The Effectiveness of Solution-focused Therapy on Family Functioning and Couple Burnout among Women Affected by Spouse Infidelity at Counseling Centers in Ahvaz: A Pilot Study

Infidelity is a painful and complicated experience for couples. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of solution-based therapy on family functioning and couple burnout among women affected by spouse infidelity referred to counseling centers in Ahvaz.

The research method was experimental with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with a control group. Participants included 30 women affected by spouse infidelity referred to counseling centers in Ahvaz in 2019, selected by purposive sampling method, and divided into two experimental and control groups of 15 people. Family functioning and couple burnout questionnaires were used to collect data. Before the intervention, a pre-test was held, and the experimental group received six 120-minute solution-based therapies, while the control group did not receive any intervention. The post-test was then performed, and after one month of post-test, the follow-up period was performed. Data were analyzedusing covariance analysis via SPSS software version 22.

The mean (SD) age of participants was 33.7 (6.3) in the experimental group and 31.4 (5.9) in the control group. In the experimental group, the mean (SD) score of family functioning increasedfrom 128.4 (17.7) in the pre-test to 188.5 (22.8) in the post-test, and 192.1 (23.4) in the follow-up (P<0.001). In the control group, it varied from 125.4 (15.3) in the pre-test to 124.9 (15.8) in the post-test, and 123.7 (15.5) in the follow-up, which was not significant. In the experimental group, the mean (SD) score of couple burnout decreased from 124.0 (14.6) in the pre-test to 61.9 (8.9) in the post-test and 58.9 (9.8) in the follow-up (P<0.001). In the control group, it varied from 123.5 (12.5) in the pre-test to 124.7 (12.3) in the post-test, and 123.8 (11.4) in the follow-up, which was not significant.

Solution-based therapy improved family functioning and reduced marital burnout among women affected by spouse infidelity referred to counseling centers in Ahvaz.