The effectiveness of self-differentiation training on intimacy, compatibility and assertiveness of married women

The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of self-differentiation training on intimacy, compatibility and assertiveness of married women.

The research method was semi-experimental using a pre-test, post-test and follow up with the control group. The research population was all married women whose terms of marriage were under 5 years and their age were between 20 and 40 years in Tabriz City. A sample of 30 married women was selected via available method and they randomly were assigned for two groups, including intervention and control. For pre-test, both groups took the dyadic compatibility scale (DAS), Bagarozzi marital intimacy need Questionnaire (MINQ), and Gambrill & Richey assertiveness scale. Then the experimental group was trained with self-differentiation for 18 hours over 12 weeks. Then, for post-test the two groups took the same questionnaires again. The data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance.

There was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in intimacy, compatibility and assertiveness (p<0.005). In other words, the difference between the scores of the two groups represents that self-differentiation is effective on the intimacy, compatibility and assertiveness of married women.

It is concluded that self-differentiation training is highly effective in reducing married women problems. This demonstrates the importance of using this approach in therapeutic planning and clinical interventions regarding couple issues.