Comparative Effectiveness of the Gottman Method and Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy on Sexual Intimacy in Couples Experiencing Emotional Divorce
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Objective: This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of the Gottman Method and Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) in enhancing sexual intimacy among couples experiencing emotional divorce.
Methods and Materials: A quasi-experimental study with pretest–posttest and 3-month follow-up design was conducted on 30 couples (N=60) referred to counseling centers in Tehran, Iran. Participants were purposively selected and randomly assigned into three groups: Gottman therapy (n=10 couples), EFT (n=10 couples), and control (n=10 couples). The sexual intimacy subscale from Bagarozzi’s Marital Intimacy Questionnaire was used at all three time points. The Gottman group received ten 90-minute sessions, while the EFT group received eight 90-minute sessions. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests.
Findings: Both therapeutic interventions significantly increased sexual intimacy in comparison to the control group (p < .001), and these improvements persisted at follow-up. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the Gottman and EFT groups in sexual intimacy at either posttest or follow-up stages. Effect sizes indicated strong intervention effects for both approaches (partial η² > 0.65).
Conclusion: Gottman and Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy models are both effective in improving sexual intimacy among couples facing emotional disengagement. Despite differing theoretical foundations, their shared emphasis on emotional regulation and communication skills may explain their comparable outcomes. Future research should explore long-term effects with larger samples and culturally diverse populations.
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