Comparison of the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Reality Therapy on Resilience Components in Incompatible Married Couples
Keywords:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Reality Therapy (RT), Resilience, Incompatible Married Couples, Psychological InterventionsAbstract
This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Reality Therapy (RT) on enhancing resilience and its components (personal strength, trust in instincts, acceptance of emotions, control, and spirituality) among incompatible married couples. 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 couples recruited from psychological centers in Tehran, Iran. Participants were randomly assigned to the three groups, each comprising 18 couples. Resilience and its components were measured using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Both interventions were delivered in 8 weekly sessions, with ACT focusing on mindfulness, acceptance, and value-based actions, and RT emphasizing need satisfaction and responsible behavior. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and post-hoc tests to assess changes across pretest, posttest, and follow-up stages. Both ACT and RT significantly improved overall resilience compared to the control group, as indicated by a significant time-by-group interaction effect (F(2, 51) = 36.30, p < 0.001, η² = 0.588 for ACT; F(2, 51) = 22.94, p < 0.001, η² = 0.475 for RT). Post-hoc analyses revealed that ACT demonstrated greater effectiveness in enhancing personal strength (F(2, 51) = 36.30, p < 0.001, η² = 0.588), trust in instincts (F(2, 51) = 22.94, p < 0.001, η² = 0.475), and acceptance of emotions (F(2, 51) = 18.39, p < 0.001, η² = 0.420). In contrast, RT was more effective in improving the control component (F(2, 51) = 18.39, p < 0.001, η² = 0.420). No significant differences were observed between the two therapies in enhancing spirituality (F(2, 51) = 5.89, p = 0.005, η² = 0.188). The study concludes that both ACT and RT are effective interventions for enhancing resilience in incompatible married couples, though they differ in their impacts on specific components. ACT is particularly beneficial for improving emotional and cognitive resilience, while RT excels in enhancing behavioral control. These findings provide valuable insights for clinicians in selecting and tailoring interventions to address the unique needs of couples.
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