Investigating the efficacy of redecision therapy training on adjustment and divorce cancellation

Available online at www.scholarsresearchlibrary.com Annals of Biological Research, 2012, 3 (7):3513-3517 (http://scholarsresearchlibrary.com/archive.html) ISSN 0976-1233 CODEN (USA): ABRNBW Investigating the efficacy of redecision therapy training on adjustment and divorce cancellation Seyed Jamal Raisi, SeyedeKhadija Aryan, NurAli Farrokhi Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabatabie University ABSTRACT This study examined the effectiveness of the training components of redecision theory on increasins compatibility (at home, health, emotional and social) and cancelling the divorce, the women who applying divorce. The method of the present study was quasi-experimental. The participants were selected using single-stage cluster random sampling and subsequently assigned into a control or an experimental group. Bell s adjustment inventory was used to examine the participants before they were taught the techniques of redecision therapy. The experimental subjects participated in ten group-consultation sessions, each 90 minutes, whereby they were taught redecision techniques. Following the training, both the control and experimental subjects completed Bell s adjustment inventory again. The population of the study consisted of all women who wanted a divorce in Gorgan city in 2010. The participants were selected using single-stage cluster sampling. To this end, a courtroom was randomly selected from among the four courtrooms in Gorgan province. Bell s adjustment questionnaire was administered to a number of 30 women who had referred to the courtroom applying for divorce. From among 25 respondents with low adjustment scores, a number of 16 women were randomly selected as the participants and assigned into a control (N=8) or an experimental group (N=8). Revised Bell s adjustment questionnaire (1961) was used to collect the data. Bell (1962) reported the reliability of the four subscales of home adjustment, health adjustment, social adjustment and emotional adjustment as well as the whole scale to be 0.91, 0.81, 0.88, 0.91 and 0.94, respectively. The results showed that redecision therapy training significantly improved adjustment in women applied for divorce. The results of interview showed that, following redecision therapy training, 25% of women cancelled their divorce application and 25% acknowledged the usefulness of training classes and they needed more training and consultation before they made their final decision. Key words: divorce, compatibility, redecision theory, transactional analysis theory, Gestalt therapy, INTRODUCTION The current world is a scene of complex human relations in which all actions and reactions are flowing in their stressful streams. Unless confined within a scientific framework, these labyrinthine relations may cause considerable problems not only for the individual but also for the organizations, institutions, family and schools [1-2]. Undoubtedly, psychotherapy is considered as one of the most important approaches to healing human pains through its direct association with physical and mental health. Psychotherapy may be said to be as old as the human history and as young as psychiatry and psychology [3]. An overview of consultation and psychotherapy theories reveals a set of over fifteen single-school approaches proposed by theorists. While every approach has its particular 3513

techniques and methods, experience has shown that a single-school approach may seldom do any good to the clients. Therefore, psychotherapists tend to draw on integrative approaches such as redecision therapy [4]. Redecision therapy was developed as an extension of Transactional Analysis theory. Redecision therapy approach hinges on such concepts as principles, primary decisions and new decisions. This is a type of transactional analysis offering a good framework for understanding the transition of child learning through to adulthood. The framework proposes that adults tend to make decisions based on childhood presuppositions, which has once been appropriate to fulfill their survival needs but now fails to serve them [3]. Adjustment is a principle that is closely associated with the individuals mental health. Adjustment to the environment and resistance against its difficulties is the first capability of a living being [5]. It is difficult to adjust in a complex society that is changing rapidly. Traditionally, psychologists pay attention to the individual s adjustment to the environment. They consider the personal traits as normal when the traits help the individual adjust to the environment, live a peaceful life with others and obtain a social position [6]. Psychologists and sociologists have paid special attention to both individual and social adjustments as the most important indicators of mental health over the last decades [6-7-8]. In