The study aimed to investigate the predictive roles of self-compassion and marital self-regulation on marital adjustment among married women attending counseling centers in Tehran in 2023. It sought to enrich the understanding of how these psychological constructs contribute to marital satisfaction and stability.
Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional design was employed with a sample of 350 married women selected through available sampling from various counseling centers in Tehran. Measures included the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) to assess marital adjustment, the Self-Compassion Scale developed by Neff (2003) for evaluating self-compassion levels, and a 16-item scale by Wilson et al. (2005) for measuring marital self-regulation. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 27, with linear regression analyses performed to explore the relationships between the constructs.

 The findings revealed that both self-compassion and marital self-regulation significantly predicted marital adjustment among the participants. Specifically, higher levels of self-compassion and marital self-regulation were associated with better marital adjustment. The regression model explained 37% of the variance in marital adjustment scores, highlighting the substantial impact of these factors on marital satisfaction.

 This study underscores the critical importance of self-compassion and marital self-regulation in fostering marital adjustment. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing these psychological resources could contribute significantly to improving marital satisfaction and relationship stability among couples, particularly those seeking counseling services.

Family as a dynamic system embraces a number of subsystems, the most important of which is spouse subsystem. Couple’s ability in marital self-regulation is a significant factor determining the quality of their interactions. Marital self-regulation refers to the ability of couples to change their beliefs, emotions, and behaviors. It has two dimensions: communication regulation and communication effort. The ability of adapting needs, preferences, and expectations to spouse determines the ability of couples in marital self-regulation. Another determining factor governing couples’ relationship is emotional distress tolerance. According to Simons and Gaher (2005), distress tolerance consists of four aspects of tolerance, appraisal, absorption, and regulation. Distress tolerance is defined as the ability of experiencing and tolerating negative and stressful internal and environmental discomforts. Tavares and Aassve (2013) showed that low distress tolerance is related to poor marital relationship and is a factor of failure in marriage. Solution-focused approach has been taken by some therapists for a variety of family therapies, people with mental disabilities, domestic violence, people with substance abuse disorders, marital intimacy, and sexual disorders. This approach has been proved to be effective.  Since couples’ inability to tolerate marital distress and self-regulation causes disturbed marital interactions, this study was conducted to answer the following question: Does the effect of short-term solution-focused couples therapy on couples’ increasing marital self-regulation and emotional distress tolerance and its components last to the one-month follow-up stage?

This semi-experimental study used a pre-test, post-test, follow-up design. The statistical population includes all couples who visited private and government counseling centers in Ilam city in 2021. Purposive sampling method was used and participants were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, from among 25 volunteered couples (50 people), 12 couples (6 couples for experimental group and 6 couples for the control group, totally 24 people) were selected. Moreover, the treatment was conducted in 36 sessions, 90 minutes every session (6 sessions for each couple).Marital Self-regulation Questionnaire and Distress Tolerance Scale were used as the instruments of the study.  Marital self-regulation questionnaire (behavioral self-regulation for effective relationships scale) was developed by Wilson et al. (2005). This questionnaire consists of 16 items that evaluate communication regulation and communication effort. The Distress Tolerance Scale is a 15-item self-report measure of emotional distress tolerance developed by Simons and Gaher (2005). This questionnaire consists of four subscales of tolerance, appraisal, absorption, and regulation. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (ANCOVA).

The results of univariate covariance analysis for the post-test scores of marital self-regulation components showed that F for communication regulation is 381.374 (p<0.001) and communication effort is 248.74 (p<0.001). These results show that there is a significant difference between experimental and control groups regarding communication effort and communication regulation among couples in the post-test stage, and short-term solution-focused treatment improves couples’ communication effort and communication regulation. Moreover, F ratio of univariate covariance analysis for communication self-regulation (F=442.521 and p<0.001) and communication effort (F=779.855 and p<0.001) indicates the persistence of the effectiveness of this treatment until follow-up stage. The results of univariate covariance analysis on post-test scores of distress tolerance components for couples show that F ratio for tolerance is 8.262 (p<0.001), for absorption is 280.05 (p<0.001), for appraisal is 230.37 (p<0.001), and for regulation is 0.800 (p=0.383). The results of univariate covariance analysis on follow-up scores of distress tolerance components show that F ratio for tolerance is 622.403 (p<0.001), for absorption is 753.943 (p<0.001), for appraisal is 237.887 (p<0.001), and for regulation is 0.047 (p=0.831), which show the persistence of the effectiveness of the treatment until the follow-up stage.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of short-term solution-focused couple therapy on improving couples’ marital self-regulation and distress tolerance and their components. The results showed that this treatment had a significant impact on improving the aspects of couples’ marital self-regulation and tolerating general distress, and this impact lasts until the follow-up stage. But the effectiveness of this treatment was not confirmed for couples’ emotion regulation regarding distress tolerance. One can say that, through adopting a positive position and focusing on the present and future, solution-focused treatment can creates hope in couples. This therapy endeavors to guide couples towards a more compatible life by focusing on and identifying couples’ internal and external capabilities.

