Comparing the Effectiveness of Compassion-Focused Therapy and Imago Relationship Training on Marital Adjustment in Women Experiencing Spousal Infidelity

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of compassion-focused therapy and imago relationship training on marital adjustment in women who had experienced spousal infidelity. This study employed a quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design with a control group and a two-month follow-up. The population consisted of women with a history of spousal infidelity who were referred to counseling centers in Shahin Shahr, Isfahan, in 2023. A total of 48 eligible participants were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to three groups: compassion-focused therapy, imago relationship training, and a control group (16 participants each). Marital adjustment was assessed using the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), and data were analyzed using parametric statistical tests in SPSS. Statistical analyses indicated that both compassion-focused therapy and imago relationship training led to significant improvements in marital adjustment compared to the control group at posttest and follow-up (P<0.05). Moreover, a significant difference was observed between the two intervention groups, with imago relationship training demonstrating greater effectiveness in improving overall marital adjustment as well as the components of dyadic cohesion and affectional expression (P<0.01). The findings suggest that while both interventions are effective in enhancing marital adjustment among women affected by spousal infidelity, imago relationship training appears to be more effective, likely due to its emphasis on unconscious relational patterns and conscious couple interaction.