The effectiveness of relationship enhancement program on conflict and intimacy of parents with mentally retarded Children

Abstract One of the most important factors that lead to conflict in marital life is relationship problem of couples, which is the result of lacking appropriate and necessary skills for establishing healthy and intimate relationships. The present research was conducted by the aim of investigating the effect of relationship enhancement program on conflicts and intimacy of the parents with Mentally retarded students. The present study was a quasi-experimental with a pre-test, post-test design with control group. The statistical population of this study was the parents of Mentally retarded students in Sanandaj city. The sample consisted of 30 parents with higher marital conflict who were selected by convenient sampling and assigned to the experimental (15) and control group (15) randomly. The experimental group received relationship enhancement program during eight 90-minute sessions but the control group did not receive any intervention. Data were collected throuth Walker and Thompson intimacy inventory, and sanai et al marital conflicts inventory. The results of data analysis using covariance test showed that the training relationship enhancement program was effective on reducing conflict and improving intimacy of the parents with Mentally retarded children. According to the results of this study, relationship enhancement program can be used in Clinical and therapeutic interventions Particularly for improving marital relationships of parents with exceptional children.