Effectiveness of positive couple therapy in the empathy and intimacy of infertile couples

Infertility is a major life event that creates excessive stress among infertile couples. This complicated, unpredictable, and uncontrollable condition can lead to a serious crisis in the life of infertile couples. Objectives: The present study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of positive couple therapy in empathy and intimacy of infertile couples. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted based on a pre-test, post-test, control group design with follow-up. The statistical population of the study consisted of all infertile couples who referred to Baran and Rah-e Sabze Zendegi counseling centers in Shiraz in 2019. Out of this population, 30 subjects were selected via convenience sampling and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. A positive couple therapy program was performed for the experimental group, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Both groups responded to the marital empathy scale (Julie and Farrington, 2006) and the marital intimacy questionnaire (Walker and Thompson, 1983) in the pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 22) using the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Results: The results indicated that positive couple therapy can improve empathy (P<0.01) and intimacy (P<0.01). It was also revealed that the effectiveness of positive couple therapy in empathy and marital intimacy lasted until the follow-up phase (P<0.01). Conclusion: As evidenced by the results of the present study, it can be concluded that positive couple therapy is effective in empathy and intimacy; therefore, it can be of great help to infertile couples.