Effectiveness of Group Counselling on Improvement of Marital Relationship in Infidelity-Affected Mothers of Students in Tehran City

Abstract

 Disclosure of infidelity may have destructive effects both on couples and children. Given the fact that children’s physical and psychological health depends on their parents’ healthy mutual relationship, attending improvement of couples’ relationships after infidelity disclosure seems necessary. The present study aimed to determine effectiveness of group counselling on improvement of marital relationship in infidelity-affected mothers. This applied study used quasi-experimental design with pre-posttest approach. Of the study population comprising all infidelity-affected mothers of students in Tehran city who had referred to counselling centers of Department of Education, 16 mothers were selected and randomly divided into the experimental and control groups.  Vaughan’s Spouse Infidelity Questionnaire and scholar-made Improvement of Marital Relations Questionnaire were used. The experimental group received 20 sessions of group counselling twice weekly. Data were analyzed via covariance and multivariable variance analysis. The results confirmed positive effects of group counselling on improvement of marital relationships (F = 11/10, p<. 0.05 ) and verbal communication skills (F=12.188, P<0.05) in infidelity-affected mothers, but it was not effective for enhancing security feeling of students growing up in these families (F=1. 139, p<0.05)