Investigating the Effectiveness of Family-Centered Problem-Solving Programs on the Mental Wellbeing of Couples in the Post-COVID

Rezapoor , Manijeh; Heydarian , Masumeh; Kakabraei , Keyvan

Volume 15 - Articles-1404 MEJDS (2025) 15: 72 | Back to browse issues page

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Rezapoor M, Heydarian M, Kakabraei K. Investigating the Effectiveness of Family-Centered Problem-Solving Programs on the Mental Wellbeing of Couples in the Post-COVID. MEJDS 2025; 15 (0) :72-72
URL: http://jdisabilstud.org/article-1-3538-en.html

Investigating the Effectiveness of Family-Centered Problem-Solving Programs on the Mental Wellbeing of Couples in the Post-COVID

Manijeh Rezapoor¹

, Masumeh Heydarian ^*²

, Keyvan Kakabraei²

1- PhD Student in Counseling, Sanandaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran
2- Department of Clinical Psychology, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract: (618 Views)

Abstract
Background & Objectives: The post–COVID era has been accompanied by new and complex challenges for the mental health of couples. The global crisis resulting from the COVID–19 pandemic is not only recognized as a public health crisis but has also had profound and widespread effects on family relationships and individuals' mental wellbeing. This crisis, due to social restrictions, sudden changes in lifestyle, and economic pressures, has led to increased stress, anxiety, and communication problems among couples. In this context, identifying and implementing effective strategies to improve couples' mental health and wellbeing is particularly important. Numerous studies have shown that psychological disorders and communication problems have significantly increased during the post–COVID period, highlighting the urgent need for psychological and supportive interventions. One effective approach in this regard is family–centered problem–solving programs, which help couples confront the challenges and issues of daily life. Therefore, the present study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of family–centered problem–solving programs on the mental wellbeing of couples in the post–COVID era in 2023–2024.
Methods: This quasi–experimental study employed a pretest–posttest with a two–month follow–up design and a control group. The statistical population of this study consisted of married employees from three technical and vocational colleges in Kermanshah County, Iran: Girls' College 1, Boys' College 1, and Boys' College 2, totaling 200 individuals. After reviewing the inclusion criteria, 100 participants were purposefully selected and randomly assigned to the experimental group (50 individuals) and the control group (50 individuals). The inclusion criteria were as follows: having been married for more than five years, having one child, and being between 30 and 55 years old. Initially, a mental wellbeing pretest was administered to two groups. After the pretest, the experimental group received a family–centered problem–solving program in 10 training sessions; however, no training was provided to the control group. After the sessions, a mental wellbeing posttest was administered to both groups. To comply with ethical standards, the control group received training at the end of the study. The research instrument included the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener et al., 1985). Descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, charts, mean, and standard deviation, were used to analyze the research data. In the inferential statistics section, the chi–square test, repeated measures analysis of variance, and Bonferroni post hoc test were used. The significance level was determined based on the alpha level (α=0.05). Data analysis was performed in SPSS software version 26.
Results: The results showed that the effect of time (p<0.001), group (p<0.001), and the interaction of group × time (p<0.001) on the mental wellbeing variable were significant. Also, in the experimental group, the mental wellbeing variable showed a significant difference between the within–group scores at pretest–posttest and pretest–follow–up (p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in mental wellbeing scores between posttest and follow–up (p=1.000).
Conclusions: The results of this study indicate the effectiveness of family–centered problem–solving programs in improving couples' mental well–being in the post–COVID era. Considering the multiple challenges that the global crisis resulting from the COVID–19 pandemic has imposed on family relationships and individuals' mental health, these findings emphasize the importance of psychological and educational interventions in improving marital quality of life and enhancing the mental wellbeing of couples.

Keywords: Family–oriented problem–solving program, Mental wellbeing, Post–COVID

Full-Text [PDF 331 kb] (119 Downloads)

Type of Study: Original Research Article | Subject: Counseling

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