 This study aims to develop and test a predictive model of marital adjustment, focusing on the roles of psychological flexibility and frustration discomfort, with the mediation of marital self-regulation and self-compassion.

Methods and Materials:

 Utilizing a correlational design and structural equation modeling (SEM), this research examines the predictive power of psychological flexibility and frustration discomfort on marital adjustment among 350 married women seeking counseling services in Tehran in 2023. Participants were assessed using validated scales for psychological flexibility, frustration discomfort, marital self-regulation, self-compassion, and marital adjustment.

 The model demonstrated a good fit, with significant direct effects of psychological flexibility and frustration discomfort on marital self-regulation, self-compassion, and marital adjustment. Psychological flexibility was positively associated with marital adjustment, whereas frustration discomfort showed negative associations. Marital self-regulation and self-compassion were significant mediators in these relationships. The study also provided a comprehensive demographic profile of the participants, highlighting a diverse range of educational backgrounds and economic statuses.

 The findings underscore the importance of psychological flexibility, frustration discomfort, marital self-regulation, and self-compassion in marital adjustment. The study highlights the complex interplay between these variables and suggests that interventions aimed at enhancing psychological flexibility, reducing frustration discomfort, and fostering self-compassion and marital self-regulation could be beneficial for marital satisfaction and resilience.

The aim of this study was to modeling marital self-regulation based on emotional schemas and behavioral systems with the mediating role of social exchange styles.

This descriptive study was conducted using a correlational design. Statistical population was all married female students of Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, in the 2020-21 academic year of whom 420 students were selected using convenient sampling. They completed the Behavioral Self-Regulation for Effective Relationship Scale by Wilson et al., the Leahy's Emotional Schema Scale, the Carver and White's BIS/BAS scales and the Leybman's Social Exchange Styles Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using structural equations and Amos software.

In addition to the significant direct effect of emotional schemas( adaptive and maladaptive) and behavioral activation on marital self-regulation, fairness and individualism played a positive mediating role between behavioral activation and adaptive emotional schemas in marital self-regulation. In addition, individualism played a negative mediating role between behavioral inhibition and maladaptive emotional schemas in marital self-regulation.

In addition to the positive role of adaptive emotional schemas, behavioral activation and fairness style in marital self-regulation, the individualism style of social exchange had a different function in marital self-regulation of married women based on the type of emotional schemas and brain-behavioral systems and it could have a different effect on the cost/benefit estimation

Today, infertility is a major concern for public health and one of the most important crises in life, which leads to many psychological problems. Since cognitive-behavioral therapy emphasizes empowering and educating the patient to solve problems, this study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy on marital self-regulation and uncertainty intolerance in infertile women.

 This clinical trial study was performed on 30 infertile women referring to the infertility center of Sari city in two groups of case and control (15 patients in each group). Cognitive-behavioral therapy was performed in 12 sessions of 45 minutes, once a week for the experimental group, while the control group received the routine treatment. After the follow-up period, the control group also underwent psychotherapy. Both groups completed the questionnaires of marital self-regulation by Wilson et al. (2005) and uncertainty intolerance by Friston et al. (1994) in the pre-test, post-test and follow-up (45 days after the post-test) and were compared.

The results showed that in the two subscales of marital self-regulation in the experimental group, the average scores in the three stages of pre-test, post-test and follow-up respectively for the subscale of communication self-regulation (24.266 ± 6.273), (41.000 ± 3.207) and (35.266 ± 3.899) there was a significant increase in the post-test and follow-up compared to the pre-test stage(P<0.05). And the sub-scale of communication effort(19.333 ± 5.094), (8.666 ± 1.914) and (12.000 ± 2.449), and intolerance of uncertainty 92.600 ± 9.302), (67.400 ± 7.585) and (75.200 ± 10.975), had a significant decrease in the post-test and follow-up compared to the pre-test stage (P<0.05).

The results of the study showed that cognitive-behavioral therapy can be an effective intervention in improving marital self-regulation and reducing intolerance of uncertainty in infertile women.

 The inability to have a child is stressful, causes psychological distress and acts as a powerful factor in relationships between couples and family strengths. The aim of the present study was investigate to the effectiveness of self-compassion focused therapy on marital self-regulation, marital burnout, and self-criticism in infertile women.

