Zohreh Mazaheri; Mohammad Zare Neyestanak; Elham Foroozandeh
Abstract
Background: Infertility can be a major source of stress for women, impacting their ability to cope with challenges. This study aimed to investigate whether Bowen family therapy can improve resilience in infertile women, potentially leading to better emotional well-being and coping skills.Methods: We ...
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Background: Infertility can be a major source of stress for women, impacting their ability to cope with challenges. This study aimed to investigate whether Bowen family therapy can improve resilience in infertile women, potentially leading to better emotional well-being and coping skills.Methods: We used a quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-intervention assessments and a control group. Follow-up measurements were collected two months post-intervention. The study population comprised all infertile women attending infertility centers in Isfahan, Iran, from April to June 2023. Thirty-two participants were recruited through convenience sampling and then randomly assigned to two groups (n=16 per group): an intervention group receiving Bowen family therapy and a waitlist control group. The intervention group participated in eight 90-minute (one session per week) Bowen family therapy sessions. Participants completed the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) at three time points. Repeated measures ANOVA was conducted using SPSS version 26 to analyze the data.Results: Participants in the Bowen family therapy group demonstrated improvements in several resilience measures. Scores on the hardiness and competence measure increased significantly from the pre-test (25.93±6.92) to the post-test (31.50±7.80), with gains maintained at follow-up (31.37±3.00) (P=0.010). Similar significant increases were observed in trusting one’s instincts (pre-test: 22.18±6.46; post-test: 27.43±4.66; follow-up: 26.25±3.66) (P=0.013) and positive attitude toward change (pre-test: 14.62±2.68; post-test: 18.37±3.79; follow-up: 17.12±3.63) (P=0.031). These improvements culminated in a significant rise in total resilience scores from the pre-test (77.68±15.23) to the post-test (94.62±13.84), with a follow-up mean of 90.18 (±9.77) (P=0.009). Notably, the impact of Bowen family therapy on perceived control (P=0.140) and spirituality (P=0.051) was not statistically significant (P=0.140).Conclusions: Overall, this study provides valuable evidence that supports the effectiveness of Bowen family therapy as a therapeutic approach to enhance resilience in infertile women. Tailoring interventions to address specific areas within the context of Bowen family therapy principles could be particularly beneficial for infertile women.
Afsaneh Hosseini Geravandi; Parviz Asgari; Zahra Yousefi
Abstract
Background: The escalating number of visits to family therapy centers and the increasing divorce rates indicate a profound crisis in relationship status, resulting in family discord and divorce. This study endeavored to scrutinize the elements of female attractiveness in couple relationships as perceived ...
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Background: The escalating number of visits to family therapy centers and the increasing divorce rates indicate a profound crisis in relationship status, resulting in family discord and divorce. This study endeavored to scrutinize the elements of female attractiveness in couple relationships as perceived by family therapists with expertise in the field.Methods: This was a qualitative study employing a content analysis design. The statistical population encompassed all expert family therapists in Ahvaz, Iran in 2022. From this pool, eight therapists who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected as the sample. The research methodology employed content analysis, and data were collected through quasi-experimental interviews.Results: The outcomes revealed that the central and organizing categories consist of: 1. Personality Attractiveness (comprising self-esteem, agreeableness, stability, and conscientiousness as organizing codes). 2. Emotional attractiveness (with organizing codes related to positive emotional inhibition and positive emotional manifestation). 3. Cognitive attractiveness (characterized by cognitive capabilities and cognitive development as organizing codes). 4. Physical attractiveness (divided into sexual physical Attractiveness and non-sexual physical Attractiveness). 5. Relationship Attractiveness (encompassing family attractiveness, family relation attractiveness, emotional relation attractiveness, and spousal praise).Conclusion: Female Attractiveness is a multifaceted construct, and the absence of any of its dimensions can undermine its role in couple relationships. Therefore, adhering to these five dimensions can fortify marital bonds.