sum, adjustment refers to finding solutions to the problems. The more the individuals are interested in solving their problems, the more they can employ effective approaches to solving problems. Family is a dynamic system comprising interconnected relations and involving social, cultural and economic situations. All these factors affect the evolution of family over time [9]. The society is founded on the institution of family. Family disorganization is one the current social issues caused by corruption, public ethics and economic problems. Modern life has brought bout serious problems particularly in big cities, resulting in various misdemeanors such as increased divorce. Marriage is the regulation of relations between two persons. Indeed, the objective of marriage is to establish relations. Without such relation, marriage has no legal legitimacy. Matrimonial relations may cause either happiness or distress. Love begins with hope; hope for the sound perception of feelings and pleasant relations. Marital relations allow the couples to exchange ideas, solve their problems and recognize their mutual needs. When couples fail to establish good relations, they enter an ambiguous situation. Though divorce is one of the solutions to end up an unhappy matrimonial life, it causes discontent in many people. Increased rate of divorce, marital problems, family breakups and its adverse effects on family members in the current world require special attention to divorce issues. Consultation may help provide a better solution than divorce to maintain marriage and increase happiness in matrimonial home. Specialized aid may help the couples perform better in their matrimonial life [10]. Many factors contribute to dissatisfaction with matrimonial life. Disregard for this factors may run the risk of family breakup and divorce. Some of these factors include women s intrapersonal issues and their attitudes towards life, emotions, beliefs and behavior. Teaching the current approaches to women may help them increase their adjustment and avoid divorce. In the present study, the researcher aims to teach different techniques of redecision therapy to the couples who intend to get divorced. The researcher aims to answer the question whether or not redecision therapy training increases adjustment and contributes to divorce cancellation in women who want a divorce. MATERIALS AND METHODS The method of the present study was quasi-experimental. The participants were selected using single-stage cluster random sampling and subsequently assigned into a control or an experimental group. Bell s adjustment inventory was used to examine the participants before they were taught the techniques of redecision therapy. The experimental subjects participated in ten group-consultation sessions, each 90 minutes, whereby they were taught redecision techniques. Following the training, both the control and experimental subjects completed Bell s adjustment inventory again. The population of the study consisted of all women who wanted a divorce in Gorgan city in 2010. The participants were selected using single-stage cluster sampling. To this end, a courtroom was randomly selected from among the 3514

four courtrooms in Gorgan province. Bell s adjustment questionnaire was administered to a number of 30 women who had referred to the courtroom applying for divorce. From among 25 respondents with low adjustment scores, a number of 16 women were randomly selected as the participants and assigned into a control (N=8) or an experimental group (N=8). Revised Bell s adjustment questionnaire (1961) was used to collect the data. The scale consists of 160 items and four subscales including home adjustment, health adjustment, social adjustment and emotional adjustment [11]. The reliability of the scale is calculated to vary from 0.70 to 0.93, and its internal consistency varies from 0.74 to 0.93. Bell (1962) reported the reliability of the four subscales of home adjustment, health adjustment, social adjustment and emotional adjustment as well as the whole scale to be 0.91, 0.81, 0.88, 0.91 and 0.94, respectively. The scale has also shown a high validity in distinguishing the normal from the neurotic. It has also shown correlation with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire [11]. Both descriptive (mean, standard deviation, etc) and inferential statistics (MANOVA and Bonferroni correction) were used to analyze the data and compare the two groups. The participants were interviewed to examine their decision for divorce. RESULTS Table 1 illustrates the mean and standard deviation of adjustment scores in both the experimental and control groups. As shown in the table, there is a considerable difference between the mean scores of experimental subjects, who received redecision therapy techniques, and control subjects, who received no training. Table 1. Descriptive statistics of adjustment scores (home, health, emotional