The Efficacy of Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy on Self-efficacy, Body Image Concerns, and Couple Burnout in Women with Sexual Dysfunction

Objective: This study examines the effectiveness of Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) in addressing self-efficacy, body image concerns, and couple burnout among women experiencing sexual dysfunction.Methods:  The study utilized a semi-experimental pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The target population consisted of women diagnosed with sexual dysfunction in Ardabil City in ۲۰۲۴. Purposive sampling was employed to select ۳۴ participants, divided equally into experimental (n=۱۷) and control (n=۱۷) groups. The experimental group participated in nine ۹۰-minute Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) sessions, while the control group received no intervention. Data collection involved administering several measures: the Female Sexual Function Index, General Self-efficacy Scale, Body Image Concern Inventory, and Couple Burnout Scale. Statistical analysis was conducted using multivariate analysis of covariance in SPSS-۲۷.Results: The findings demonstrated significant improvements in several domains among women receiving EFT compared to the control group. Specifically, EFT led to substantial decreases in body image concerns (F=۶۰.۶۲), physical exhaustion (F=۷۱.۸۲), emotional exhaustion (F=۴۴.۳۴), and mental exhaustion (F=۵۴.۲۲), alongside notable increases in self-efficacy (F=۵۹.۴۰) (P<۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: These results underscore the importance of integrating therapeutic approaches that consider both individual and relational dynamics in the treatment of sexual dysfunction.

Keywords:

Body Image Concerns , Couple Burnout , Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy , self-efficacy , sexual dysfunction