1932

Abstract

Abstract

Because relationship discord and dissolution are common and costly, interventions are needed to treat distressed couples and to prevent distress among vulnerable couples. We review meta-analytic evidence showing that 60–80% of distressed couples benefit from behavioral and emotion-focused approaches to couple therapy, but we also note that treatment effects are weaker in actual clinical practice than in controlled studies, dissipate following treatment for about half of all couples, and may be explained by factors that are common across models. Meta-analyses of prevention programs reveal reliable but smaller effects, reflecting a need to know more about whether and how communication mediates effects, about how risk and diversity moderate effects, and about how technology-enabled interventions can reduce attrition in vulnerable populations. Interventions for couples are improving and expanding, but critical questions remain about how and for whom they work.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-071519-020546
2020-05-07
2024-10-03
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/clinpsy/16/1/annurev-clinpsy-071519-020546.html?itemId=/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-071519-020546&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

Literature Cited

  1. Am. Psychol. Assoc 2010. Stress in America Washington, DC: Am. Psychol. Assoc.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Anker MG, Duncan BL, Sparks JA 2009. Using client feedback to improve couple therapy outcomes: a randomized clinical trial in a naturalistic setting. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 77:693–704
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Arnett JJ. 2014. Emerging Adulthood: The Winding Road from the Late Teens Through the Twenties New York: Oxford Univ. Press
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Arnold LS, Beelmann A. 2019. The effects of relationship education in low‐income couples: a meta‐analysis of randomized‐controlled evaluation studies. Fam. Relat. 68:22–38
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Badr H, Bakhshaie J, Chhaabria K 2019. Dyadic interventions for cancer survivors and caregivers: state of the science and new directions. Semin. Oncol. Nurs. 35:337–41
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Badr H, Krebs P. 2013. A systematic review and meta‐analysis of psychosocial interventions for couples coping with cancer. Psycho-Oncology 22:1688–704
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Barbato A, D'Avanzo B, Parabiaghi A 2018. Couple therapy for depression. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 6:CD004188
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Barton AW, Beach SRH, Lavner JA, Bryant CM, Kogan SM, Brody GH 2017. Is communication a mechanism of relationship education effects among rural African Americans?. J. Marriage Fam. 79:1450–61
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Barton AW, Beach SRH, Wells AC, Ingels JB, Corso PS et al. 2018. The protecting strong African American families program: a randomized controlled trial with rural African American couples. Prev. Sci. 19:904–13
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Baucom BR, Atkins DC, Rowe LS, Doss BD, Christensen A 2015. Prediction of treatment response at 5-year follow-up in a randomized clinical trial of behaviorally based couple therapies. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 83:103–14
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Baucom DH, Belus JM, Adelman CB, Fischer MS, Paprocki C 2014. Couple‐based interventions for psychopathology: a renewed direction for the field. Fam. Process 53:445–61
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Baucom DH, Epstein NB, Kirby JS, LaTaillade JJ 2015. Cognitive-behavioral couple therapy. Clinical Handbook of Couple Therapy AS Gurman, JL Lebow, DK Snyder 23–60 New York: Guilford
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Baucom DH, Hahlweg K, Kuschel A 2003. Are waiting-list control groups needed in future marital therapy outcome research?. Behav. Ther. 34:179–88
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Baucom DH, Pentel KZ, Gordon KC, Snyder DK 2017. An integrative approach to treating infidelity in couples. Foundations of Couple Therapy J Fitzgerald 206–15 New York: Routledge
    [Google Scholar]
  15. Baucom DH, Porter LS, Kirby JS, Hudepohl J 2012. Couple-based interventions for medical problems. Behav. Ther. 43:61–76
    [Google Scholar]
  16. Baucom KJ, Baucom BR, Christensen A 2015. Changes in dyadic communication during and after integrative and traditional behavioral couple therapy. Behav. Res. Ther. 65:18–28
