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Objective: This study aimed to explore how humor functions as a coping mechanism that contributes to marital satisfaction among couples in Slovenia. Methods and Materials: A qualitative design was employed, relying on semi-structured interviews to capture couples’ lived experiences of humor in marriage. Twenty-four participants (12 couples) from Slovenia, married for at least three years, were recruited using purposive sampling. Interviews were conducted until theoretical saturation was achieved, with each session lasting between 60 and 90 minutes. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using NVivo 14 software. Trustworthiness was enhanced through peer debriefing, member checking, and triangulation with field notes. Findings: Four major themes emerged from the data: (1) Humor as an Emotional Buffer, where couples described humor as a strategy for stress relief, emotional recovery, and conflict de-escalation; (2) Humor and Intimacy, highlighting the role of shared jokes, playful teasing, and affectionate humor in strengthening closeness and trust; (3) Humor as a Communication Strategy, with participants explaining how humor allowed them to soften criticism, indirectly express sensitive issues, and repair conflicts; and (4) Humor and Marital Resilience, where humor facilitated coping with external stressors, fostered perspective-taking, and sustained hope during challenges such as illness or financial strain. Couples reported that affiliative and self-enhancing humor styles were most beneficial, while aggressive humor could undermine satisfaction. Humor was also noted as increasingly expressed through digital interactions, including memes and messaging. Conclusion: The findings suggest that humor is a multidimensional coping resource in marriage, functioning simultaneously as an emotional, relational, communicative, and resilience-enhancing tool. While humor generally promotes marital satisfaction, its effects depend on style and context. These insights highlight the importance of constructive humor in maintaining healthy, satisfying, and enduring marital relationships.

Objective: This study aimed to explore how narrative reframing functions as a coping and meaning-making mechanism among Taiwanese families experiencing trauma. Methods and Materials: A qualitative research design was adopted using purposive sampling to recruit 26 participants from Taiwan who had directly experienced family trauma, including bereavement, illness, or sudden life disruptions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted until theoretical saturation was reached. Each interview lasted 60–90 minutes, was audio-recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis facilitated by NVivo 14 software. An inductive coding approach was applied to identify open codes, subcategories, and overarching themes, with constant comparison used to refine findings. Research rigor was ensured through reflexive memo-writing, triangulation of coding among team members, and maintaining an audit trail. Findings: Analysis yielded three overarching themes: (1) Emotional reconstruction through narrative reframing, where participants processed trauma-related emotions, reduced guilt and shame, regulated distress, and cultivated hope; (2) Relational transformation within the family system, including improved communication, redefined roles, conflict resolution, trust rebuilding, and strengthened intergenerational understanding; and (3) Identity and future orientation, where families reframed themselves as survivors, emphasized personal growth, redefined goals and values, and expressed aspirations to transmit resilience across generations. Participants highlighted that narrative reframing enabled them to transform suffering into continuity, strengthen bonds, and situate trauma within cultural and spiritual frameworks that emphasized endurance and meaning. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that narrative reframing is a powerful coping process in families experiencing trauma, allowing for emotional healing, relational adaptation, and the construction of resilient family identities. This study underscores the importance of integrating narrative approaches into therapeutic interventions to support families in navigating trauma, rebuilding trust, and envisioning hopeful futures.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the core components of collective coping in families managing the challenges of chronic illness, focusing on how emotional, relational, and social processes interact to sustain resilience. Methods and Materials: A qualitative research design was employed using semi-structured interviews with 20 family members of patients living with chronic illness in Ireland. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling to ensure variation in roles, including spouses, parents, adult children, and siblings. Interviews were conducted either face-to-face or via secure online platforms, with each lasting between 60 and 90 minutes. Data collection continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Transcripts were analyzed thematically using NVivo software version 14, following an iterative coding process of open coding, categorization, and theme development. Reflexivity and peer debriefing were used to enhance credibility and trustworthiness. Findings: Four overarching themes emerged, each encompassing multiple subthemes. Emotional solidarity captured shared emotional expression, empathic support, hope maintenance, anxiety management, and the protection of vulnerable members. Collaborative problem-solving included shared decision-making, role and task distribution, resource pooling, adaptive planning, and conflict resolution. Meaning-making and resilience reflected reframing illness as a shared challenge, strengthening family identity, engaging in collective spiritual practices, and narrative sharing. External support and community connection encompassed reliance on social networks, healthcare partnerships, institutional support, peer networks, and advocacy. Collectively, these themes highlighted coping as a relational and communal process rather than an individual endeavor. Conclusion: The findings underscore that coping with chronic illness within families is fundamentally collective, rooted in shared appraisals, collaboration, and external resource integration. Recognizing these dynamics offers valuable insights for healthcare professionals and policy makers seeking to design family-centered interventions that enhance resilience and well-being.