Comparison of the effectiveness of marriage enrichment based on selection theory and (PREP) program on marital relationship beliefs

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of marriage enrichment based on selection theory and PREP program on marital relationship beliefs.

  The present study was a quasi-experimental with experimental, control, pretest design, and post-test. The statistical population of this study was couples referring to Mehrvar Consulting Center in Tehran who were referred to counseling center during Nov 2018 period. 30 couples were selected by purposeful method and divided into two experimental marriage enrichment groups based on the theory of choice (10 couples), The experimental group PREP (10 couples) and the control group (10 couples) were randomly assigned. Test groups received weekly intervention in a group in 8 sessions of 90 minutes. All three groups were evaluated in three stages: pre-test, post-test and follow-up by means of communication beliefs scale. Data were analyzed using repeated measure ANOVA.

The results showed that the effect of marriage enrichment intervention on the basis of selection theory and intervention program of prevention and improvement of relationship on communication beliefs (F= 32.32, P= 0.001), disagreemeent is destructive (F = 38.80, P= 0.001), partner cannot change (F =19.71, P= 0.001), mind reading is expected (F= 28.00, P= 0.001), sexual perfection (F= 18.63, P= 0.001), and the sex are different (F= 31.13, P= 0.001), and this effect has remained stable in the follow-up phase. Also, the results of Tukey's post hoc test in order to compare two and two groups showed that there is no difference in the degree of influence between the two methods.

Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that enrichment of marriage based on selection theory and PREP is a prerequisite for reducing marital couples' ineffective communication beliefs.