The comparison of effect of couple therapy based on the choice theory and socio-emotional relationship therapy on communication beliefs in couples

Beliefs play main role in quality of life and marital relationships. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of couple therapy based on the choice theory and socio-emotional relationship therapy on communication beliefs in couples. This research was quasi-experimental with pretest-posttest and control group with three-month follow up. The statistical population included 108 couples who referred to Aftab, Zendegi and Tafakor Novin counseling centers in Ardabil in 2016 because they suffered from conflict. 45 couples were selected accessibility and were divided into experimental and the control groups randomly (thirty-member groups). The experimental groups received ten sessions of 90-minutes. Communication beliefs scale of Epstein and Eidelson, 1981 used to collect data. The results of repeated measure variance analysis indicated that there was a significant difference among three groups in posttest and follow up scores of destructive of disagreement (F= 6/24, P 0/05; F=6/13, P< 0/05), mind reading expectation (F= 6/36, P 0/01; F=6/11, P< 0/05), unchanged ability of spouse (F= 6/82, P 0/01; F=5/87, P< 0/05), sexual perfectionism (F= 6/41, P 0/05; F=6/33, P< 0/05), gender differencs (F= 6/62, P 0/05; F=6/19, P< 0/05) and total communication beliefs (F= 10/97, P 0/05; F=10/54, P< 0/05). The results of Benfroni test showed that decreasing of destructive communication beliefs in choice theory (P< 0/05) and in socio-emotional relationship therapy (P< 0/001) group in compared to the control group was significantly different in post-test and follow up steps, but there was no significant difference between the effects of two models of couple therapy. In addition, socio emotional relationship therapy was more effective in improving communication beliefs. As the increase of responsibility and inner control by choice theory, as reinforcement of relationship based on gender equality by socio – emotional relationship therapy, they could use to decrease destructive communication beliefs in couples.