and social) Statistic variable N Mean Std. Deviation Experimental group 8 7.51 3.81 Home adjustment Control group 8 0.87 0.64 Total 16 4.18 4.32 Experimental group 8 6.01 4.95 Health adjustment Control group 8 0.62 0.51 Total 16 3.31 4.39 Experimental group 8 7.75 3.01 Social adjustment Control group 8 0.62 0.74 Total 16 4.18 4.34 Experimental group 8 5.87 1.72 Emotional adjustment Control group 8 0.62 0.51 Total 16 3.25 2.97 Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was run to examine the normality of the data, as shown in Table 2. Table 2. Results of Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (pre-test) variable Mean Std. Deviation P Home adjustment 18.62 4.42 0.98 Health adjustment 14.25 4.02 0.61 Social adjustment 19.69 4.08 0.95 Emotional adjustment 15.01 5.78 0.93 Levene s test was used to examine the equality of variances, as shown in Table 3. Table 3. Results of Levene s test between the two groups variable Levene Statistic P Home adjustment 11.73 0.004 Health adjustment 28.99 0.001 Social adjustment 7.43 0.016 Emotional adjustment 7.89 0.014 3515

The results of Kolmogorov-Smirnov test showed the normality of the data. Therefore, parametric tests were run to examine the hypotheses. In this regard, MANOVA was run along with Bonferroni correction to analyze the data (P<0.05). Table 4. Results of MANOVA therapy training F 43.72 P 0.001 Since independent variables only constitute two levels, all the tests reported the same results. Considering the small sample size in this study, Pillai's trace test was used in Table 4. If the effect is greater than 0.14, it is generally considered as a significant effect. The square of the effect size was calculated to be 0.91, which suggests the significant effect of independent variables on adjustment. Table 5. Results of between-group effect tests variable F P Home adjustment 37.45 0.001 therapy training Health adjustment 14.13 0.009 Social adjustment 58.29 0.001 Emotional adjustment 104 0.001 These statistics present four instances of Univariate Analysis of Variance. Considering the four dependent variables in the present study, we divided the p-value (0.05) by four and conducted Bonferroni correction. Therefore, the p- value reduced to P<0.0125. As shown in the table, this p-value was considered for all four dependent variables. The results showed a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test results of experimental subjects. The analysis of every dependent variable in isolation using corrected Bonferroni (0.0125) showed that redecision therapy training increased adjustment in the experimental subjects. The subjects obtained variable scores on different dependent variables. Therefore, redecision therapy training proved effective in promoting adjustment in the experimental subjects. Following the training program, the subjects were interviewed whereby two of them reported they had decided to cancel their divorce application. Two of them reported they needed more time to think twice and wished to continue their consultation sessions. However, four of the subjects refused to cancel their divorce application due to their problems with their husbands. Consequently, 25% of the participants cancelled their divorce application, and 25% were still dubious and wished to continue their consultation sessions. However, 50% of the participants were by no means willing to cancel their application and continue their marital relationship. No difference was noticed in the control subjects who still insisted on divorce. DISCUSSION The results showed that redecision therapy training significantly improved adjustment in women applied for divorce. The results of interview showed that, following redecision therapy training, 25% of women cancelled their divorce application and 25% acknowledged the usefulness of training classes and they needed more training and consultation before they made their final decision. Thus, the results supported the research hypotheses. The present findings correspond to the findings of Fayedeh (2009) who investigated the effect of group consultation through redecision therapy on self-concept in female high school students in Birjand city[12]. The present findings are also consistent with the findings of Bustan (2007) who conducted a comparative study on the effect of group couples therapy and narrative therapy on matrimonial satisfaction[13]. The present findings correspond to the findings of Zahra Kar (2004) who investigated the relationship between different aspects of adjustment (health, home, social, emotional and educational) and academic performance in high school students[14]. The present results also correspond to the findings of Mohammad Khani (2010) who studied the efficacy of Kataria group laughter therapy on social adjustment in female junior high school third-graders[15]. The results showed that despite increased adjustment, some participants failed to cancel their divorce application and pushed for breakup. They contended that though they themselves were responsible for part of their marital problems, they did not consider adjustment as the major problem but their husbands unemployment or addiction. 3516

