Effectiveness of Cognitive-behavioral Training on Marital Adjustment of Couples With Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease with a profound effect on the lives of couples. Thus, it is necessary to use interventions and training based on psychological approaches in couples.  This  study aimed to determine the effect of cognitive behavioral training on the marital adjustment of couples suffering from type 2 diabetes.

In this semi-experimental study, a convenience sample of 40 patients with type 2 diabetes and their spouses was selected. They were randomly assigned to two intervention and control groups. A couple training program based on the cognitive-behavioral approach was implemented for the intervention group. The participants of both groups were evaluated with the marital adjustment scale before and after the intervention. To analyze the data, independent t-test, paired t-test, and covariance analysis were used.

The mean marital adjustment scores of couples in all dimensions and the overall score of marital adjustment in the post-test were higher in the intervention group than in the control group. The ANCOVA test showed that these differences were statistically significant (p≤0.001).

Family training through the use of cognitive behavioral methods has a significant effect on the marital adjustment of couples with type 2 diabetes, and counselors and therapists can use this method when advising on how to improve the quality of marital relationships.