Family Therapy

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to study the effect of family therapy in hope therapy method on the reduction of marital conflicts in couples. Methodology: The statistical population of the study included all incompatible couples referring to Pishro counseling center. The sample consisted of 30 couples who were selected based on entry and exit criteria and were randomly divided into two groups (each one consisted of 15 couples). They were evaluated using research tools before and after interventions. The research tools included Marital Conflict Questionnaire (MCQ) and Penis Marital Disturbance Scale. Data were analyzed using multivariate covariance analysis. Findings: The results of the data analysis indicated that there is a significant difference in variables of marital conflicts and marital disturbance of hope therapy group and the control group by removing the effect of pre-test variable (P<0.01). Discussion: Hoping-paired enrichment interventions have led to clinical changes in couple relationships and increasing the level of positive interactions.

Purpose : The aim of this study was the effectiveness of family therapy in Bowen's systemic approach on humor and intimacy of couples. Methodology : The research design was quasi-experimental with pre-test-post-test design with experimental and control groups. The statistical population of the study was all couples in Tehran in 2020. The statistical sample size of the study is 50 couples who, after consultation and explanation of the research conditions and the satisfaction of the sample, are divided into experimental and control groups (25 in the experimental group and 25 in the control group). The experimental group was exposed to the Bowen systemic approach during eight sessions of family therapy, and the controls did not receive any training from the researcher. The research instruments were the Thompson and Walker Marital Intimacy Scale 1983 and the 2003 Martin Humor Questionnaire. Analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data. Findings : Data analysis showed that the experimental group in the post-test phase after receiving family therapy Bowen systemic approach in the variables of humor and intimacy had a positive difference compared to the control group and the research hypotheses were confirmed. Conclusion : Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that Bowen's systemic approach to family therapy has an effect on couples humor and intimacy.

Objective: To investigate the effect of family therapy education in promoting mental health and reducing depression in adolescents with high-risk behaviors. Methods:  The present study was semi-experimental with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. It included all teenage girls in the second year of high school with high-risk behaviors in Ardabil province. In this study, 30 eligible patients were selected and invited purposefully. The researchers randomly divided the participants into two family therapy training groups (15 people) and a control group (15 people). The experimental group was taught the methods and techniques of family therapy education strategies for eight 90-minute sessions. In contrast, during this period, the control group received no psychological training on the mental health and resilience scale. The data were compared using multivariate and univariate analysis of variance. All statistical analyses were performed in SPSS software version 26. Results:  Compared to the control group, the experimental group was able to reduce the depression score and increase the mental health score at the level of P<0.001 with the intervention of family therapy training. The most significant effect size (η=0.543) is related to mental health, which shows that 54% of the variance of the mental health variable between the experimental and control groups is due to the independent variable (family therapy training). Conclusion: The results showed that family therapy training increases mental health and reduces depression in adolescents with high-risk behaviors. Therefore, family therapy training is recommended for adolescents with high-risk behaviors to increase mental health, reduce depression and improve their quality of life.

Objective: By the end of 2014, an estimated 6,851,000 adult individuals were in the United States criminal justice system. Many of these individuals are racially and ethnically minoritized men. These families have been adversely impacted by the loss of adult family members who have been sent to prison. Family therapy has been recommended for successful reentry from incarceration into the home and community. Methods: Structural family therapy (SFT) aims to restructure the family’s organization to decrease dysfunction and establish flexible boundaries. SFT and the use of culturally sensitive practices are key to the success of family therapy for this population. Findings: This case study showcases SFT’s main components including rules, roles, hierarchies, and boundaries. Clinical implications advise to explore the effectiveness of using culturally informed care practices when using SFT models when a parent is incarcerated. Conclusion: Correctional facilities should take a deep dive into the importance of investing in programs of essential skills that will not only help the individual to return to society but can lead to the reduction of recidivism.

Objective: The present study aimed to explore the socio-cultural challenges of family therapy. This applied research utilized a qualitative phenomenological approach. Methods: The study population consisted of specialists in various fields of couples and family therapy in Tehran province during the years 2022-2023, who met the inclusion criteria for the study. The inclusion criteria were psychologists or counselors with a Master's or Doctoral degree who had at least five years of experience in one of the family-related fields and were willing to collaborate in the research. A purposive, snowball sampling method was used, continuing until data saturation was reached, with a final selection of 15 specialists. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection, and the data were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach. Findings: The findings revealed 24 initial concepts, 5 sub-themes, and 2 main themes as the socio-cultural challenges and factors that perpetuate these challenges. Ineffective application of existing family therapy theories in response to societal changes, social harms affecting family systems over time, and socio-cultural-economic damages were among the sub-themes of challenges. Differences in opinions regarding the strengthening of theory-building and the approach to localizing interventions without relying on existing theories were identified as factors that sustain these challenges. Conclusion: This study offers a new perspective on the impact of societal context on the effective or ineffective implementation of interventions based on non-native theories, providing an alternative approach to examining the issues of cultural insularity in interventions, beyond considerations of religion and written documents in research.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Bowen intergenerational family therapy on reducing marital conflicts and enhancing interpersonal forgiveness. Methodology: This research employed a quasi-experimental design with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up phases, incorporating a control group. The statistical population consisted of families who visited the counseling and psychology center in District 1 of Karaj in 2023. Eight families were selected through convenience and voluntary sampling and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups, each comprising four families. Data were collected using the Differentiation of Self Inventory, the Forgiveness Questionnaire, and the Marital Conflict Questionnaire. The intervention, based on Bowen intergenerational therapy, was conducted over eight weekly group sessions, each lasting 90 minutes. Data analysis involved univariate and multivariate covariance analyses using SPSS software. Findings: The findings revealed that Bowen intergenerational therapy significantly impacted both marital conflicts and interpersonal forgiveness. Specifically, the experimental group showed a marked decrease in marital conflict scores from 154.1 (SD = 11.3) in the pre-test to 139.4 (SD = 10.9) in the post-test, which remained stable at 139.2 (SD = 10.3) in the follow-up phase. Similarly, interpersonal forgiveness scores increased from 78.4 (SD = 5.7) in the pre-test to 114.2 (SD = 9.9) in the post-test and remained at 111.1 (SD = 8.9) during the follow-up phase. These changes were statistically significant compared to the control group, which showed no significant changes. Conclusion: The study concludes that Bowen intergenerational family therapy is effective in reducing marital conflicts and enhancing interpersonal forgiveness. The findings align with previous research, underscoring the therapy's potential to address relational issues and improve emotional regulation within families.