. The experimental group received 8 sessions of the CFT intervention, while the control group did not receive any psychotherapeutic intervention. The instruments implemented in the study included the CFT package, the Levels of Self-Criticism Scale (LOSC), and the Marital Intimacy Scale. The data of the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while the inferential data were analyzed by the multivariate analysis of covariance using SPSS software.

 There were significant differences between the experimental and control groups in terms of self-criticism (F = 11.03, P = 0.003) and marital intimacy (F = 11.91, P = 0.003). In other words, implementing the CFT intervention reduced self-criticism and increased marital intimacy among couples.

 It was concluded that counselors, therapists (in the fields of couple therapy, family, and individual) and other specialists in mental health could implement the CFT intervention to reduce self-criticism and increase marital intimacy among couples.