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Baucom KJ, Sevier M, Eldridge KA, Doss BD, Christensen A 2011. Observed communication in couples two years after integrative and traditional behavioral couple therapy: outcome and link with five-year follow-up. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 79:565–76
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Beasley CC, Ager R. 2019. Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy: a systematic review of its effectiveness over the past 19 years. J. Evidence-Based Soc. Work 16:144–59
    [Google Scholar]
  19. Berry E, Davies M, Dempster M 2017. Exploring the effectiveness of couples interventions for adults living with a chronic physical illness: a systematic review. Patient Educ. Couns. 100:1287–303
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Bodenmann G, Hilpert P, Nussbeck FW, Bradbury TN 2014. Enhancement of couples’ communication and dyadic coping by a self-directed approach: a randomized controlled trial. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 82:580–91
    [Google Scholar]
  21. Bodenmann G, Plancherel B, Beach SRH, Widmer K, Gabriel B et al. 2008. Effects of coping-oriented couples therapy on depression: a randomized clinical trial. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 76:944–54
    [Google Scholar]
  22. Bodenmann G, Randall AK. 2012. Common factors in the enhancement of dyadic coping. Behav. Ther. 43:88–98
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Bodenmann G, Shantinath SD 2004. The Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET): a new approach to prevention of marital distress based upon stress and coping. Fam. Relat. 53:477–84
    [Google Scholar]
  24. Bradbury TN, Fincham FD. 1990. Preventing marital dysfunction: review and analysis. The Psychology of Marriage: Basic Issues and Applications FD Fincham, TN Bradbury 375–401 New York: Guilford
    [Google Scholar]
  25. Bradbury TN, Lavner JA. 2012. How can we improve preventive and educational interventions for intimate relationships?. Behav. Ther. 43:113–22
    [Google Scholar]
  26. Bradley B, Furrow JL. 2004. Toward a mini‐theory of the blamer softening event: tracking the moment‐by‐moment process. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 30:233–46
    [Google Scholar]
  27. Braithwaite SR, Fincham FD. 2014. Computer-based prevention of intimate partner violence in marriage. Behav. Res. Ther. 54:12–21
    [Google Scholar]
  28. Burgess Moser M, Johnson SM, Dalgleish TL, Wiebe SA, Tasca GA 2018. The impact of blamer-softening on romantic attachment in emotionally focused couples therapy. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 44:640–54
    [Google Scholar]
  29. Byrne M, Carr A, Clark M 2004. The efficacy of behavioral couples therapy and emotionally focused therapy for couple distress. Contemp. Fam. Ther. 26:361–87
    [Google Scholar]
  30. Christensen A. 2010. A unified protocol for couple therapy. Enhancing Couples: The Shape of Couple Therapy to Come K Hahlweg, M Grawe-Gerber, DH Baucom 33–46 Göttingen, Ger: Hogrefe
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Christensen A, Atkins DC, Baucom B, Yi J 2010. Marital status and satisfaction five years following a randomized clinical trial comparing traditional versus integrative behavioral couple therapy. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 78:225–35
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Christensen A, Atkins DC, Berns S, Wheeler J, Baucom DH, Simpson LE 2004. Traditional versus integrative behavioral couple therapy for significantly and chronically distressed married couples. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 72:176–91
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Christensen A, Atkins DC, Yi J, Baucom DH, George WH 2006. Couple and individual adjustment for 2 years following a randomized clinical trial comparing traditional versus integrative behavioral couple therapy. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 74:1180–91
    [Google Scholar]
  34. Christensen A, Heavey CL. 1999. Interventions for couples. Annu. Rev. Psychol. 50:165–90
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Copen CE, Daniels K, Vespa J, Mosher WD 2012. First marriages in the United States: data from the 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth Natl. Health Stat. Rep. 49, Natl. Cent. Health Stat Washington, DC:
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Córdova JV. 2014. The Marriage Checkup Practitioner's Guide: Promoting Lifelong Relationship Health Washington, DC: Am. Psychol. Assoc.
