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Iranian Journal of Breast Diseases
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1- MA in Clinical Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Marand Branch, Marand, Iran
2- Department of Psychology, University College of Nabi Akram, Tabriz, Iran ,hadiAkbarinejhad@yahoo.com
2- Department of Psychology, University College of Nabi Akram, Tabriz, Iran ,
Abstract: (26 Views)
Introduction: Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among women. This complication can negatively affect the physical health, psychological health, and marital relationship of women with their husbands, leading to serious problems. The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of compassion-focused couples therapy (CFCT) on marital conflicts and emotional intimacy in couples with a spouse suffering from breast cancer.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted using a pretest/posttest design and follow-up, with a control group. The statistical population consisted of all women with breast cancer in Tabriz and their spouses who had been referred to Al-Zahra Hospital, Tabriz, Iran, during five months from May to the end of September 2024. In total, 16 couples were selected using a convenience sampling method and randomly divided into two intervention and control groups. The intervention group received eight 1.5-hour CFCT sessions (two months, one session per week), according to the treatment plan of Kazemi et al. On the other hand, the control group did not receive any treatment. Both groups responded to the 54-item revised Marital Conflict Questionnaire of Bustanipour and Sanaei Zakir (2016) and the 36-item Intimacy in Relationships Questionnaire of Schaefer and Olson (1981) before, after, and at a 4-month follow-up. Findings were analyzed through repeated measures analysis of variance using SPSS software (version 24).
Results: At the pretest, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of marital conflicts and emotional intimacy (P>0.05). According to the results, the experimental group showed a significant decrease in marital conflicts (mean difference = -8.25) and a significant increase in emotional intimacy (mean difference = +8.50) (P < 0.001) after implementing CFCT. At the 4-month follow-up phase, the effect of CFCT on marital conflicts and emotional intimacy of couples was permanent (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that CFCT can reduce marital conflicts and increase emotional intimacy among couples with a spouse suffering from breast cancer. These results support the integration of CFCT into psycho-oncology care programs to enhance relational resilience and overall family well-being during the cancer treatment process.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted using a pretest/posttest design and follow-up, with a control group. The statistical population consisted of all women with breast cancer in Tabriz and their spouses who had been referred to Al-Zahra Hospital, Tabriz, Iran, during five months from May to the end of September 2024. In total, 16 couples were selected using a convenience sampling method and randomly divided into two intervention and control groups. The intervention group received eight 1.5-hour CFCT sessions (two months, one session per week), according to the treatment plan of Kazemi et al. On the other hand, the control group did not receive any treatment. Both groups responded to the 54-item revised Marital Conflict Questionnaire of Bustanipour and Sanaei Zakir (2016) and the 36-item Intimacy in Relationships Questionnaire of Schaefer and Olson (1981) before, after, and at a 4-month follow-up. Findings were analyzed through repeated measures analysis of variance using SPSS software (version 24).
Results: At the pretest, there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of marital conflicts and emotional intimacy (P>0.05). According to the results, the experimental group showed a significant decrease in marital conflicts (mean difference = -8.25) and a significant increase in emotional intimacy (mean difference = +8.50) (P < 0.001) after implementing CFCT. At the 4-month follow-up phase, the effect of CFCT on marital conflicts and emotional intimacy of couples was permanent (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that CFCT can reduce marital conflicts and increase emotional intimacy among couples with a spouse suffering from breast cancer. These results support the integration of CFCT into psycho-oncology care programs to enhance relational resilience and overall family well-being during the cancer treatment process.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Nutrition, psychology, sport
Received: 2025/02/6 | Accepted: 2025/08/28
Received: 2025/02/6 | Accepted: 2025/08/28
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