Introduction

Marital adjustment is one of the most extensive concepts to determine and indicate the level of happiness and stability of the relationship between couples. It influences many aspects of personal and social life. The main objective of this study is to survey the effect of cognitive-behavioral consultation on marital adjustment among women.

Material and methods

The present study was a randomized clinical trial consisting of two groups (an intervention and a control group) with a pre-test and post-test design. 198 qualified married women referred to health centers of Hamadan in 2015–2016. For data collection, the researcher employed a demographic information questionnaire and the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Scale, which were analyzed using descriptive-analytical statistics (covariance), the t-test and regression through SPSS 21.0 Software.

Results

The mean score of marital adjustment in the control group was 57.78 ± 22.63 and 56.57 ± 20.32 before and after the intervention, respectively (p = 0.033). In the intervention group, the mean score of marital adjustment was 51.87 ± 20.23 and 70.4 ± 19.47 before and after the intervention, respectively (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

According to the principles of the cognitive-behavioral approach, this approach, along with training about improving communication skills and resolving conflicts between couples, led to a decrease in dissatisfaction and an increase in their adjustment.