The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Couple Therapy on Sleep Quality and Rumination among Women with Marital burnout

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD Student in Psychology, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Cano's mindfulness-based couple therapy (2018) on sleep quality and rumination in women experiencing marital burnout.
Methods:  This research employed an experimental pretest-posttest design with a control group. The statistical population included all women with divorce experience through the "Masir" system who visited counselling centres for psychological services from December 2023 to January 2024 in Urmia. The sample consisted of 40 participants selected based on convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Pines Marital burnout Scale (1996), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) by Buysse et al. (1989), and the Ruminative Response Scale (RRS) by Nolen-Hoeksema and Morrow (1991). Cano's mindfulness-based couple therapy was conducted in a group format over six 60-minute sessions for three weeks (two sessions per week) at one of the counseling centers, while the control group received no intervention. Data analysis was performed using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), in SPSS 22.
Results: The results indicated Cano's mindfulness-based couple therapy intervention led to an increase in the mean scores of the experimental group compared to the control group in sleep quality and their dimensions, except for medication use. Conversely, it resulted in a decrease in mean rumination scores and its dimensions among women experiencing Marital burnout seeking divorce (P ≤ 0.001).
Conclusion: The findings suggest that Cano's (2018) mindfulness-based couple therapy is an effective intervention for improving sleep quality and reducing rumination and their associated dimensions among women seeking divorce. Accordingly, mental health professionals, family counselors, and policymakers may consider integrating this therapeutic approach into preventive and supportive programs designed to strengthen marital relationships and mitigate factors associated with divorce.

Keywords

References

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  • Receive Date: 28 May 2025
  • Revise Date: 25 August 2025
  • Accept Date: 27 August 2025

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