International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

The Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy in Addressing Dyadic Perfectionism and Anxiety in Couples Experiencing Marital Conflict

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Seyedeh Farzaneh Jafari 1
Kobra Kazemian Moghaddam 2
Maryam Gholamzadeh Jofreh 1
1 Department of Counseling, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran.
2 Department of Psychology, Dezful Branch, Islamic Azad University, Dezful, Iran.
10.30491/ijbs.2025.469195.2144
Abstract
Introduction: Marital conflict is often linked with anxiety, and perfectionism within couples (Dyadic Perfectionism) can worsen it. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy (CBFT) in addressing both dyadic perfectionism and anxiety among couples experiencing marital conflict.
Method: A quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test with a 45-day follow-up was employed. The population consisted of all couples seeking divorce in Ahvaz, Iran, aged between 20 and 45, who visited psychological centers in 2023. For this purpose, a convenient sample of 30 participants was selected. Participants completed the Dyadic Almost Perfect Scale (DAPS) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) at pre-test, post-test, and follow-up assessments. The couples in the experimental group received 12 weekly 60-minute CBFT sessions. Data analysis was conducted using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) in the SPSS-27 software.
Results: Findings demonstrated a significant difference (P<0.001) between pre-test and post-test scores for the dyadic perfectionism (discrepancy) subscale. Similar significant differences were found between the pre-test and both post-test and follow-up scores for the dyadic perfectionism (high standards) subscale and anxiety (P<0.001).
Conclusion: According to the findings, it can be stated that CBFT demonstrates promise as an effective intervention for addressing dyadic perfectionism and anxiety in couples experiencing marital conflict.
Keywords
Perfectionism
Anxiety
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Family Conflict
  1. Kessler D, Hevenstone D, Vandecasteele L, Sepahniya S. Weathering the storm together: Does unemployment insurance help couples avoid divorce? J Eur Soc Policy. 2023;33(2):248-63. doi: 10.1177/09589287221141363.
  2. Pirmoradi S, Amini N, Keykhosrovani M, Shafiabadi A. The Effectiveness of Couple Therapy Based on the Choice Theory on Marital Commitment and Burnout in Couples with Marital Conflicts. International Journal of Behavioral Sciences. 2022;16(1):43-8. doi: 10.30491/ijbs.2022.318790.1722.
  3. Cao H, Fine MA, Zhou N. The Divorce Process and Child Adaptation Trajectory Typology (DPCATT) Model: The Shaping Role of Predivorce and Postdivorce Interparental Conflict. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review. 2022;25(3):500-28. doi: 10.1007/s10567-022-00379-3.
  4. Zarean F, Sheykholeslami A, Sadri-Damirchi E. Effect of Self-healing Training on Marital Conflicts of Women Visiting Counseling Centers. International Journal of Behavioral Sciences. 2022;16(2):103-10. doi: 10.30491/ijbs.2022.327067.1749.
  5. Hajiheydari Z, Pourshahriari M. Marriage and Divorce: A Qualitative Study from the Perspective of Iranian Academic Experts, Counselors, and Clients. Family Transitions. 2024;65(5):381-402. doi: 10.1080/28375300.2024.2383018.
  6. Ahmadi L, Panaghi L, Sadeghi MS, Zamani Zarchi MS. The Mediating Role of Personality Factors in the Relationship Between Family of Origin Health Status and Marital Adjustment. J Research Health. 2020;10(4):239-48. doi: 10.32598/JRH.10.4.1526.1.
  7. Piotrowski K. Child-oriented and partner-oriented perfectionism explain different aspects of family difficulties. PLoS One. 2020;15(8):e0236870. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236870.
  8. Hosseini FS, Hadizadeh-Talasaz F, Bahri N. The Relationship between Perfectionism and Sexual Function: A Systematic Review. Iran J Psychiatry. 2023;18(1):83-92. doi: 10.18502/ijps.v18i1.11416.
  9. Totonchi M, Hassan S. Perfectionism and Dyadic Relationship: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences. 2018;7. doi: 10.6007/IJARBSS/v7-i14/3683.
  10. Mostafa V, Falah Zade H, Amerehei borcheloei S, Hamidi O. The Mediating Role of Resilience in the Relationship between Dyadic Perfectionism and Emotional Divorce in women. Women's Studies Sociological and Psychological. 2021;19(1):185-218. doi: 10.22051/jwsps.2021.34348.2356.
  11. Momeni K, Moinoddini Z, Moradi A. The Relationship between Attachment Style and Separation Anxiety Disorder in Badly-Cared and Orphan Adolescent Girls: The Mediating Role of Stress Coping Strategy and Internalized Symptoms. International Journal of Behavioral Sciences. 2024;18(1):1-8. doi: 10.30491/ijbs.2024.409185.2001.
