The effectiveness of brief self-regulation couple therapy (srct) on reducing marital covert relational aggression, changing of communication patterns and reduction of alexithymia among conflicting couples

There are many unsuccessful marriages and marital relationships which spouses do not divorce for various reasons. The effectiveness of brief self-regulatory couple therapy (SRCT) on different variables has been confirmed. But the research that checking the effectiveness of short-term self-regulatory couple therapy (SRCT) on reducing latent marital communication aggression, changing communication patterns, and reducingAlexithymiain conflicting couples has been neglected.

This research conducted with the aim of investigate the effectiveness of couple therapy based on brief self-regulation on reducing marital covert relational aggression, changing communication patterns reduction of alexithymia among conflicting couples.

The research method was quasi-experimental pretest-posttest with a testifier group. The statistical population of this study was maladapted couples referring to Bijar city counseling centers (2 centers) in 2019. By purposive sampling method, 30 couples (60 people) were selected as a statistical sample. For the experimental group, the treatment protocol (Halford, 2001) was performed as a group and one session per week (8 sessions in total) While the group did not receive any treatment. The Covert Relational Aggression Scale (Nelson and Cowell, 2006), Communication Patterns (Christensen and Heavey, 1990) and Toronto Emotional Dysfunction (Bugby, Taylor, and Parker) were used to collect data.SPSS-21 software was used to analyze the data and multivariate analysis of covariance was used at the inferential level.

The results of analysis of covariance showed that there was a significant difference between the post-test of the experimental and control groups in terms of dependent variables (latent marital communication aggression, emotional insufficiency and mutually constructive communication patterns, reciprocal avoidance, expectation / withdrawal) (p<0/000).

brief self-regulatory couple therapy (SRCT) reduced latent marital communication aggression and emotional insufficiency and improved couples communication patterns. Based on the results of the present study Psychologists working in training and counseling centers to use this treatment.