    [Google Scholar]
  37. Córdova JV, Fleming CJ, Morrill MI, Hawrilenko M, Sollenberger JW et al. 2014. The Marriage Checkup: a randomized controlled trial of annual relationship health checkups. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 82:592–604
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Córdova JV, Warren LZ, Gee CB 2001. Motivational interviewing as an intervention for at‐risk couples. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 27:315–26
    [Google Scholar]
  39. Cowan PA, Cowan CP. 2014. Controversies in couple relationship education (CRE): overlooked evidence and implications for research and policy. Psychol. Public Policy Law 20:361–83
    [Google Scholar]
  40. Cuijpers P, Reijnders M, Huibers MJ 2019. The role of common factors in psychotherapy outcomes. Annu. Rev. Clin. Psychol. 15:207–31
    [Google Scholar]
  41. Davis SD, Lebow JL, Sprenkle DH 2012. Common factors of change in couple therapy. Behav. Ther. 43:36–48
    [Google Scholar]
  42. Doherty WJ, Harris SM, Wilde JL 2016. Discernment counseling for “mixed‐agenda” couples. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 42:246–55
    [Google Scholar]
  43. Doss BD. 2004. Changing the way we study change in psychotherapy. Clin. Psychol. Sci. Pract. 11:368–86
    [Google Scholar]
  44. Doss BD, Benson LA, Georgia EJ, Christensen A 2013. Translation of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy to a web‐based intervention. Fam. Process 52:139–53
    [Google Scholar]
  45. Doss BD, Cicila LN, Georgia EJ, Roddy MK, Nowlan KM et al. 2016. A randomized controlled trial of the web-based OurRelationship program: effects on relationship and individual functioning. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 84:285–96
    [Google Scholar]
  46. Doss BD, Mitchell A, Georgia EJ, Biesen JN, Rowe LS 2015. Improvements in closeness, communication, and psychological distress mediate effects of couple therapy for veterans. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 83:405–15
    [Google Scholar]
  47. Doss BD, Roddy MK, Nowlan KM, Rothman K, Christensen A 2019. Maintenance of gains in relationship and individual functioning following the online OurRelationship program. Behav. Ther. 50:73–86
    [Google Scholar]
  48. Doss BD, Simpson LE, Christensen A 2004. Why do couples seek marital therapy. Prof. Psychol. Res. Pract. 35:608–14
    [Google Scholar]
  49. Doss BD, Thum YM, Sevier M, Atkins DC, Christensen A 2005. Improving relationships: mechanisms of change in couple therapy. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 73:624–33
    [Google Scholar]
  50. Dunn RL, Schwebel AI. 1995. Meta-analytic review of marital therapy outcome research. J. Fam. Psychol. 9:58–68
    [Google Scholar]
  51. Fentz HN, Trillingsgaard T. 2017. Checking up on couples: a meta‐analysis of the effect of assessment and feedback on marital functioning and individual mental health in couples. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 43:31–50
    [Google Scholar]
  52. Fincham FD, Beach SR. 1999. Conflict in marriage: implications for working with couples. Annu. Rev. Psychol. 50:47–77
    [Google Scholar]
  53. Fischer MS, Baucom DH, Cohen MJ 2016. Cognitive‐behavioral couple therapies: review of the evidence for the treatment of relationship distress, psychopathology, and chronic health conditions. Fam. Process 55:423–42
    [Google Scholar]
  54. Flückiger C, Del Re AC, Wampold BE, Horvath AO 2018. The alliance in adult psychotherapy: a meta-analytic synthesis. Psychotherapy 55:316–40
    [Google Scholar]
  55. Friedlander ML, Escudero V, Welmers-van de Poll MJ, Heatherington L 2018. Meta-analysis of the alliance–outcome relation in couple and family therapy. Psychotherapy 55:356–71
    [Google Scholar]
  56. Gordon KC, Córdova JV, Roberson PNE, Miller M, Gray T et al. 2019. An implementation study of relationship checkups as home visitations for low‐income at‐risk couples. Fam. Process 58:247–65
    [Google Scholar]
  57. Gurman AS. 2011. Couple therapy research and the practice of couple therapy: Can we talk. Fam. Process 50:280–92
    [Google Scholar]
  58. Gurman AS, Lebow JL, Snyder DK 2015. Clinical Handbook of Couple Therapy New York: Guilford
    [Google Scholar]
  59. Halchuk RE, Makinen JA, Johnson SM 2010. Resolving attachment injuries in couples using emotionally focused therapy: a three-year follow-up. J. Couple Relatsh. Ther. 9:31–47
    [Google Scholar]
