The effectiveness of compassion-based couples therapy in promoting psychological well-being and resolving marital conflicts

Investigating the effectiveness of compassion-based couple therapy on anxiety, emotional self-regulation, psychological well-being, and marital conflict

Status

Recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

IRCT

Registry ID

IRCT20251010067574N1

Enrollment

Registered

2025-11-17

Start date

2025-11-28

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-12-08

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Marital conflicts. Problems in relationship with spouse or partner

Interventions

Intervention 1: Intervention group: Session duration: 90 minutes

Total number of sessions: 8 sessions

Session frequency: Twice a week

Therapeutic tools used: This intervention strongly relies on the activation of internal and interpersonal compassion resources. The main therapeutic tools include: Guided therapeutic dialogue

Mindfulness exercises

Self-compassion imagery exercises

Mutual compassion imagery exercises.The content of the different sessions is based on the following:Session 1: Administration of the pre-test, the rationale of compassion-focused therapy, and the conc

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

25 Years to 45 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Couples known to have marital problems based on diagnostic methods Being 25-45 years old Having at least a high school diploma

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Unwillingness to participate in research Taking psychiatric medications Concomitant use of other treatments

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Anxiety. Timepoint: Measurement time points:1. Pre-test (before the start of the intervention)2. Post-test (immediately after the end of the intervention period)3. One-month follow-up after the intervention. Method of measurement: The measurement method will be done using the anxiety subscale from the SCL-90 questionnaire by Dragotis and Cleary (1984).;Emotional self-regulation. Timepoint: Measurement time points:1. Pre-test (before the start of the intervention)2. Post-test (immediately after the end of the intervention period)3. One-month follow-up after the intervention. Method of measurement: The measurement tool will include the Hoffman and Kashdan (2010) Emotional Self-Regulation Questionnaire.;Psychological well-being. Timepoint: Measurement time points:1. Pre-test (before the start of the intervention)2. Post-test (immediately after the end of the intervention period)3. One-month follow-up after the intervention. Method of measurement: The measurement tool will include the Riff Psychological Well-Being Questionnaire (1980).;Marital conflict. Timepoint: Measurement time points:1. Pre-test (before the start of the intervention)2. Post-test (immediately after the end of the intervention period)3. One-month follow-up after the intervention. Method of measurement: The measurement tool will include the standard Sanai Marital Conflict Questionnaire (MCQ) of 2000.	—

Measure

Time frame

Anxiety. Timepoint: Measurement time points:1. Pre-test (before the start of the intervention)2. Post-test (immediately after the end of the intervention period)3. One-month follow-up after the intervention. Method of measurement: The measurement method will be done using the anxiety subscale from the SCL-90 questionnaire by Dragotis and Cleary (1984).;Emotional self-regulation. Timepoint: Measurement time points:1. Pre-test (before the start of the intervention)2. Post-test (immediately after the end of the intervention period)3. One-month follow-up after the intervention. Method of measurement: The measurement tool will include the Hoffman and Kashdan (2010) Emotional Self-Regulation Questionnaire.;Psychological well-being. Timepoint: Measurement time points:1. Pre-test (before the start of the intervention)2. Post-test (immediately after the end of the intervention period)3. One-month follow-up after the intervention. Method of measurement: The measurement tool will include the Riff Psychological Well-Being Questionnaire (1980).;Marital conflict. Timepoint: Measurement time points:1. Pre-test (before the start of the intervention)2. Post-test (immediately after the end of the intervention period)3. One-month follow-up after the intervention. Method of measurement: The measurement tool will include the standard Sanai Marital Conflict Questionnaire (MCQ) of 2000.

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Countries

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Contacts

Public ContactAmeneh Khosravi

Islamic Azad University

a.khosravi7943@iau.ir+98 61 3333 3333

Outcome results

None listed

Source: IRCT (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026