International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

The Effectiveness of Sexual Intelligence Special for women with Marital Conflicts Counseling-Training Package on Sexual Assertiveness, Interpersonal Circumplex Marital Problems and Sexual Self-Concept

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Zahra Jalali Asil 1
Seyed-Hamid Atashpour 2
Hadi Farhadi 3
1 Department of Counseling, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
2 Department of Psychology, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
3 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
10.30491/ijbs.2026.558906.2285
Abstract
Introduction: This experimental study investigated the effectiveness of sexual intelligence special for women with marital conflicts counseling- training package on sexual assertiveness, interpersonal circumplex marital problems and sexual self-concept.
Method: This pretest–posttest controlled study with a two‑month follow‑up was conducted on 36 women with marital conflicts selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received ten weekly sessions of a sexual intelligence counseling–educational program based on Klein’s (2012) model, while the control group received no intervention. Data were collected using the Halbert Sexual Assertiveness Inventory (HISA), the Snell Multidimensional Sexual Self‑Concept Questionnaire (MSSCQ), and the Horowitz Interpersonal circumplex marital problems Questionnaire (IPC‑32). Repeated measures ANOVA was used for data analysis.
Results: The intervention led to significant improvements in sexual assertiveness (η²p = 0.62, P < 0.001) and sexual self‑concept (η²p = 0.58, P < 0.001) compared to the control group. No significant effect was found for the interpersonal circumplex marital problems (P > 0.05). The improvements remained stable at the two‑month follow‑up.
Conclusion: Sexual intelligence–based counseling effectively enhances women’s intrapersonal sexual abilities, while changes in interpersonal circumplex marital problems may require couple‑centered interventions.
Keywords
Counseling
Marital Conflict
Assertiveness
Self-Concept
Interpersonal Relations
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International Journal of Behavioral Sciences
Volume 19, Issue 4
Winter 2026
Pages 214-221