The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Marital Stress and Self-Silencing in Couples Applying for Divorce

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on marital stress and self-silencing among couples applying for divorce. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest and control group methodology. The statistical population consisted of all couples applying for divorce who referred to Rayan Clinic in Ahvaz in 2026. Among them, 48 participants were selected using purposive sampling and randomly assigned into experimental and control groups, with 24 participants in each group. The research instruments included the Stockholm Marital Stress Scale and the Self-Silencing Scale developed by Jack and Dill. The experimental group received Acceptance and Commitment Therapy during eight 90-minute sessions, while the control group received no intervention. Data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance and SPSS-27 software. The findings indicated that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy had a significant effect on reducing marital stress and self-silencing among couples applying for divorce (p<0.001). The results of multivariate covariance analysis demonstrated a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the posttest stage. Furthermore, univariate covariance analysis showed that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy significantly reduced both marital stress and self-silencing in the experimental group. The obtained effect sizes indicated a substantial impact of the intervention on the study variables, and the adjusted mean scores of the experimental group showed a considerable decrease compared to the control group. Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, through increasing psychological flexibility, emotional acceptance, and reducing experiential avoidance, plays an effective role in reducing marital stress and self-silencing among couples applying for divorce. Therefore, applying this therapeutic approach in family counseling centers and psychological clinics may contribute to improving marital relationships and reducing emotional problems among couples at risk of divorce.