  60. Halford WK. 2011. Marriage and Relationship Education: What Works and How to Provide It New York: Guilford
    [Google Scholar]
  61. Halford WK, Bodenmann G. 2013. Effects of relationship education on maintenance of couple relationship satisfaction. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 33:512–25
    [Google Scholar]
  62. Halford WK, Hayes S, Christensen A, Lambert M, Baucom DH, Atkins DC 2012. Toward making progress feedback an effective common factor in couple therapy. Behav. Ther. 43:49–60
    [Google Scholar]
  63. Halford WK, Markman HJ, Stanley S 2008. Strengthening couples' relationships with education: social policy and public health perspectives. J. Fam. Psychol. 22:497–505
    [Google Scholar]
  64. Halford WK, Pepping CA. 2017. An ecological model of mediators of change in couple relationship education. Curr. Opin. Psychol. 13:39–43
    [Google Scholar]
  65. Halford WK, Pepping CA, Hilpert P, Bodenmann G, Wilson KL et al. 2015. Immediate effect of couple relationship education on low-satisfaction couples: a randomized clinical trial plus an uncontrolled trial replication. Behav. Ther. 46:409–21
    [Google Scholar]
  66. Halford WK, Pepping CA, Petch J 2016. The gap between couple therapy research efficacy and practice effectiveness. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 42:32–44
    [Google Scholar]
  67. Halford WK, Rahimullah RH, Wilson KL, Occhipinti S, Busby DM, Larson J 2017. Four year effects of couple relationship education on low and high satisfaction couples: a randomized clinical trial. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 85:495–507
    [Google Scholar]
  68. Halford WK, Snyder DK. 2012. Universal processes and common factors in couple therapy and relationship education. Behav. Ther. 43:11–12
    [Google Scholar]
  69. Hatfield D, McCullough L, Frantz SH, Krieger K 2010. Do we know when our clients get worse? An investigation of therapists' ability to detect negative client change. Clin. Psychol. Psychother. 17:25–32
    [Google Scholar]
  70. Hawkins AJ, Blanchard VL, Baldwin SA, Fawcett EB 2008. Does marriage and relationship education work? A meta-analytic study. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 76:723–34
    [Google Scholar]
  71. Hawkins AJ, Erickson SE. 2015. Is couple and relationship education effective for lower income participants? A meta-analytic study. J. Fam. Psychol. 29:59–68
    [Google Scholar]
  72. Hawkins AJ, Stanley SM, Blanchard VL, Albright M 2012. Exploring programmatic moderators of the effectiveness of marriage and relationship education programs: a meta-analytic study. Behav. Ther. 43:77–87
    [Google Scholar]
  73. Hewison D, Casey P, Mwamba N 2016. The effectiveness of couple therapy: clinical outcomes in a naturalistic United Kingdom setting. Psychotherapy 53:377–87
    [Google Scholar]
  74. Heyman RE, Slep AMS, Lorber MF, Mitnick DM, Xu S et al. 2019. A randomized, controlled trial of the impact of the Couple CARE for Parents of Newborns program on the prevention of intimate partner violence and relationship problems. Prev. Sci. 20:620–31
    [Google Scholar]
  75. Holt-Lunstad J. 2018. Why social relationships are important for physical health: a systems approach to understanding and modifying risk and protection. Annu. Rev. Psychol. 69:437–58
    [Google Scholar]
  76. Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, Harris T, Stephenson D 2015. Loneliness and social isolation as risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. Persp. Psychol. Sci. 10:227–37
    [Google Scholar]
  77. Hsueh J, Alderson DP, Lundquist W, Michalopolous C, Gubits D et al. 2012. The Supporting Healthy Marriage evaluation: early impacts on low-income families OPRE Rep. 2012-11, MDRC New York:
    [Google Scholar]
  78. Jacobson NS, Addis ME. 1993. Research on couples and couple therapy: What do we know? Where are we going. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 61:85–93
    [Google Scholar]
  79. Jacobson NS, Christensen A. 1996. Integrative Couple Therapy: Promoting Acceptance and Change New York: W.W. Norton & Co.
    [Google Scholar]
  80. Jacobson NS, Margolin G. 1979. Marital Therapy: Strategies Based on Social Learning and Behavior Exchange Principles New York: Psychol. Press
    [Google Scholar]
  81. Johnson CA, Stanley SM, Glenn ND, Amato PR, Nock SL et al. 2002. Marriage in Oklahoma: 2001 baseline statewide survey on marriage and divorce Oklahoma City: Okla. Dep. Hum. Serv.
