Why Do Couples Seek Marital Therapy?

If therapists know why couples seek marital therapy, they can more effectively tailor their therapies to improve treatment outcome. Unfortunately, there have been no systematic studies to date on couples' reasons for seeking therapy. In a survey of 147 married couples seeking marital therapy, the most commonly reported reasons were problematic communication and lack of emotional affection. Within individual couples, spouses showed little agreement on their reasons for therapy, suggesting that careful and individual assessments should be made of each spouse. There was only partial overlap of couples' reasons for seeking therapy, questionnaires of relationship problems, and previous studies of therapists' reports of couples' problems, indicating that traditional methods of assessment may not fully capture why couples are seeking therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Reactivity to Positive and Negative Behavior in Distressed and Nondistressed Married Couples": Correction.

Reports an error in the original article by N. S. Jacobson et al ( Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 1982[Oct], Vol 50[5], 706-714). The zs were incorrectly printed as 2s on pages 710 and 711. (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in record 1983-00931-001.) Tested the reactivity hypothesis that distressed married couples react more to recent, high-valence events (positive or negative) than their nondistressed counterparts. 21 happily married couples and 20 couples seeking marital therapy collected nightly data in the home for 2 wks, recording both the frequency of positive, negative, and neutral events and global daily satisfaction ratings. Ss also completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. As in past studies, and consistent with a behavioral model of marital distress, distressed couples reported lower rates of positive behavior and higher rates of negative behavior than did nondistressed. Consistent with the hypothesis, distressed spouses were more reactive to recent events than were nondistressed. Their subjective satisfaction with the relationship depended to a greater degree on the frequency of recent positive or negative events than was the case for happily married couples. Evidence is provided that these reactivity differences were not simply a function of differences in behavioral frequencies and that the process reactivity is separable--both experimentally and statistically--from the frequency of positive and negative exchanges. The relationship between reactivity and other variables of interest is examined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Couple discord and depression in couples during couple therapy and in depressed individuals during depression treatment.

The association between depression and relationship distress as well as the impact of treatment for the one on the other was examined across 2 treatment-seeking samples: individuals seeking treatment for depression (N = 120) and couples seeking marital therapy (N = 134 couples). Although there was a baseline association between depression and distress across the 2 samples, relationship distress was far more prevalent among those being treated for depression than was depression for those seeking marital therapy. There was a reliable association between changes in the primary problem (e.g., relationship distress in the couple therapy study) and changes in the secondary problem (e.g., depression in the couple therapy study). However, overall effects on secondary problems were quite small. Neuroticism played a complex, moderating role across the 2 samples, strengthening and weakening the association between depression and relationship distress depending on the sample and gender, replicating previous findings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Attribution processes in distressed and nondistressed couples: II. Responsibility for marital problems.

Examined attributions for marital difficulties in 18 couples seeking therapy and in 19 couples not seeking therapy; husbands' and wives' average ages were 31.7 and 30.6 yrs, respectively, in the therapy-seeking group and 37.1 and 34.8 yrs, respectively, in the control group. Ss were asked to rate their 2 most important marital difficulties on several dimensions and indicate the extent to which they blamed their spouse for the difficulties. Findings show that distressed spouses were more likely than controls to see their partner and the relationship as the source of their difficulties, perceive the causes of their difficulties as more global, and consider the causes as more reflective of their spouses' negative attitude toward them. Results support the contention that variations in attributional patterns within marriage are related to differences in marital satisfaction. Implications for marital therapy are outlined. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reactivity to positive and negative behavior in distressed and nondistressed married couples.

Tested the reactivity hypothesis that distressed married couples react more to recent, high-valence events (positive or negative) than their nondistressed counterparts. 21 happily married couples and 20 couples seeking marital therapy collected nightly data in the home for 2 wks, recording both the frequency of positive, negative, and neutral events and global daily satisfaction ratings. Ss also completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. As in past studies, and consistent with a behavioral model of marital distress, distressed couples reported lower rates of positive behavior and higher rates of negative behavior than did nondistressed. Consistent with the hypothesis, distressed spouses were more reactive to recent events than were nondistressed. Their subjective satisfaction with the relationship depended to a greater degree on the frequency of recent positive or negative events than was the case for happily married couples. Evidence is provided that these reactivity differences were not simply a function of differences in behavioral frequencies and that the process reactivity is separable—both experimentally and statistically—from the frequency of positive and negative exchanges. The relationship between reactivity and other variables of interest is examined. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The marital intake interview: A multimethod criterion validity assessment.

