The Effectiveness of an Educational Package based on an Integrative Self-analytical Approach for Couples in Codependency of Couples with Marital Conflicts

Codependency is a communication pattern characterized by controlling others and intense anxiety about intimacy. Considering the negative consequences and the creation of marital conflicts due to the problems of codependency of couples, it is necessary to take steps to reduce it. This research was conducted to examine the effectiveness of the educational package of the integrative self-analytical approach for couples in the codependency of conflicted couples. In terms of objectives, this study was practical and in terms of method, it was a quasi-experimental of pretest-posttest-follow-up type with a control group. The statistical population included all conflicted couples who were referred to counseling centers in Isfahan. Thirty couples were selected through available sampling method and random selection. They were assigned randomly into two experimental and control groups according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The research instrument was Holyoke’s Correlation questionnaire (Dear & Roberts, 2000). Before the sessions, a pretest was taken from both groups. The experimental group was subjected to 12 150-minute sessions of a package training on integrative self-analytical approach for couples and the control group did not receive any training. At the end of the sessions and two months after them, a posttest and a follow-up were taken from both groups. Data analysis was done through repeated measures analysis of variance using SPSS software (version 24). The results showed that the educational package of the integrative self-analytical approach for couples was effective in reducing the dimensions of couples’ codependency (i.e., external focus, self-sacrifice, and reactivity) and had lasting effects in the follow-up phase (P>0.001). It seems that the integrative self-analysis training package for couples can be effective in reducing their codependency due to having an integrative perspective on couples’ issues.