  12. Mishra AK, Varma AR. A Comprehensive Review of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Cureus. 2023;15(9):e46115. doi: 10.7759/cureus.46115.
  13. Philippot A, Dubois V, Lambrechts K, Grogna D, Robert A, Jonckheer U, et al. Impact of physical exercise on depression and anxiety in adolescent inpatients: A randomized controlled trial. J Affect Disord. 2022;301:145-53. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.01.011.
  14. Vitoroulis I, Sim A, Ma S, Jenkins J, Georgiades K. Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Family Processes and the Immigrant Paradox in Youth Externalizing Problems. Can J Psychiatry. 2022;67(7):565-74. doi: 10.1177/07067437211065722.
  15. Herres J, Krauthamer Ewing ES, Levy S, Creed TA, Diamond GS. Combining attachment-based family therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to improve outcomes for adolescents with anxiety. Front Psychiatry. 2023;14:1096291. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1096291.
  16. Safarzaei M, Mehrynejad S-A, Ameri F, Khodabakhsh R, Peyvastegar M. Comparative Application of Positive Intervention and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Investigation of its Effectiveness in Improving the Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. International Journal of Behavioral Sciences. 2023;17(2):64-72. doi: 10.30491/ijbs.2023.381113.1897.
  17. Pagsberg AK, Uhre C, Uhre V, Pretzmann L, Christensen SH, Thoustrup C, et al. Family-based cognitive behavioural therapy versus family-based relaxation therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents: protocol for a randomised clinical trial (the TECTO trial). BMC Psychiatry. 2022;22(1):204. doi: 10.1186/s12888-021-03669-2.
  18. Esposito-Smythers C, Wolff JC, Liu RT, Hunt JI, Adams L, Kim K, et al. Family-focused cognitive behavioral treatment for depressed adolescents in suicidal crisis with co-occurring risk factors: a randomized trial. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2019;60(10):1133-41. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13095.
  19. Nazari E, Saed O, Foroughi A, Khakpoor S. Effectiveness of Group Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Perfectionism: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Iranian Journal of Psychiatric Nursing. 2024;11(6):51-60. doi: 10.22034/IJPN.11.6.7.
  20. Sefidari L, Mohammadzadeh Ebrahimi A, Hemmatafza P. The efficacy of bowen family system therapy on chronic anxiety and differentiation in patients with psychosomatic disorders. Journal-of-Psychological-Science. 2022;21(115):1375-90. doi: 10.52547/JPS.21.115.1375.
  21. Fynn G, Porter M, Borchard T, Kazzi C, Zhong Q, Campbell L. The effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy for individuals with an intellectual disability and anxiety: a systematic review. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2023;67(9):816-41. doi: 10.1111/jir.13046.
  22. Duraes R, Khafif T, Lotufo-Neto F, Serafim A. Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Couple Therapy on Reducing Depression and Anxiety Symptoms and Increasing Dyadic Adjustment and Marital Social Skills: An Exploratory Study. The Family Journal. 2020. doi: 10.1177/1066480720902410.
  23. Wittenborn AK, Holtrop K. Introduction to the special issue on the efficacy and effectiveness of couple and family interventions: Evidence base update 2010-2019. J Marital Fam Ther. 2022;48(1):5-22. doi: 10.1111/jmft.12576.
  24. Siahpooshm M., Motamedi A, Sohrabi F. The effect of cognitive behavioral family therapy on general health and marital satisfaction of families with mentally retarded children in Khorramabad city. Knowledge & Research in Applied Psychology. 2021(1):47-58. doi: 10.30486/jsrp.2019.1863433.1725.
  25. Slaney R, Rice K. Perfectionism in Intimate Relationships:: The Dyadic Almost Perfect Scale. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development. 2006;39:107-25. doi: 10.1080/07481756.2006.11909793.
  26. Ghani Abadi S, Falahzade H, Mostafa V. Predicting Emotional Divorce Based on Dyadic Perfectionism and Resilience. Journal of Woman and Family Studies. 2023;11(4):62-83. doi: 10.22051/jwfs.2023.42658.2937.
  27. Beck AT, Epstein N, Brown G, Steer RA. An inventory for measuring clinical anxiety: psychometric properties. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1988;56(6):893-7. doi: 10.1037//0022-006x.56.6.893.
  28. Hossein Kaviani H, Mousavi AS. Psychometric properties of the Persian version of Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Tehran-Univ-Med-J. 2008;66(2):136-40.

 

 

International Journal of Behavioral Sciences
Volume 18, Issue 4
Winter 2025
Pages 200-206