This study was an applied and quasi-experimental with pre-test and post-test with a control group. The statistical population consisted of infertile women who referred to infertility centers in the cities of Chalus and Noshahr between June and September 2018. Among them, 30 people were selected and divided into experimental and control. Experimental groups received self-compassion-focused therapy (for ten 60-min sessions), but the control group did not receive any intervention. The Self-Regulation for Effective Relationships Scale (SRERS), Marital Burnout Questionnaire (MBQ) and Self-Criterion Questionnaires (SCQ) were used to collect the data. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 24 in two parts: descriptive and inferential (multivariate analysis of covariance).

 The results showed that self-compassion focused therapy had a significant effect on marital self-regulation (F=8.17, p<0.001), marital burnout (F=52.52, p<0.001), and self-criticism (F=64.99, p<0.001) in infertile women.

 It can be concluded that self-compassion focused therapy was effective in improving marital self-regulation, marital burnout, and self-esteem in infertile women.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on marital self-regulation, marital burnout, and self-criticism of infertile women.

Methods & Materials: 

This experimental study was conducted with a pretest-posttest design with the control group. The statistical population of this study included all the infertile women of Mazandaran Province, Iran, in 2018-2019. In this study, 30 infertile women were considered the sample size in the experimental group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (of 15 infertile women) and control (15 infertile women). The experimental group underwent mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (10 sessions 60 minutes), but the control group received no training. To collect data, we used the marital self-regulation scale of Wilson and et al., the marital burnout scale of Pines, and the self-criticism scale of Thompson and Zuroff. Data analysis was performed in SPSS V. 24 with descriptive and inferential statistics (multivariable analysis of covariance).

Ethical Considerations: 

This study with research ethical code IR.IAU.TON.REC.1397.030 was approved by the Research Ethics Committee at Islamic Azad University Tonekabon Branch.

 The results showed that the scores of marital self-regulation of infertile women after mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in the experimental group significantly increased in comparison with the control group, and also marital burnout, and self-criticism scores were decreased (P<0.01).

 Therefore, it is suggested that counselors and therapists use mindfulness-based cognitive therapy to improve marital self-regulation, marital burnout, and self-criticism of infertile women.

The purpose of this study was to identify the effectiveness of emotional self- regulation on marital self- regulation of the newly married couples.

it was a quasi- experimental one with control, experimental group and pretest, posttest with a 3- month follow-up. The statistical population of this study was the newly married couples of Tehran, Al-Zahra and Shahid Beheshti University who were invited to cooperate in a public call to all students who had been married for less than 3 years thirty of them were being selected and randomly assigned to experimental (15 couples) and control (15 couples) groups. The experimental group received weekly intervention in 8 sessions of 90 minutes. Both groups were evaluated in three stage of pre-test, post-test and 3 month follow- up. Data were analyzed using mixed variance repeated measures.

The results showed a significant difference between the performance of two experimental and control groups in the relational self-regulation score (F= 27.54, P=0.001) and relational activity (F= 20.91, P= 0.001) Post- test and follow- up indicated.

Since emotional self- regulation training enhances self- regulation of newly married couples, psychologists and counselors can benefit this method to assist the newly married couples.

Couple therapy is among the therapeutic methods used for solving couples’ marital problems. Brief self-regulation couple therapy is one of the many different methods used for couple therapy. This study was conducted to determine the effect of training brief self-regulation couple therapy on couples’ marital satisfaction. The research method was two-group quasi-experimental with pretest and posttest on a statistical population of incompatible couples presenting to a psychological consultation center. Among the mentioned statistical population, 40 couples (80 participant) were selected using convenience sampling method and categorized into experimental and control groups (20 couples each) using simple random method. Training brief couple therapy was presented to the couples of experimental group in eight sessions. Measurement instrument was the short-form marital satisfaction questionnaire. Results showed that training brief self-regulation couple therapy was effective in the components of marital satisfaction (general marital satisfaction, personality issues, marital relations, conflict resolution, financial management, leisure, sexual relations, children and parenting, relatives and friends, and religious orientation) among the incompatible couples. Results of the present work supported the effect of training brief self-regulation couple therapy for strengthening marital satisfaction among incompatible couples.

The research is based on selfreg-ulation therapy and designed to imp-rove the problems of marital relation-nship. The central concept of self-regulation Couple therapy is the par-tnere, not therapists, produce long-term change in couple relationships.The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of self-regulation brief couple therapy on en-hancing marital satisfaction. The pop-ulation of the study were all the cou-ples reffered to Babolsar Farhangian Clinic.Sample includes 20 couples who re-ffered to clinic during spring and su-mmer of 2007. The results of this study using two-way variance analysis showed that self-regulation brief cou-ple therapy increases the couple’s marital satisfaction, adjustment, com-munication, conflict resolution, leisure activities, sexual relationship, family and friends relations. In addition, the effectiveness the of treatement for men and women was the same. It is concluded that this method might be an efficient way to improve marital satisfaction and couple therapists are recommended to consider the role self-regulation of couples as an impo-rtant factor in management and sol-ving the marital conflict to increase marital satisfaction.