{"title":"The effect of emotionally focused couple therapy (EFCT) on shame and intimacy in couples: a randomized controlled trial (RCT).","authors":"Zahra Mirzazade, Javad Molazade, Habib Hadianfard, Mohamadreza Taghavi","doi":"10.1186/s40359-025-03415-3","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Intimate relationships can enhance quality of life and reduce the risk of psychological disorders. Self-disclosure, a fundamental component of intimacy, occurs only when vulnerability is met with acceptance rather than rejection. However, shame disrupts this process by inhibiting vulnerability and promoting defensive strategies, thereby undermining intimacy and relational security. This study aimed to address shame within an Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy framework to enhance intimacy.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>A randomized controlled design was employed. Twenty-six married couples were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. The Experience of Shame Scale and the Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships were used as assessment tools.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with the control, EFCT significantly increased intimacy and reduced shame in the experimental group (p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Shame may disrupt both intimacy and the therapeutic relationship and should be addressed during treatment. The discussion outlines possible mechanisms of change.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>This paper has been registered with the Clinical Trial ID (71773). It was registered on 2024/10/04. (Clinical Trial Number IRCT20230801058994N1).</p>","PeriodicalId":37867,"journal":{"name":"BMC Psychology","volume":"13 1","pages":"1111"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-10-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"BMC Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03415-3","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
The effect of emotionally focused couple therapy (EFCT) on shame and intimacy in couples: a randomized controlled trial (RCT).
Objectives: Intimate relationships can enhance quality of life and reduce the risk of psychological disorders. Self-disclosure, a fundamental component of intimacy, occurs only when vulnerability is met with acceptance rather than rejection. However, shame disrupts this process by inhibiting vulnerability and promoting defensive strategies, thereby undermining intimacy and relational security. This study aimed to address shame within an Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy framework to enhance intimacy.
Method: A randomized controlled design was employed. Twenty-six married couples were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. The Experience of Shame Scale and the Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships were used as assessment tools.
Results: Compared with the control, EFCT significantly increased intimacy and reduced shame in the experimental group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Shame may disrupt both intimacy and the therapeutic relationship and should be addressed during treatment. The discussion outlines possible mechanisms of change.
Trial registration: This paper has been registered with the Clinical Trial ID (71773). It was registered on 2024/10/04. (Clinical Trial Number IRCT20230801058994N1).
期刊介绍：
BMC Psychology is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers manuscripts on all aspects of psychology, human behavior and the mind, including developmental, clinical, cognitive, experimental, health and social psychology, as well as personality and individual differences. The journal welcomes quantitative and qualitative research methods, including animal studies.
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