Assessed the validity of an initial intake interview with 12 couples seeking marital therapy (dissatisfied) and 16 couples seeking marital enhancement (satisfied). Ss (mean age 26.07 yrs) were interviewed with spouses together or separated. Interview items focused on marital satisfaction and perception, demographic variables, and comfort in making assertive responses. Couples were then administered several marital satisfaction and assertion questionnaires (e.g., Marital Adjustment Scale, Dyadic Adjustment Scale). Each couple also participated in a structured analog communication assessment in which they discussed a problem area in their marriage. The verbal interchanges during the communication exercises were coded by trained observers. Results suggest (a) a high degree of discriminant validity for the marital interview, (b) higher interspouse correlations for interview items during joint interviews, (c) higher indices of criterion-related validity for separate interviews, and (d) a significant relationship between the reactivity of joint interviews and the social sensitivity of the interview item. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Depressive symptomatology in maritally discordant women and men: The role of individual and relationship variables.

Marital discord and depressive symptomatology have repeatedly been found to be associated, but little is known about variables that influence this relationship. Data were collected from 139 couples seeking marital therapy, and analyses were conducted separately by gender. For wives, lower problem-solving ability, physical aggression by the partner, and 1 relationship belief predicted depressive symptomatology after the variance due to marital discord was removed in regression analyses. In addition to these predictors, less spouse-specific assertiveness, unemployment, and 1 other relationship belief were associated with depressive symptomatology for women after the variance due to marital discord was removed in partial correlation analyses. For men, only lower problem-solving ability added to the prediction of depressive symptomatology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Current and past depression as predictors of family functioning: A comparison of men and women in a community sample.

The association between family functioning and parental depression has primarily been studied in samples of women. In particular, very little research exists that examines how parent gender and past diagnoses of depression are related to family functioning. The family relationships of 469 couples from a community sample were examined using self- and partner report measures of the marital relationship and youth report and interviewer-rated measures of the parent-youth relationship. Both currently and formerly depressed men and women were shown to have poorer family functioning than nondepressed and never depressed individuals, respectively. Interactions of gender and depression status indicated that depression and poorer marital functioning were more strongly related for women than for men, but there were few gender differences in the parent-youth relationship. The results highlight the need for further research on men's family functioning and suggest that targeting current depressive symptoms in treatment may not be sufficient to resolve marital and parent-youth difficulties that endure after depressive episodes remit. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Introduction to special section on couples and couple therapy.

Introduces the special section on couples and couple therapy, which brings together representative, state-of-the-art contributions from both basic and applied research on couples. Two contributions from the basic research domain attempt to better understand the interactional dynamics of normal marriages; both also have implications for marital and relationship distress. Two articles focus specifically on domestic violence. In the domain of clinical research, there are four articles that examine outcome and change mechanisms, the process of change within emotionally focused couple therapy, predictors of short- and long-term outcome after behavioral or insight-oriented marital therapy, and findings from a research program on preventing marital discord. The section closes with a commentary in which the articles are put into a broader context, and the interaction between basic and applied research is emphasized. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Do couples at high risk of relationship problems attend premarriage education?

The effectiveness of premarriage education is limited by whether couples at high risk of future marital problems attend such education. In the current study, 374 newly married couples were assessed on a range of risk factors for future marital problems as well as whether they had attended marriage education. Couples with certain indices of relationship risk (nonreligious and premarital cohabitation) were underrepresented in premarriage education. Suggestions are offered to attract more couples, particularly those at high risk for future problems, to relationship education. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Observational biases in spouse observation: Toward a cognitive/behavioral model of marriage.

Examined the relationship between couples' (insiders') and observers' (outsiders') perspectives of marital interaction by having 10 nondistressed, and 6 distressed couples and 10 objective observers (undergraduates) evaluate the positiveness of the couples' interactional behaviors. Couples completed the Marital Adjustment Test and performed 2 conflict-resolution tasks. Results reveal that spouses' ratings of their partners' behavior were not consistent with observers' ratings of the partners' behaviors but were consistent with observers' ratings of spouses' own behaviors. Further, wives' scores are isolated as indicators of dysfunctional marital systems. Implications for the behavioral model of marital therapy and the importance of considering cognitive factors that may influence spouses' evaluations of their interactions are discussed. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Is marital discord taxonic and can taxonic status be assessed reliably? Results from a national, representative sample of married couples.

Addressing potential weaknesses in an earlier investigation, the authors examined the latent structure of marital discord using 4 product indicators from the Marital Satisfaction Inventory-Revised (Snyder, 1997) in a representative sample of community couples (N = 1,020). Results from 3 taxometric procedures suggested that marital discord is taxonic, with an estimated base rate of .31. Cut scores for classifying members of this marital discord taxon were identified. Additional analyses with several data sets of community and clinic couples provided evidence that the marital discord taxon classification demonstrated good (a) 6-week test-retest reliability, (b) criterion validity (i.e., differences in taxon prevalence in community vs. clinic couples), and (c) construct validity (i.e., correlations with therapist ratings of relationship quality). These results suggest that discordant couples differ qualitatively and not just quantitatively from nondiscordant couples and that user friendly methods, suitable for a range of research and clinical applications, can be used to identify marital discord. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavioral versus insight-oriented marital therapy: Effects on individual and interspousal functioning.

