Differential Impacts of Transactional Analysis Training on Marital Intimacy Dimensions

Objective This experimental study examined the effectiveness of communication skills training based on Transactional Analysis (TA) in enhancing multiple dimensions of marital intimacy within a communal cultural context. Method Participants were married female teachers recruited from public high schools and randomly assigned to either an experimental group ( n = 15) or a control group ( n = 15) using a pre-test/post-test design. The experimental group received TA-based training delivered over nine weekly sessions, each lasting two hours. Marital intimacy was assessed using the Marital Intimacy Questionnaire, comprising 87 items across nine subscales. Results TA training significantly improved overall marital intimacy scores, with statistically significant gains observed in most subscales—particularly emotional, rational, sexual, and psychological intimacy. Only spiritual intimacy showed no significant change. Discussion The findings suggest that TA-based communication training can be an effective and culturally adaptable intervention for enhancing relationship quality. The results underscore the value of integrating structured, skills-based communication programs into marital enrichment strategies, particularly in collectivist settings where relational harmony is highly valued.