Emotionally Focused Therapy and the Gottman Method for Addiction-Affected Couples: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
| Author | Mahdieh Zeighami | en |
| Author | Shahla Amini Pirjol | en |
| Author | Maryam Saadati | en |
| Author | Zahra Gholizadegan | en |
| Author | Somayeh Ein Afshar | en |
| Author | Fariba Abedkhani | en |
| Orcid | Shahla Amini Pirjol [0009-0006-0318-7167] | en |
| Orcid | Maryam Saadati [0009-0004-8842-5827] | en |
| Orcid | Fariba Abedkhani [0009-0004-6471-582X] | en |
| Issued Date | 2025-12-31 | en |
| Abstract | Context: Addiction affects not only the individual but also partners and children, placing family systems, particularly spouses, at increased risk for emotional distress, functional disruption, and safety concerns. This study synthesized current evidence on two prominent couple-based approaches, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method, and evaluated their effectiveness in improving marital satisfaction and reducing addiction-related problems in couples in which one partner had an addictive disorder. Evidence Acquisition: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized and quasi-experimental studies was conducted to identify EFT and Gottman-based interventions applied to couples with addicted spouses. The inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) regular joint sessions delivered by a clinician; 2) at least one intervention component aligned with the Gottman Method couple therapy (GMCT) or integrative behavioral couple therapy (IBCT); and 3) marital or substance-use-related outcomes suitable for effect-size calculation. A random-effects model was used to pool standardized mean differences (SMDs). Subgroup analyses compared EFT with Gottman-based interventions and examined study quality. Publication bias was assessed using Egger’s test. Results: Across five studies with sample sizes ranging from 20 to 59 participants, findings consistently favored couple-based interventions over controls for improving marital adjustment and reducing negative emotional exchanges. Several trials also reported fewer days of substance use and reductions in relapse-related outcomes. EFT and Gottman-based approaches demonstrated complementary benefits, although effect magnitudes varied by study design, population, and delivery context. High heterogeneity underscored the need for standardized outcome metrics and longer follow-up periods. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/jamm-168645 | en |
| URI | https://brieflands.com/journals/jamm/articles/168645 | en |
| Keyword | Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy | en |
| Keyword | Addiction | en |
| Keyword | Systematic Review | en |
| Keyword | Meta-analysis | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Emotionally Focused Therapy and the Gottman Method for Addiction-Affected Couples: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis | en |
| Type | Systematic Review | en |
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