Effectiveness Emotion Focused Therapy on Tendency to Marital Infidelity and Quality of Marital Life in Women with Low Sexual Desire

Sexual dysfunction and intimacy and marital quality are interrelated. Healthy sexual function of each spouse is one of the prominent and influential factors on the quality of marital relationship. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of emotion-oriented therapy on tendency to marital infidelity and quality of marital life in women with low sexual desire.

Methods and Materials: 

The research design was quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test with a control group. In order to conduct research among all women with low sexual desire who referred to counseling centers in Isfahan in 2021, 18 couples (n = 36) were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 18 for each group) and a control group (n = 18). To assess the research variables, Attitudes toward Infidelity scale (Whatley, 2006) and dyadic adjustment scale (Busby & et al 1995) were used in the pre-test and post-test stages, and the experimental group received emotional therapy for 10 sessions. The control group did not receive any treatment. Data were analyzed by covariance test.

The results showed that emotion-oriented therapy was effective in reducing tendency to marital infidelity and increase the quality of marital life.  (p<.01).

Emotion focused couple therapy promotes marital intimacy and more bonding and attachment between couples through the de-escalation of negative cycles of interaction, changing interactional positions and facilitating the emergence of new solutions to old problems.