Effects of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy on Infertility Self-efficacy, Dyadic Adjustment, and Sexual Satisfaction in Infertile Couples

Background: Given the rising rate of infertility, the prevalence of mental health disorders in infertile couples is undeniable. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) on infertility self-efficacy, dyadic adjustment, and sexual satisfaction in infertile couples. Methods: The present single-case experimental study used a multiple-baseline design. The statistical population of the study included all infertile couples referring to infertility centers in Ahvaz City, Iran, in 2019. The research instruments included the Infertility Self-Efficacy Scale (ISE), the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), and the Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire (SSQ). Following a diagnostic interview, 3 couples were selected using the convenience sampling technique. Integrative behavioral couple therapy was conducted in twelve 120-minute sessions for the intervention group. The second couple entered the study in the second session of the first couple; the third couple enrolled the treatment plan in the third session of the first couple and the second session of the second couple. All questionnaires were completed in the first, third, sixth, eighth, and tenth sessions; the study participants were followed up and re-assessed two months later. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS using chart analysis, reliable change index, and significance statistics. Results: The provided IBCT increased infertility self-efficacy (39.04%), dyadic adjustment (25.91%), and sexual satisfaction (55.01%) in infertile couples. Besides, the improvement lasted throughout the follow-up which indicated the effectiveness of IBCT on infertility self-efficiency, dyadic adjustment, and sexual satisfaction in the study subjects. Conclusion: IBCT can be effective in improving personal and marital variables in infertile couples with infertility problems in addition to their marital problems.

PERMA model vs. integrative-behavioral couple therapy for fertility problems: A randomized clinical trial protocol

Background: Psychological interventions may reduce fertility problems. Positive emotion, engagement, meaning, positive relationship and accomplishment (PERMA) is a cognitive intervention and integrative-behavioral couple therapy (IBCT) is a behavioral intervention. Appropriate mental interventions are important in infertility treatment. Objective: To investigate the effect of the PERMA model vs. IBCT in reducing the fertility problems of couples. Materials and Methods: The content of the interventions was developed and adjusted based on a literature review and the opinions of experts. In this three-arm parallel randomized clinical trial, 42 couples undergoing infertility treatment will be allocated randomly into three groups (n = 14 couples/each). Group 1 will receive the PERMA intervention, group 2 will receive the IBCT intervention, and group 3 as the control group will receive an infertility treatment training program intervention. The primary outcome will be the fertility problems, which will be measured by completing a fertility problem inventory at baseline, as well as in the 5th and 9th wk as a follow-up. Another primary outcome, satisfaction with the intervention, will also be assessed in the 5th and 9th wk. The secondry outcome will be a positive pregnancy test at wk 12. The interventions will be conducted through a combination of face-to-face and online via WhatsApp. Conclusion: This study will assess social, sexual, and parenthood concerns. A combination of online and face-to-face interventions will be appropriate given the COVID-19 pandemic. Couple’s counseling may provide better counseling outcomes for fertility problems in comparison with group counseling. This study will try to optimize resilience during infertility treatment through learning better relationship and problem-solving skills, and may have an indirect impact on pregnancy rate, burden of infertility, and costs of treatment due to increased effectiveness. Key words: Online, Face-to-face, Infertility, Integrative-behavioral couple therapy, PERMA model, RCT, Positive psychology, Protocol study, COVID-19.

An Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT)-Based Conflict Prevention Program: A Pre-Pilot Study with Non-Clinical Couples

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) has demonstrated its efficacy treating severe couple conflict. Nevertheless, its capacity to prevent such conflicts before they appear has not been analyzed. The following empirical study examines the effectiveness of a conflict prevention program based on IBCT’s main therapeutic strategies (empathic joining, unified detachment). A sample of 12 individuals (six couples) from the Community of Madrid completed the DAS (Spanier, 1976; Martín-Lanas et al., 2017), IBCTQ (Barraca et al., 2017), and ASPA-A (Carrasco, 1996) pre-treatment, posttreatment, and at a three-year follow up. Three of these couples were randomly assigned to the experimental group, in which they received five, 120-minute sessions of an IBCT-based conflict prevention program. The three remaining couples were assigned to a control group and received no treatment. Results indicated that the experimental couples grew in their acceptance of differences and significantly improved their level of empathic joining and unified detachment; they also manifested greater satisfaction in their total DAS score. At the three-year follow up, neither group showed significant changes with regard to their posttreatment scores. Although the data are based on a small number of couples and should be replicated, the results suggest that a program based on IBCT strategies can help prevent couple conflict up to three years after its application.

The Effectiveness of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) on Emotional Divorce of Couples: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Some scientists consider emotional divorce as the first step in the divorce process, which means that the marital relationship is declining. Research shows the harmful physical and psychological effects of emotional divorce on couples. The present research was carried out to show the effectiveness of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) on emotional divorce among couples. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental design study with a control group, including a pre-test, post-test and a 45-day follow up. The statistical population of this study was all couples referred to the family therapy clinic of Shahid Beheshti Psychiatric Hospital in Zanjan in 2020. Twenty couples were selected based on a score of eight or higher in a 24-item two-choice questionnaire on emotional divorce which was developed by Guttman in 1998. Next, participants were randomly divided into two groups of experimental and control. The experimental group received 11 weekly sessions of IBCT and each intervention session lasted for 120 minutes and the control group did not receive any intervention. Repeated measures ANOVA was used and data were analyzed by SPSS software V18. Results: The results of ANOVA showed that there was a significant difference between the control and experimental groups in the pre-test, post-test and follow-up (p<0.001). Therefore, it can be concluded that IBCT has reduced the emotional divorce of couples in the experimental group. Conclusion: Results suggest that IBCT can be used as a treatment of choice for reduction of emotional divorce.

Pengaruh Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy terhadap Pola Asuh Coparenting Orangtua

Parents play an important role in the family, while the second role plays in parenting is very much needed by the child's development. Child's psychological development will be much better, if both require joint care or coparenting. The pattern of joint care or coparenting is mutual support and act as a team of mutual support, which is carried out by both parties. The main concept of coparenting care here is second, interconnected or mutually supportive in all forms of attitudes, relationships and teaching in parenting practices. This study uses a single case study design with A-B-A model in which this research method is deemed suitable for the assessment of changes in therapy and applied therapy in couples. The results of the study showed a change in coparenting scores in each pair.