Comparison of the effectiveness of solution-oriented couple therapy with emotion-oriented couple therapy on forgiveness, sexual function and communication beliefs of couples with marital infidelity

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of solution-oriented and emotion-oriented couple therapy on forgiveness, sexual function, and communication beliefs of couples with marital infidelity in Kermanshah. The research method was quasi-experimental and was a pre-test and post-test design with a control group. The statistical population of this study included a couple on the verge of divorce who had the experience of marital infidelity in Kermanshah in 2019. The sample consisted of 36 pairs that were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group (12 pairs each). Participants completed questionnaires of forgiveness (FFS) (Ehteshamzadeh et al., 2010), Female Sexual Function (FSFI) (Rosen et al., 2000), Male Sexual Health (MSHQ) (Rosen et al., 2004), and communication ideas (CBQ) (Aidelson & Epstein, 1982) before and after the intervention. The solution-oriented couple therapy and emotion-oriented couple therapy training program was performed for 8 sessions, each session lasting 90 minutes and once a week for the two experimental groups. The group did not receive training. To test the hypotheses, multivariate analysis of covariance with Benferroni post hoc test was used. Findings showed that there is a significant difference between experimental and control groups (P<0.001); In general, there is no significant difference between the two groups. Accordingly, solution-oriented and emotion-oriented couple therapy can be used by therapists as an effective and efficient way to increase forgiveness, sexual function and reduce the couple's dysfunctional beliefs, thus helping to improve marital relationships.