The effectiveness of compassion-focused couple therapy on marital attachment and emotional intimacy of incompatible couples

Marital incompatibility is associated with increased anxiety and attachment avoidance and decreased emotional intimacy, which increases the need for couple therapy. Despite this, there is a gap in research on the effect of compassion-focused couple therapy on attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and emotional intimacy in incompatible couples.

The aim of present study was determining the effectiveness of compassion-focused couple therapy on marital attachment and emotional intimacy of incompatible couples.

The design of the current research was semi-experimental, of pre-test-post-test type with a control group. The statistical population was all incompatible couples who referred to Sifa, Behin and Hamraz centers of counseling and psychological services of Khorramabadcity in 2023. A sample of 20 couples was placed in two experimental and control groups using the purposive sampling. Couples were evaluated based on Spouse Attachment Styles Questionnaire (Kianzadeh, 2018) and Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships (Schaefer and Olson, 1981) in two stages of pre-test and post-test in both groups. The experimental group received compassion-focused couple therapy over eight 60-minute sessions. Analysis of covariance and SPSS version 27 software were used for data analysis.

The findings of the present study showed that compassion-focused couple therapy was effective in reducing attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance, as well as increasing the emotional intimacy of incompatible couples (p<0.01).

According to the findings, compassion-focused couple therapy, emphasizing empathy and compassion with oneself and one's spouse, interaction based on compassion with one's spouse, problem-solving-based confrontation with marital challenges and problems, acceptance of oneself and one's spouse with all points strength and weakness and compassionate words and behavior improve attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance and emotional intimacy of incompatible couples. Therefore, compassion-focused couple therapy can be used to improve attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and emotional intimacy in incompatible couples.