For example, one the experimental subjects said: in case I increase my adjustment, does it help treat my husband s addiction? Another subject referred to her husband s unemployment, laziness and addiction and asked the researcher: if I increase my adjustment, does it help my husband abandon his addiction and start working so that my children and I won t go hungry again? These questions were relevant. In matrimonial problems, both wife and husband should seek counseling and treatment. However, since the population of the study was women, the researcher could not enter the men into the study. Considering the present findings, most of the matrimonial problems should be solved through couples therapy but not single-member counseling. In the present study, some women could understand and accept their own mistakes though their marital problems could not be solved by removing their problems. They contended that the training was helpful to them so that it may help them with their social relations though it might not be that useful in their current matrimonial home. Here, the purpose is to encourage the individuals rethink their attitudes and beliefs. They are encouraged to think twice over their life and themselves as well as what they have decided on others. Using Gestalt approach, the counselor asks the clients to experience their emotions and feelings in the counseling session. The clients talk about their emotions and the counselor encourages the participants to talk more. The counselor asks the clients to maintain their physical and emotional state and keep on talking about their current emotional state. The participants remarks help define further aims. The counselor then asks the clients to currently experience whatever concern they have had. This helps the clients raise their awareness gradually. To maintain the dialogue within the confines of the present time, the counselor asks the clients what is happening to them right now; what is going on; and how do you experience your sorrow? According to Gestalt approach, the counselor asks the questions of what and how. The counselor asks the questions in the present tense to raise the consciousness of the present. The counselor uses the theoretical basis of transactional analysis and the pragmatic aspects of Gestalt approach. The counselor helps the clients uncover their negative emotions and feelings and encourages them to reveal what they have not disclosed yet. In another session, future projection technique, as a psychodrama technique, was presented to the clients, which proved very effective in raising their consciousness and redecision about adjustment. Acknowledgment The author would like to express his appreciation to the subjects for their participation in this study. REFERENCES [1] I. Stewart and V. Jones, Transactional Analysis, 1987. [2] M. Honarian, J. Younesi,. International Journal of Psychology and Counselling Vol. 2(6), pp. 91-99, 2010 [3] G. Cory, Transactional analysis for theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy, acdemid.engage.com/ resource uploads, 2009. [4] G. Corey, Treatment groups. Translation: Saifullah, Tehran: psychotherapy, 2002. [5] E. Weizmann, Social growth. translation Sima Nazari. Tehran: Danesh, 1989. [6] R. Atkinson, ). Field of psychology, translation. Tehran: Roshd, 1969. [7] E. Ebenuwa-Okoh,. Educational Research and Review Vol. 3 (8), pp. 275-279, 2008 [8] D. Hosseinzadeh, F. Karimi, Archives of Applied Science Research, 4 (1):748-756, 2012. [9] L. Burke, developmental psychology, vol 1. Translation: Mohammad Yahya, Tehran: Arasbaran, 2001. [10] A. Sapington, mental health. translation Baravat, Hamid RezaTehran: psychotherapy, 2001. [11] H. Bell, Manual for The Adjustment Inventory, Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologist Press; 1961. ەPndar [12] F. Fayedeh, the effectiveness of group-based counseling approach this decision on their increased Birjand city high school students. MS Thesis, Allameh Tabatabai University, 2009. [13] A. Bostan, Comparison of the effectiveness of couples therapy, group therapy, education and narrative approach to this decision on marital satisfaction. PhD Thesis, University Roodehen, 2007. [14] K. Zahra Kar, Examining the relationship between different aspects of compatibility (compatibility health, family, social, emotional, academic) and academic performance among high school students in Lorestan province. MS Thesis, Allameh Tabatabai University Tehran, 2004. [15] K. Mohammad-Khani, the effectiveness of therapeutic laughter Katarya a way to increase social adjustment of girls in Tehran, MS Thesis, Allameh Tabatabai University Tehran, 2010. 3517