Compare the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on Marital Satisfaction

Many factors can effect on marital satisfaction, and sexual dissatisfaction can be one of these factors. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy on marital satisfaction of women with sexual dissatisfaction. The present study is an experimental design with pre-test and post-test with the control group. The statistical population of the study consisted of women with sexual dissatisfaction who were referred to counseling centers in Tehran (750 persons) in 2019 (9 counseling centers). Using a random sampling method, 45 volunteer women who met the criteria for admission (through a diagnostic semi-structured interview) were selected and randomly assigned into three groups ACT, CBT, and control with each group of 15 persons. Then each experimental group treated for 9 sessions of 1.5 hours and the control group did not receive any treatment. Members of all three groups completed the Enrich couple satisfaction questionnaire (Fowers, Olson, 1989) in both pre-test and post-test stages. Analysis of covariance showed that the mean scores of marital satisfaction in both experimental groups were significantly increased in the post-test compared to the control group (P ≤0/05, F=259/39). In addition, ACT treatment had more effect on marital satisfaction than CBT treatment. Therefore, therapists and family counselors can use acceptance and commitment therapy to work on a couple's sexual dissatisfaction so that in addition to solving their problem, marital satisfaction increased and take an important step to reduce divorce.