    [Google Scholar]
  82. Johnson MD. 2012. Healthy marriage initiatives: on the need for empiricism in policy implementation. Am. Psychol. 67:296–308
    [Google Scholar]
  83. Johnson SM, Greenberg LS. 1985. Emotionally focused couples therapy: an outcome study. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 11:313–17
    [Google Scholar]
  84. Johnson SM, Hunsley J, Greenberg L, Schindler D 1999. Emotionally focused couples therapy: status and challenges. Clin. Psychol. Sci. Pract. 6:67–79
    [Google Scholar]
  85. Johnson SM, Lebow J. 2000. The “coming of age” of couple therapy: a decade review. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 26:23–38
    [Google Scholar]
  86. Johnson SM, Whiffen VE. 1999. Made to measure: adapting emotionally focused couple therapy to partners' attachment styles. Clin. Psychol. Sci. Pract. 6:366–81
    [Google Scholar]
  87. Kanter JB, Schramm DG. 2018. Brief interventions for couples: an integrative review. Fam. Relat. 67:211–26
    [Google Scholar]
  88. Karakurt G, Whiting K, Van Esch C, Bolen SD, Calabrese JR 2016. Couples therapy for intimate partner violence: a systematic review and meta‐analysis. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 42:567–83
    [Google Scholar]
  89. Karney BR, Bradbury TN, Lavner JA 2018. Supporting healthy relationships in low-income couples: lessons learned and policy implications. Policy Insights Behav. Brain Sci. 5:33–39
    [Google Scholar]
  90. Kazdin AE. 2007. Mediators and mechanisms of change in psychotherapy research. Annu. Rev. Clin. Psychol. 3:1–27
    [Google Scholar]
  91. Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Wilson SJ. 2017. Lovesick: how couples’ relationships influence health. Annu. Rev. Clin. Psychol. 13:421–43
    [Google Scholar]
  92. Lambert MJ, Hansen NB, Finch AE 2001. Patient-focused research: using patient outcome data to enhance treatment effects. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 69:159–72
    [Google Scholar]
  93. Lambert MJ, Whipple JL, Kleinstäuber M 2018. Collecting and delivering progress feedback: a meta-analysis of routine outcome monitoring. Psychotherapy 55:520–37
    [Google Scholar]
  94. Laurenceau J-P, Stanley SM, Olmos-Gallo A, Baucom BR, Markman HJ 2004. Community-based prevention of marital dysfunction: multilevel modeling of a randomized effectiveness study. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 72:933–43
    [Google Scholar]
  95. Lavner JA, Karney BR, Bradbury TN 2015. New directions for policies aimed at strengthening low-income couples. Behav. Sci. Policy 1:213–24
    [Google Scholar]
  96. Lavner JA, Karney BR, Bradbury TN 2016. Does couples' communication predict marital satisfaction, or does marital satisfaction predict communication. J. Marriage Fam. 78:680–94
    [Google Scholar]
  97. Lebow JL. 2015. Separation and divorce issues in couple therapy. Clinical Handbook of Couple Therapy AS Gurman, JL Lebow, DK Snyder 445–63 New York: Guilford
    [Google Scholar]
  98. Lebow JL, Chambers AL, Christensen A, Johnson SM 2012. Research on the treatment of couple distress. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 38:145–68
    [Google Scholar]
  99. Makinen JA, Johnson SM. 2006. Resolving attachment injuries in couples using emotionally focused therapy: steps toward forgiveness and reconciliation. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 74:1055–64
    [Google Scholar]
  100. Margolin G, Wampold BE. 1981. Sequential analysis of conflict and accord in distressed and nondistressed marital partners. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 49:554–67
    [Google Scholar]
  101. Marín RA, Christensen A, Atkins DC 2014. Infidelity and behavioral couple therapy: relationship outcomes over 5 years following therapy. Couple Fam. Psychol. Res. Pract. 3:11–12
    [Google Scholar]
  102. Markman HJ, Stanley SM, Blumberg SL 2010. Fighting for Your Marriage New York: John Wiley & Sons
    [Google Scholar]
  103. McCrady BS, Wilson AD, Muñoz RE, Fink BC, Fokas K, Borders A 2016. Alcohol‐focused behavioral couple therapy. Fam. Process 55:443–59
    [Google Scholar]
  104. McKinnon JM, Greenberg LS. 2017. Vulnerable emotional expression in Emotion Focused Couples Therapy: relating interactional processes to outcome. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 43:198–212
    [Google Scholar]
  105. McLean LM, Walton T, Rodin G, Esplen MJ, Jones JM 2013. A couple‐based intervention for patients and caregivers facing end‐stage cancer: outcomes of a randomized controlled trial. Psycho-Oncology 22:28–38
