The Effectiveness of Paradoxical Approach-Based Training on Behavioral Emotion Regulation Strategies and Forgiveness in Couples with Marital Conflict

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Fatemeh Kachouian Fini ¹

Ebrahim Namani ²

¹ PhD Student in Psychology, Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Qom Branch , Qom, Iran.

² Associate Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran

10.22067/tpccp.2026.97748.1917

Abstract

Introduction
Marital conflict is one of the most prevalent issues in couples' relationships, with the potential to impact familial stability and increase the probability of divorce (Till & Niederkrotenthaler, 2022). Furthermore, the persistent nature of marital conflict has been demonstrated to be associated with a decline in quality of life and an escalation in the propensity for divorce (Elahi Chooran et al., 2024). Recent studies have also demonstrated that marital conflict increases the probability of adverse outcomes within the context of couple relationships (Ho, 2025). The effective use of behavioral emotion regulation strategies has been identified as a critical factor in the management of such conflicts. Research has demonstrated that the implementation of these strategies is associated with a reduction in marital tensions (Bazyari et al., 2024). Furthermore, the implementation of strategies such as providing support and responding appropriately during conflict situations has been shown to enhance marital satisfaction (Wang, 2025) and facilitate conflict resolution among couples (Falconier et al., 2023).
In addition to emotion regulation, forgiveness is a critical component in the maintenance and repair of couples' relationships. Research findings indicate that forgiveness is associated with a reduction in the negative effects of conflict (Jain & Arya, 2024; Kaleta & Jaśkiewicz, 2024). Consequently, the concurrent enhancement of emotion regulation and forgiveness has the potential to serve as a pivotal factor in the mitigation of marital conflict. Training Based on the Paradoxical Approach, as a native modality, has demonstrated efficacy in mitigating marital conflict and enhancing couples' relationships through the modification of maladaptive behavioral patterns. As demonstrated in the research by Besharat (2020), this approach has been shown to be effective in reducing conflicts, enhancing behavioral emotion regulation strategies, correcting dysfunctional thoughts, and improving couple interactions (Chitgarzadeh et al., 2023; Dehaqin et al., 2023; Ebrahimpour Khartoomi & Khedmatgozar, 2024). Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of training based on the paradoxical approach on behavioral emotion regulation strategies and forgiveness in couples with marital conflict.

Method
The present study was quasi-experimental in nature, employing a pretest-posttest design, a control group, and a follow-up phase. The statistical population of this study included couples experiencing marital conflict who were referred to counseling centers in Kashan. Among the eligible individuals, 20 couples were selected through purposive sampling and randomly assigned to an experimental and a control group (10 couples in each group). The experimental group underwent intervention during training sessions based on the paradoxical approach, as outlined in the Besharat (2020) educational program. In contrast, the control group did not receive any structured training. The data were collected using two instruments: the Behavioral Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (BERQ) (Kraaij & Garnefski, 2019) and the Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS) (Thompson et al., 2005). These instruments were administered in three stages: a pretest, a posttest, and a follow-up. The analysis of the data was conducted using SPSS software, and employed both descriptive statistics and repeated measures analysis of variance.

Findings
The descriptive results indicated a decrease in the mean score of distraction in the experimental group from the pretest (17.50 ± 0.81) to the posttest (10.95 ± 2.22) and the follow-up (11.70 ± 2.87). Additionally, the mean score of isolation exhibited a decline from the pretest (80.9 ± 2.88) to the posttest (5.35 ± 1.29) and the follow-up (5.05 ± 1.12). In the ignoring component, the mean scores demonstrated a significant decrease from the pretest (17.25 ± 2.05) to the posttest (11.55 ± 2.75) and the follow-up (11.45 ± 2.04). Conversely, the mean score of active coping strategy exhibited an increase from the pretest (9.20 ± 2.38) to the posttest (17.35 ± 1.65) and the follow-up (17.60 ± 2.10). A similar trend was observed in the mean score of social support seeking, which increased from the pretest (12.30 ± 2.29) to the posttest (17.50 ± 1.59) and the follow-up (18.10 ± 1.76). The findings indicated that the training approach based on the paradoxical method led to an enhancement in the level of forgiveness among the experimental group. The mean score of total forgiveness exhibited an increase from the pretest (64.30 ± 7.96) to the posttest (74.45 ± 5.73) and the follow-up (76.65 ± 9.61).
The findings of the repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that the primary effect of group on the components of forgiveness was not statistically significant (P<0.05). However, the interaction effect of time x group was found to be significant in all three components of forgiveness: forgiveness towards self (P = 0.001, F = 16.58), forgiveness towards others (P = 0.009, F = 5.40), and forgiveness towards the situation (P = 0.038, F = 4.12). Furthermore, the findings of a repeated measures analysis of variance revealed that the primary effect of group on all components of behavioral emotion regulation—including distraction, withdrawal, active approach, social support, and ignoring—was significant (P<0.05). Furthermore, the interaction between time and group was found to be statistically significant for the variables of distraction (P=0.0001 and F=49.04), isolation (P=0.0001 and F=10.68), active approach (P=0.0001 and F=79.93), social support (P=0.0001 and F=57.21), and ignoring (P=0.0001 and F=13.08).

Discussion
The findings of the study demonstrated that training based on the paradoxical approach reduced maladaptive strategies for behavioral emotion regulation and increased adaptive strategies in couples with marital conflict, and these changes were sustained until the follow-up stage. Furthermore, this intervention led to an enhancement in forgiveness, particularly towards oneself. These findings are consistent with the results of the studies of Asayesh and Parsakia (2025) , Hashemizadeh et al. (2024) , Dehaqin et al. (2023) , and Ebrahimpour Khartoomi and Khedmatgozar (2024). The efficacy of this approach in the domain of behavioral emotion regulation appears to be attributable to the induction of controlled exposure to negative emotions, enhanced emotional self-awareness, modification of cognitive patterns, and reduction of avoidance behaviors. This process culminates in an augmentation of the utilization of adaptive strategies and a diminution of maladaptive emotional reactions. This explanation aligns with the perspective outlined by Gross (1998) and the findings reported by Viguer et al. (2024) and Reeck et al. (2016). It appears that alterations in forgiveness towards oneself manifest earlier than other dimensions of forgiveness, as the modification of intrapersonal processes occurs before interpersonal changes. This finding is consistent with the results of Skalski-Bednarz et al. (2025).
The present study is not without its limitations, which must be considered when interpreting the findings. The restricted sample size and the selection of subjects from a single city compromise the generalizability of the results. Additionally, the collaborative completion of the questionnaires by couples may have influenced the autonomy of the responses. Furthermore, the implementation of brief, non-educational sessions for the control group does not preclude the potential impact of social interactions on specific variables. Therefore, it is recommended that subsequent research be carried out with larger and more heterogeneous samples, more rigorous control groups, independent responses from couples, and an examination of the effectiveness of combined emotion-focused and paradoxical training

Keywords

Paradoxical Approach

emotion regulation strategies

forgiveness

couples with marital conflict

Subjects

• Family and Marriage

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