Emotional Intelligence Training Based on The Circumplex Model to Enhance Relational Balance in Newly Married Couples

Kania Hidayah; Suci Nugraha; Endah Nawangsih

doi:10.55681/jige.v7i3.6376

Authors

Kania Hidayah Universitas Islam Bandung, Indonesia
Suci Nugraha Universitas Islam Bandung, Indonesia
Endah Nawangsih Universitas Islam Bandung, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55681/jige.v7i3.6376

Keywords:

Emotional intelligence, circumplex model, marital adjustment, cohesion, flexibility, early marriage

Abstract

The early marital period commonly defined as the first five years of marriage constitutes a critical developmental transition during which couples face heightened risk of conflict, relational dissatisfaction, and dissolution. Communication deficits, emotional dysregulation, and imbalanced relational dynamics are the primary antecedents of this vulnerability. The present study aimed to design and preliminarily evaluate an Emotional Intelligence Training Programme grounded in Olson's Circumplex Model (2000) and Goleman's (2009) five-component EI framework. Employing a research-and-development (R&D) methodology with a two-group pre-test–post-test experimental design, the programme was implemented across four structured sessions (total duration: 347 minutes) with three married couples as the experimental group and three as the control group. Outcome measures included the FACES IV scale (cohesion, flexibility, communication) and an adapted emotional intelligence scale. Post-training results indicated significant improvements in EI scores (Wilcoxon signed-rank test, p = 0.027) and shifts in couple cohesion and flexibility toward balanced levels in the experimental group. The module represents a contextually adapted, preventive intervention with potential for broader clinical application in Indonesian couple counselling.

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