    [Google Scholar]
  106. Meis LA, Griffin JM, Greer N, Jensen AC, MacDonald R et al. 2013. Couple and family involvement in adult mental health treatment: a systematic review. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 33:275–86
    [Google Scholar]
  107. Morrill MI, Eubanks‐Fleming CJ, Harp AG, Sollenberger JW, Darling EV, Córdova JV 2011. The Marriage Checkup: increasing access to marital health care. Fam. Process 50:471–85
    [Google Scholar]
  108. Nowlan KM, Georgia EJ, Doss BD 2017. Long-term effectiveness of treatment-as-usual couple therapy for military veterans. Behav. Ther. 48:847–59
    [Google Scholar]
  109. O'Farrell TJ, Clements K. 2012. Review of outcome research on marital and family therapy in treatment for alcoholism. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 38:122–44
    [Google Scholar]
  110. O'Farrell TJ, Schumm JA, Dunlap LJ, Murphy MM, Muchowski P 2016. A randomized clinical trial of group versus standard behavioral couples therapy plus individually based treatment for patients with alcohol dependence. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 84:497–510
    [Google Scholar]
  111. Owen J, Duncan B, Anker M, Sparks J 2012. Initial relationship goals and couple therapy outcomes at post and six-month follow-up. J. Fam. Psychol. 26:179–86
    [Google Scholar]
  112. Owen J, Rhoades GK, Stanley SM, Markman HJ, Allen ES 2019. Treatment‐as‐usual for couples: trajectories before and after beginning couple therapy. Fam. Process 58:273–86
    [Google Scholar]
  113. Pepping CA, Halford WK, Doss BD 2015. Can we predict failure in couple therapy early enough to enhance outcome?. Behav. Res. Ther. 65:60–66
    [Google Scholar]
  114. Petch JF, Halford WK, Creedy DK, Gamble J 2012. A randomized controlled trial of a couple relationship and coparenting program (Couple CARE for Parents) for high- and low-risk new parents. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 80:662–73
    [Google Scholar]
  115. Pinquart M, Teubert D. 2010. A meta‐analytic study of couple interventions during the transition to parenthood. Fam. Relat. 59:221–31
    [Google Scholar]
  116. Porter LS, Keefe FJ, Baucom DH, Hurwitz H, Moser B et al. 2009. Partner‐assisted emotional disclosure for patients with gastrointestinal cancer: results from a randomized controlled trial. Cancer 115:4326–38
    [Google Scholar]
  117. Powers MB, Vedel E, Emmelkamp PM 2008. Behavioral couples therapy (BCT) for alcohol and drug use disorders: a meta-analysis. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 28:952–62
    [Google Scholar]
  118. Quirk K, Strokoff J, Owen JJ, France T, Bergen C 2014. Relationship education in community settings: effectiveness with distressed and non‐distressed low‐income racial minority couples. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 40:442–53
    [Google Scholar]
  119. Randall AK, Bodenmann G. 2009. The role of stress on close relationships and marital satisfaction. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 29:105–15
    [Google Scholar]
  120. Rathgeber M, Bürkner PC, Schiller EM, Holling H 2019. The efficacy of emotionally focused couples therapy and behavioral couples therapy: a meta‐analysis. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 45:447–63
    [Google Scholar]
  121. Reese RJ, Toland MD, Slone NC, Norsworthy LA 2010. Effect of client feedback on couple psychotherapy outcomes. Psychotherapy 47:616–30
    [Google Scholar]
  122. Roesler C. 2019. Effectiveness of couple therapy in practice settings and identification of potential predictors for different outcomes: results of a German nationwide naturalistic study. Fam. Process In press. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/famp.12443
    [Google Scholar]
  123. Rogge RD, Cobb RJ, Lawrence E, Johnson MD, Bradbury TN 2013. Is skills training necessary for the primary prevention of marital distress and dissolution? A 3-year experimental study of three interventions. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 81:949–61
    [Google Scholar]
  124. Ross JM, Karney BR, Nguyen TP, Bradbury TN 2019. Communication that is maladaptive for middle-class couples is adaptive for socioeconomically disadvantaged couples. J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 116:582–97
    [Google Scholar]
