The Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Psychological Flexibility and Marital Burnout in Couples with Family Problems

Mahboobe Hossein Alizadeh; Fatemeh Karimi; Najmeh  Salarkarimi; Bita Pourbaba; Fateme Tarchani

Authors

Mahboobe Hossein Alizadeh Ph.D. in Counseling, SR.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Corresponding Author https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5939-5049
Fatemeh Karimi Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Ki.C., Islamic Azad University, Kish, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3949-2228
Najmeh Salarkarimi Ph.D. in Health Psychology, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6738-7793
Bita Pourbaba Master of Family Counseling, Aryan University of Science & Technology, Babol, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3757-9162
Fateme Tarchani Master of Clinical Psychology, To.C., Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7492-5622

Keywords:

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, psychological flexibility, marital burnout, family problems, couples, marital conflict

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on psychological flexibility and marital burnout among couples with family problems.

Methods and Materials: The study employed a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design with an experimental group and a control group. The statistical population consisted of couples with family problems who referred to counseling centers in Tehran, Iran, during 2025–2026. Using convenience sampling, 32 participants who had relatively low psychological flexibility and high marital burnout scores were selected and assigned to experimental and control groups, with 16 participants in each group. Data were collected using the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory developed by Dennis and Vander Wal and the Couple Burnout Measure developed by Pines. The experimental group received eight weekly 90-minute sessions of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, whereas the control group received no structured psychological intervention during the study period. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance after examination of the required statistical assumptions.

Findings: After controlling for pretest scores, the effect of group on posttest psychological flexibility was statistically significant, F = 41.71, p < .001, η² = .57, indicating significantly greater psychological flexibility in the experimental group following the intervention. The pretest covariate for psychological flexibility was also significant, F = 32.69, p < .001, η² = .56. In addition, the effect of group on posttest marital burnout was statistically significant after controlling for baseline scores, F = 45.41, p < .001, η² = .55, indicating a significant reduction in marital burnout in the experimental group compared with the control group. The pretest marital burnout covariate was likewise significant, F = 33.39, p < .001, η² = .59.

Conclusion: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy was effective in increasing psychological flexibility and reducing marital burnout among couples with family problems, suggesting that ACT can be considered a useful intervention for improving adaptive psychological functioning and reducing relational exhaustion in distressed couples.

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