The Efficacy of the Gottman Premarital Education Model on Empathy and Cognitive Emotion Regulation in Engaged Couples
| Author | Pari Valadmomen | en |
| Author | Seyedeh Zahra Alavi | en |
| Author | Mohammad Hossein Mohebbi Nouredinvand | en |
| Orcid | Pari Valadmomen [0009-0006-1222-7693] | en |
| Orcid | Seyedeh Zahra Alavi [0000-0001-7568-1152] | en |
| Orcid | Mohammad Hossein Mohebbi Nouredinvand [0009-0005-8622-9248] | en |
| Issued Date | 2026-07-31 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Marriage is a foundational interpersonal bond with substantial biopsychosocial and cognitive implications. Given its central role in social stability and personal development, enhancing premarital awareness and relational competencies is essential. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the Gottman Premarital Education Model in improving empathy and cognitive emotion regulation in engaged couples. Methods: This quasi-experimental study used a pretest–posttest control-group design with a three-month follow-up and was conducted in Ahvaz, Iran, in 2024. A convenience sample of 40 engaged individuals (20 couples) was recruited and randomly assigned by couple to an experimental group or a waitlist control group (20 individuals/10 couples per group). The experimental group attended 10 weekly 90-minute Gottman relationship-enrichment sessions. Data were collected using the Mehrabian and Epstein Empathy Scale (EES) and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ). Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni-adjusted comparisons was performed using SPSS version 26. Results: Despite baseline imbalances in adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation scores between the groups, Gottman-based premarital training significantly increased empathy and adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies and reduced maladaptive strategies in the experimental group compared with the control group (P < 0.001). These improvements were sustained at the three-month follow-up. Conclusions: The Gottman Premarital Education Model may improve empathy and cognitive emotion regulation among engaged couples in the short term, with gains maintained at the three-month follow-up. The longer-term effects on marital outcomes require further investigation. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/jhrt-171583 | en |
| URI | https://brieflands.com/journals/jhrt/articles/171583 | en |
| Keyword | Premarital Education | en |
| Keyword | Gottman Method | en |
| Keyword | Empathy | en |
| Keyword | Emotions | en |
| Keyword | Engaged Couples | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | The Efficacy of the Gottman Premarital Education Model on Empathy and Cognitive Emotion Regulation in Engaged Couples | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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