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the direct and indirect relationships between spousal support and marital satisfaction, with gratitude expression as a mediating variable. Methods and Materials: A descriptive correlational design was employed with 370 married individuals from Armenia, selected based on the Morgan and Krejcie sampling table. Data were collected using standardized instruments for marital satisfaction, spousal support, and gratitude expression. Analyses were conducted in two stages: Pearson correlation analysis in SPSS-27 to examine bivariate associations, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in AMOS-21 to test the hypothesized mediating model. Model fit was evaluated using established indices, including χ²/df, GFI, AGFI, CFI, TLI, and RMSEA. Findings: Pearson correlations revealed that spousal support was significantly associated with both marital satisfaction (r = .58, p < .001) and gratitude expression (r = .51, p < .001), while gratitude expression was also correlated with marital satisfaction (r = .46, p < .001). SEM demonstrated acceptable model fit (χ²/df = 1.93, GFI = 0.93, AGFI = 0.91, CFI = 0.96, TLI = 0.95, RMSEA = 0.049). Direct effects showed that spousal support positively predicted marital satisfaction (β = 0.37, p < .001) and gratitude expression (β = 0.44, p < .001), while gratitude expression also predicted marital satisfaction (β = 0.29, p = .001). The indirect effect of spousal support on marital satisfaction through gratitude expression was significant (β = 0.13, p = .002), confirming partial mediation. Conclusion: Findings underscore the dual importance of supportive behaviors and gratitude expression in shaping marital satisfaction. Spousal support enhances satisfaction both directly and indirectly by fostering gratitude, suggesting that couples who both provide support and express appreciation are more likely to sustain fulfilling relationships.

Methods and Materials: A quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest-follow-up framework was employed, involving two experimental groups (ACT and RT) and one control group. The sample consisted of 54 incompatible married individuals (18 per group) recruited from psychological centers in District 7 of Tehran. Participants completed the Spanier Dyadic Adjustment Scale at pretest, posttest, and follow-up stages. The ACT intervention comprised 8 weekly sessions focusing on mindfulness, acceptance, and value-based actions, while the RT intervention consisted of 8 sessions emphasizing need satisfaction and responsible behavior. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA to assess changes over time and between groups. Findings: Both ACT and RT significantly improved overall marital adjustment compared to the control group, with significant interaction effects observed for dyadic cohesion (F = 11.161, p = 0.001, η² = 0.247), dyadic consensus (F = 24.787, p = 0.001, η² = 0.422), and affectional expression (F = 22.477, p = 0.001, η² = 0.398). RT demonstrated greater effectiveness in enhancing dyadic cohesion and consensus, while ACT showed stronger outcomes in improving affectional expression. Post-hoc analyses revealed significant mean differences between pretest and posttest for dyadic cohesion in RT (mean difference = -8.167, p < 0.001) and affectional expression in ACT (mean difference = 2.694, p < 0.001). Follow-up assessments indicated sustained improvements, with RT maintaining higher scores in dyadic cohesion (mean = 15.139) and consensus (mean = 25.694), and ACT in affectional expression (mean = 4.78). Conclusion: Both ACT and RT are effective interventions for improving marital adjustment, with RT being more beneficial for addressing behavioral and communication aspects of marital conflict, and ACT more effective in fostering emotional intimacy.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Schema Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Couple Therapy (CBCT) in improving communication patterns among couples affected by domestic violence. Methods and Materials: The study employed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population consisted of couples affected by domestic violence who referred to counseling centers in Tehran. A total of 45 participants were selected using simple random sampling and assigned to two experimental groups (Schema Therapy and CBCT) and one control group, each containing 15 participants. Data were collected using the Communication Patterns Questionnaire (Christensen & Salavy, 1984) and analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) and Tukey’s post hoc test with SPSS version 26. Each intervention included 10 weekly sessions tailored to the specific therapeutic model. Findings: The MANCOVA results indicated statistically significant differences between groups in all three communication pattern dimensions: mutual constructive communication (F = 8.043, p < .01), mutual avoidant communication (F = 2.222, p < .05), and demand/withdraw communication (F = 1.068, p < .05). Tukey’s post hoc test revealed that Schema Therapy was significantly more effective than CBCT in improving mutual constructive communication (mean difference = 2.40, p = .006), reducing mutual avoidance (mean difference = 0.13, p = .000), and decreasing demand/withdraw patterns (mean difference = -1.00, p = .000). Conclusion: These findings suggest that Schema Therapy may offer deeper and more sustainable improvements in relational functioning by targeting underlying maladaptive schemas contributing to dysfunctional communication.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of premarital education based on the Interpersonal Awareness and Choice Method in enhancing marital stability and emotional expressiveness among engaged couples. Methods and Materials: A randomized controlled trial design was used involving 30 participants recruited from premarital counseling centers in Tehran. Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 15), which received a ten-session premarital education program, and a control group (n = 15), which received no intervention during the study period. The intervention was delivered in weekly 60-minute group sessions focusing on interpersonal awareness, emotional literacy, and decision-making in romantic relationships. Standardized instruments were used to measure marital stability and emotional expressiveness at three time points: pretest, posttest, and five-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests in SPSS-27 to assess within-group and between-group differences over time. Findings: Results indicated a significant interaction effect between time and group for marital stability (F(2, 56) = 14.72, p < 0.001, η² = 0.34), with the experimental group showing greater improvements compared to the control group. Similarly, emotional expressiveness demonstrated a significant group-by-time interaction (F(2, 56) = 17.59, p < 0.001, η² = 0.38), with post-hoc comparisons revealing that the experimental group had significantly higher scores at both posttest and follow-up phases. All assumptions for repeated measures ANOVA were confirmed prior to analysis. Conclusion: The findings suggest that premarital education based on the Interpersonal Awareness and Choice Method is an effective intervention for promoting emotional expressiveness and marital stability among engaged individuals. These results highlight the value of incorporating structured emotional and interpersonal training into premarital counseling services to support relationship resilience and long-term satisfaction. Keywords: Premarital education, interpersonal awareness, emotional expressiveness, marital stability.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT) on differentiation of self and the reduction of intolerance of uncertainty in couples seeking divorce. Methods: The research method was quasi-experimental with a pretest–posttest control group design. The statistical population consisted of couples seeking divorce in Tehran, from which 30 couples were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group underwent a 10-session EFCT intervention, each session lasting 90 minutes, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Findings: Findings showed that Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy significantly increased differentiation of self and reduced intolerance of uncertainty in couples seeking divorce. Conclusion: These results suggest that by focusing on core emotions and emotional interactions, it is possible to improve interpersonal relationships and facilitate more informed decision-making in marital relationships. Accordingly, the use of EFCT is recommended in psychological interventions related to divorce crises.

The study reported in this paper aimed at developing and validating a family-based mental empowerment program to enhance cognitive processes, psychological hardiness, and academic performance of slow learners. The present study was fundamental in nature. The statistical population included psychologists and exceptional children's education specialists, family education instructors, and parents of slow learners in Tehran. The sample population consisted of three professors in psychology and exceptional children's education from the University of Tehran, three family education instructors, and three mothers of slow learners, selected through purposive sampling. The validation process of the studied program was carried out in five steps (reviewing theoretical foundations, reviewing previous research and existing programs, developing program content, validating the content, and explaining the program validation). The Delphi method was used for program content development, triangulation and Lawshe's content validity index were employed for content validity determination, and the expert agreement percentage method was used for determining the program’s reliability. The overall content validity coefficient of the sessions stood at 85%, and the program’s reliability coefficient was 86%. The family-based mental empowerment program aimed at enhancing cognitive processes, psychological hardiness, and academic performance of slow learners demonstrated high validity and reliability. Therefore, this program can be used to improve the cognitive and academic status of slow learners.

Objective: The present study was conducted with the aim of designing and validating a pessimism questionnaire in married people.Methods: The research method was based on the applied objective and the mixed research method (qualitative-quantitative). The socio-statistics of the research were all professors and experts of clinical psychology and family counselors of Ardabil province in 2022. Among the statistical population, 15 people (11 men and 4 women) were selected based on the principle of opinion saturation as a statistical sample of the qualitative part, and 250 people (136 men and 114 women) were selected as a sample of the quantitative part as a non-random sampling available (easy access) became Interviews and researcher-made questionnaires were used to collect information. Thematic analysis was used with MAXQDA 2018 software to code the interview texts. Additionally, Cronbach's alpha method, construct validity (convergent and discriminant validity), and partial least squares (PLS) were used to analyze the data from the researcher-made questionnaire using SPSS and SmartPLS software.Results: The results indicated that the reliability and validity of the structure (convergence and divergence) were confirmed at an excellent level, and then the confirmatory factor analysis models were confirmed both in the mode of standard coefficients and the mode of absolute significance (p<0/05). Based on the results of this research, it is suggested that due to the innovation of this questionnaire, this questionnaire should be administered to couples before marriage in counseling centers and psychotherapy under the supervision of experienced professors with university experience and couples with pessimism problems before starting life.Conclusion: The joint should be examined and treated during effective protocols to prevent the problems caused by pessimism, which sometimes leads to the disintegration of the joint life if it is aggravated.