Comparison of effectiveness of integrative behavioral couple therapy and behavioral systems couple therapy in increasing mental health of couples

Mental health is one of the main components of positive psychology movement that plays an important role in physical health, mental health, life satisfaction, and successful marriage. Also, its increase in distress and crisis in couple's relationships can be considered as a positive achievement in couple therapy. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of integrative behavioral couple therapy and behavioral systems couple therapy in increasing the mental health of couples.
This was a quasi-experimental research with pretest-posttest control group design and repeated measures. The statistical society was formed of couples who referred to four psychological counseling in Tehran. In this study, 24 couples were selected by convenience sampling method and then randomly divided into two experimental groups and one control group. Ryff's psychological well-being questionnaire included 84 questions with six sub-scales was used for data gathering. These data were analyzed using SPSS software, descriptive statistics indexes, mixed model analysis of covariance, and also multivariable analysis.
The findings showed that compared to behavioral systems couple therapy, integrative behavioral couples therapy had a greater impact on increasing self-acceptance, personal growth, and environmental mastery (components of mental health).
In healthy interpersonal relationships, especially marriage, it is required that couples increased their sense of control over the environment with having a positive attitude to themselves and their past lives. It will help them to achieve new experiences as a human with effective potential.