The Effectiveness of Narrative Couple Therapy on Relational Identity Reconstruction, Marital Meaning-Making, and Post-Conflict Reconciliation
Keywords:
Narrative Couple Therapy, Relational Identity Reconstruction, Marital Meaning-Making, Post-Conflict Reconciliation, Couple Counseling, Marital Relationships, Narrative Therapy, Relationship AdjustmentAbstract
The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Narrative Couple Therapy on relational identity reconstruction, marital meaning-making, and post-conflict reconciliation among married couples experiencing relationship distress in Canada. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with pretest, posttest, and three-month follow-up assessments using a control group. The statistical population consisted of married couples who sought services from counseling centers and family therapy clinics in Canada during 2025. Following eligibility screening, 60 couples (120 individuals) were selected and randomly assigned to an experimental group (30 couples) and a control group (30 couples). The experimental group participated in a 12-session Narrative Couple Therapy program conducted weekly, while the control group received no intervention during the study period. Data were collected using the Relational Identity Reconstruction Scale, the Marital Meaning-Making Questionnaire, and the Post-Conflict Reconciliation Inventory. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance and Bonferroni post hoc comparisons in SPSS version 29. The results revealed significant time, group, and time-by-group interaction effects for all study variables. For relational identity reconstruction, a significant interaction effect was observed, F(2,116) = 61.84, p < .001, η² = .52. Marital meaning-making also demonstrated a significant interaction effect, F(2,116) = 72.57, p < .001, η² = .56. Similarly, post-conflict reconciliation showed a significant interaction effect, F(2,116) = 69.44, p < .001, η² = .55. Bonferroni pairwise comparisons indicated significant improvements from pretest to posttest and from pretest to follow-up across all outcome variables (p < .001). No significant differences were found between posttest and follow-up scores, indicating that treatment gains were maintained over time. The findings indicate that Narrative Couple Therapy is an effective intervention for enhancing relational identity reconstruction, strengthening marital meaning-making, and improving post-conflict reconciliation among married couples. By facilitating the reconstruction of relational narratives and promoting collaborative meaning-making processes, this therapeutic approach contributes to enduring improvements in relationship functioning and emotional connection. The stability of treatment effects at follow-up further supports the utility of Narrative Couple Therapy as a sustainable and evidence-based intervention for couples experiencing relational difficulties.
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