Training In Self-Regulation Enhances Psychological Well-being of Distressed Couples

The goal of the present research was to examine the effect of the short-term couple therapy using emotional self regulation on the psychological well-being of distressed couples. An experimental pre-test and post-test design was utilized by couples assigned to experimental and control groups. Thirty couples from referrals to private and governmental consultation centers were chosen and randomly assigned to control (15 couples) and experimental (15 couples) groups. The dependent variable in this study was the couples' psychological well-being which was assessed by the 54-item Ryff's scales of psychological well-being. Couples in the experimental group was exposed to 8 sessions of short-term couple therapy using emotional self regulation strategies. Findings confirmed the alternative hypothesis that short-term couple therapy with emotional self regulation can increase psychological well-being and its components. Data were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance. The results showed that short-term couple therapy with emotional self regulation increased feelings of autonomy, self acceptance and general psychological wellbeing in couples with marital discord. (C) 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.