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 a nd 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 well- being in couples with marital discord.