Compared the effects of behavioral marital therapy (BMT) and insight-oriented marital therapy (IOMT) on both interspousal and intrapersonal functioning in a controlled outcome study. A total of 79 couples seeking treatment for relationship distress were randomly assigned to BMT, IOMT, or a treatment-on-demand (TOD) waiting-list control group. Results indicated the significance and general equivalence of behavioral and insight-oriented therapies in producing positive changes in individual and relationship functioning. Both treatment approaches produced significant effects from intake to termination that were substantially maintained at the 6-month follow-up. Behavioral and insight-oriented therapies resulted in significant improvements in self-reports of global marital accord and, to a lesser extent, in the reduction of overall psychological distress and in the enhancement of self-concept, with no significant differences between treatment conditions. The magnitude of these effects in comparison with those reported in previous marital outcome studies and in more general psychotherapy research is discussed, and possible mechanisms for the equivalence of these technically divergent treatment approaches are explored. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Understanding the relationship between religiosity and marriage: An investigation of the immediate and longitudinal effects of religiosity on newlywed couples.

The association between religiosity and marital outcome has been repeatedly demonstrated, but a complete understanding of this relationship is hindered by limitations of theory and method. The purpose of the current study was to test 3 explanatory models by assessing 2 samples of newlywed couples. Findings indicated that religiosity was associated with attitudes toward divorce, commitment, and help seeking cross-sectionally. Longitudinal effects, however, were most consistent with a moderating model, wherein religiosity had a positive impact on husbands' and wives' marital satisfaction for couples with less neurotic husbands and a negative impact for couples with more neurotic husbands. Overall, the impact of religiosity was weak over the first 4 years of marriage. Theoretical propositions are offered to guide future research in delineating the types of marriages that may be most affected by religiosity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interrelations and moderators of longitudinal links between marital satisfaction and depressive symptoms among couples in established relationships.

Extending research based on newlywed couples, this study investigated longitudinal associations between marital satisfaction and depressive symptoms in a community sample of 296 couples in established relationships (M = 13.25 years, SD = 5.98) with children (M age = 11.05 years, SD = 2.31). Support was found for reciprocal relations between marital satisfaction and depressive symptoms in couples with established relationships. Further extending previous work, the study showed that relationship length and hostile marital conflict were significant moderators of these linkages. Husbands in longer term relationships were more vulnerable to depressive symptoms in the context of marital problems compared with husbands in shorter term relationships. At higher levels of marital conflict, the negative relationship between marital satisfaction and depressive symptoms was strengthened. Reflecting an unexpected finding, increased conflict buffered spouses from marital dissatisfaction in the context of depressive symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Timing Is Everything: Pre-Engagement Cohabitation and Increased Risk for Poor Marital Outcomes.

Data from a longitudinal study were used to examine differences among couples that cohabited before engagement, after engagement, or not until marriage. Survey data and objectively coded couple interaction data were collected for 136 couples (272 individuals) after engagement (but before marriage) and 10 months into marriage. At both time points, the before-engagement cohabiters (59 couples) had more negative interactions, lower interpersonal commitment, lower relationship quality, and lower relationship confidence than those who did not cohabit until after engagement (28 couples) or marriage (49 couples), even after controlling for selection factors and duration of cohabitation. Our findings suggest that those who cohabit before engagement are at greater risk for poor marital outcomes than those who cohabit only after engagement or at marriage, which may have important implications for future research on cohabitation, clinical work, and social policy decisions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Videotape replay in marital therapy.

24 couples seeking outpatient treatment for marital problems were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment conditions and to 1 of 4 therapists. Two of the treatment formats involved the use of videotape feedback as part of the marital therapy procedure. To measure the expected additive effects of videotherapy techniques, comparisons between couples were made of marital adjustment, self-concept, and satisfaction with therapy (e.g., Marital Adjustment Scale, Pre-Counseling Inventory). At the conclusion of therapy, both marital adjustment reports and self-perception scores had significantly increased from the pretreatment data obtained for all groups. There was a significant therapist effect and a significant overall therapist-by-treatment format interaction, but the expected main effect for treatment format was not obtained. The interpretable patterns found in the significant therapist-by-treatment interactions suggest that there is an enhancement effect for at least some forms of psychotherapy in which some clinicians employ video techniques. (32 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Infidelity in Couples Seeking Marital Therapy.

The revelation of an affair is often an emotionally explosive event for a couple, yet little is known about specific individual and relationship factors that accompany infidelity. The present study examined the qualities of individuals and couples that differentiate couples with (n = 19) and without (n = 115) infidelity using couples from a randomized clinical trial of marital therapy. Findings indicated that couples with infidelity showed greater marital instability, dishonesty, arguments about trust, narcissism, and time spent apart. Gender also proved to be a significant moderator of several effects. Men who had participated in affairs showed increased substance use, were older, and were more sexually dissatisfied. Results offer initial clues to concomitants of affairs for couple therapists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)