Impact of Cognitive-behavioral Counseling on Attitudes of Childless Couples: A Mixed Face-to-Face and Virtual Intervention Trial

Abstract

Background Considering the declining trend in population growth in many countries, Iran is no exception. Therefore, effective interventions for couples' desire to have children should be developed and employed in the early years of marriage. Aim This study sought to answer the question of whether counseling can change the negative attitude of couples towards having a child. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the effect of a combined method of counseling with a cognitive-behavioral approach on the attitude of childless couples. Methods The present study is an educational trial conducted with a control group of couples with no child, who were referred to the health centers in Qom, Iran. The intervention group (n=20) received cognitive-behavioral counseling in 60-minute sessions for 6 weeks (twice a week) using a combined face-to-face and virtual method via the Eitaa social application. The participants in the control group (n=19) received no intervention program. Attitude was measured in 3 stages using the questionnaire on childbearing attitudes. SPSS 22, independent t-test, Fisher’s test, Chi-square test, and repeated measurement were used to analyze the data. Results Total attitude in the intervention group increased from 49.25 to 63.85 in the same period, which was within the range of positive attitude (more than 50% of total score) (p=0.01), and it remained within the range of negative attitude (less than 50% of the total score) for the control group. Moreover, the attitudes of the two groups were significantly different (p=0.03). Conclusion Since the participants’ attitude towards childbearing before the intervention was negative and changed to a positive attitude after the intervention, healthcare providers and midwives are suggested to use this method in the clinical setting.