@2024 Afarand., IRAN

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ISSN: 2008-2630    Iranian Journal of War & Public Health 2019;11(3):139-145

Background
Although several years have passed since Iran-Iraq war, families of veterans are still suffering from mental and physical complications, and especially the wives of veterans are affected by psychological stress… [1].
Previous Studies
... [2]. Marital satisfaction is considered as the satisfaction with the family. Also, family satisfaction is life satisfaction and results in facilitating the growth and excellence and material and spiritual development of society. ... [3]. [4]. ... [5-11]. Ruiz's findings [12] show that experimental and non-experimental studies conducted until 2010 support the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) in mental disorders and psychiatric disorders. Peterson et al. [13] have shown that ACT is effective in enhancing marital satisfaction and reducing interpersonal and psychological anxiety in spouses. [14]… [15] In a study, Mascaro & Rosen [16] examined the role of existential meaning as a barrier to stress in 143 college graduates. The results indicated that meaning in life is a barrier to stress-induced depression. ... [17]. In a qualitative study, Surajacoles et al. [18] examined the role of spirituality and meaning among 15 depressed individuals. Their results indicated that meaning and spirituality play a significant role in overcoming depression. ... [19-23].
Aim(s)
The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of ACT and logotherapy on marital satisfaction of veterans' spouses
Research type
This is a quasi-experimental research with pretest-posttest design with two experimental groups and one control group.
Research society, place and time
This study was done on psychiatric veterans' spouses of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs in Tehran city in 2017.
Sampling method and number
Subjects were selected through convenience sampling method by contacting them by volunteering. Sample size was estimated 19 subjects for each of the experimental and control groups based on Cohen's table, error of 0.05, effect size of 0.50 and test power of 0.90 [24]; so, the total sample size was 57 subjects, which increased to 60 by considering the probability of loss. The researcher invited 60 psychiatric veterans' wives to participate in the research. Inclusion criteria included living with the spouse, reading and writing skills, willingness to attend counseling sessions, no hospitalization of spouse, and monogamy. The exclusion criteria were the absence of more than one session, incomplete questionnaire, concurrent treatment with other psychotherapies, and use of psychiatric drugs.
Used devices&materials
Demographic information questionnaire, including age, level of education, employment status, etc., and Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire were used as the research tool. After coordinating with the relevant organization and obtaining the consent of the subjects, the purpose of the study was initially stated and they were asked to participate in this treatment program. In the pre-test phase, the Enrich Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire was provided, and the subjects were asked to read the questions carefully and select the answers that were appropriate to their characteristics and not leave any questions unanswered. Then, the veterans’ wives were randomly assigned into two experimental groups of 20 subjects and one control group (n=20). Each of the two experimental groups received the group therapy in nine 120-min sessions by the researcher. One of these groups received ACT and the other group received Logotherapy, while the control group received no treatment. Post-test was performed for the experimental and control groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS 18 software using one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc tests. The normality of the data distribution was also verified by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test.
Findings by Text
Mean age in the ACT group, Logotherapy group and the control group was 42.95 ± 4.90, 44.45 ± 3.98 and 44.80 ±4.58 years, respectively. The mean age of the spouse in the ACT group, Logotherapy group and the control group was 50.60±2.50, 50.70±2.83 and 51.55±3.31 years, respectively. The mean percentage of spouse injury in the ACT group, Logotherapy group and the control group was 39.25 ±16.49%, 36.75 ±13.79% and 41.50 ±17.32%, respectively. In the ACT group, the majority had a diploma degree, in the Logotherapy and control groups the majority had a high school education and in all three groups, most were housewives in terms of occupational status. By controlling for the effect of pre-test scores, there was a significant difference between the mean scores of marital satisfaction in the post-test groups (Table 1). Pair comparison showed that there was a significant difference between the ACT group (p = 0.023) and logotherapy (p = 0.006) groups with the control group, and the interventions in the two groups significantly increased the mean scores of marital satisfaction compared to the control group, but there was no significant difference between the two experimental groups (p = 0.873) and the efficacy of the two treatments was almost the same (Table 2).
Main comparison to the similar studies
... [32-34]. The results showed that these two interventions had a significant effect on the marital satisfaction of psychiatric veterans’ spouses. In explaining this finding, it can be said that, according to the Hayes & Smith, by training with ACT, focusing and being involved in negative-verbal mental processes (satisfaction as a construct of attitude is strongly influenced by these mental-verbal processes) that focus on the person and others and are deeply strengthened in depression marital satisfaction is gradually being reformed. ... [36-39]. In explaining the effectiveness of logotherapy, it can also be said that it is a method of existential approach that provides a great philosophical and theoretical background for teamwork. ... [40, 41]. The results of this study are consistent with the findings of the studied by Ruiz [12], Patterson et al. [13], Shawani et al. [14], Moghtadaei & Khosh Akhlagh [15], Mascaro & Rosen [16], Hutchinson and Chapman [17], Surajacoles et al., Fakhar et al. [19] and empirically confirm them.
Suggestions
Further studies are suggested in this area and its different dimensions.
Limitations
One of the main limitations of this study was the failure to conduct the follow-up test due to time limitation.
Conclusions
ACT and logotherapy both are effective in increasing the marital satisfaction of veterans' spouses and can be used as a complementary measure.
Acknowledgments
The authors are thankful to the Officials of the Daneshpajoohan Center of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, Cultural committee of Martyrs and Veterans Organizations of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, Shahid Bahonar High School in Tehran's 17th district and the wives of veterans who participated in the study
Conflict of interest
None declared.
Ethical Permissions
The consent was obtained from the subjects and they were assured of confidentiality of data and were informed that they are free to withdraw at any stage of the study.
Funding Sources
This research is extracted from a PhD dissertation of the first author and has not received any funding from a university, institution or organization.

TABLES and CHARTS

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