  125. Schade LC, Sandberg JG, Bradford A, Harper JM, Holt‐Lunstad J, Miller RB 2015. A longitudinal view of the association between therapist warmth and couples' in‐session process: an observational pilot study of emotionally focused couples therapy. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 41:292–307
    [Google Scholar]
  126. Sevier M, Atkins DC, Doss BD, Christensen A 2015. Up and down or down and up? The process of change in constructive couple behavior during traditional and integrative behavioral couple therapy. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 41:113–27
    [Google Scholar]
  127. Sexton T, Gordon KC, Gurman A, Lebow J, Holtzworth‐Munroe A, Johnson SM 2011. Guidelines for classifying evidence‐based treatments in couple and family therapy. Fam. Process 50:377–92
    [Google Scholar]
  128. Shadish WR, Baldwin SA. 2003. Meta‐analysis of MFT interventions. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 29:547–70
    [Google Scholar]
  129. Shadish WR, Baldwin SA. 2005. Effects of behavioral marital therapy: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 73:16–14
    [Google Scholar]
  130. Snyder DK, Castellani AM, Whisman MA 2006. Current status and future directions in couple therapy. Annu. Rev. Psychol. 57:317–44
    [Google Scholar]
  131. Stuart RB. 1969. Operant-interpersonal treatment for marital discord. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 33:675–82
    [Google Scholar]
  132. Sullivan KT, Bradbury TN. 1996. Preventing marital dysfunction: the primacy of secondary strategies. Behav. Ther. 19:33–36
    [Google Scholar]
  133. Swindle R Jr, Heller K, Pescosolido B, Kikuzawa S. 2000. Responses to nervous breakdowns in America over a 40-year period: mental health policy implications. Am. Psychol. 55:740–49
    [Google Scholar]
  134. Traa MJ, De Vries J, Bodenmann G, Den Oudsten BL 2015. Dyadic coping and relationship functioning in couples coping with cancer: a systematic review. Br. J. Health Psychol. 20:85–114
    [Google Scholar]
  135. Trillingsgaard T, Fentz HN, Hawrilenko M, Cordova JV 2016. A randomized controlled trial of the Marriage Checkup adapted for private practice. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 84:1145–52
    [Google Scholar]
  136. Walitzer K, Dermen K, Shyhalla K, Kubiak A 2013. Couple communication among problem drinking males and their spouses: a randomized controlled trial. J. Fam. Ther. 35:229–51
    [Google Scholar]
  137. Whisman MA, Beach SR, Snyder DK 2008. Is marital discord taxonic and can taxonic status be assessed reliably? Results from a national, representative sample of married couples. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 76:745–55
    [Google Scholar]
  138. Wiebe SA, Johnson SM, Burgess Moser M, Dalgleish TL, Tasca GA 2017. Predicting follow‐up outcomes in emotionally focused couple therapy: the role of change in trust, relationship‐specific attachment, and emotional engagement. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 43:213–26
    [Google Scholar]
  139. Williamson HC, Altman N, Hsueh J, Bradbury TN 2016. Effects of relationship education on couple communication and satisfaction: a randomized controlled trial with low-income couples. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 84:156–66
    [Google Scholar]
  140. Williamson HC, Hammett JF, Ross JM, Karney BR, Bradbury TN 2018. Premarital education and later relationship help-seeking. J. Fam. Psychol. 32:276–81
    [Google Scholar]
  141. Williamson HC, Rogge RD, Cobb RJ, Johnson MD, Lawrence E, Bradbury TN 2015. Risk moderates the outcome of relationship education: a randomized controlled trial. J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 83:617–29
    [Google Scholar]
  142. Williamson HC, Trail TE, Bradbury TN, Karney BR 2014. Does premarital education decrease or increase couples’ later help-seeking?. J. Fam. Psychol. 28:112–17
    [Google Scholar]
  143. Zemp M, Merz CA, Nussbeck FW, Halford WK, Schaer Gmelch M, Bodenmann G 2017. Couple relationship education: a randomized controlled trial of professional contact and self-directed tools. J. Fam. Psychol. 31:347–57
    [Google Scholar]
  144. Zuccarini D, Johnson SM, Dalgleish TL, Makinen JA 2013. Forgiveness and reconciliation in emotionally focused therapy for couples: the client change process and therapist interventions. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 39:148–62
    [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-071519-020546
Loading
  • Article Type: Review Article
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error