RESUMO
Couple therapy has been shown to be a meaningful way to improve couples' relationships. However, less information is known about couples' functioning prior to entering treatment in community settings, as well as how their relationship functioning changes from initiating therapy onward. This study examined 87 couples who began community-based couple therapy during a longitudinal study of couples in the military. The couples were assessed six times over the course of 3 years, including time points before and after starting couple therapy. Using an interrupted-time series design, we examined trajectories across the start of couple therapy in relationship satisfaction, divorce proneness, and negative communication. The results demonstrated that couples' relationship satisfaction was declining and both divorce proneness and negative communication were increasing prior to entering couple therapy. After starting couple therapy, couples' functioning on all three variables leveled off but did not show further change, but previous experience in relationship education moderated these effects. Specifically, those who were assigned to the relationship education program (vs. control) demonstrated greater reductions in divorce proneness and greater increases marital satisfaction after starting therapy; however, they also started more distressed.
Se ha demostrado que la terapia de pareja es una manera valiosa de mejorar las relaciones de las parejas. Sin embargo, se cuenta con menos información acerca del funcionamiento de las parejas antes de comenzar un tratamiento en entornos comunitarios, así como acerca de la manera en que el funcionamiento de su relación cambia desde el inicio de la terapia en adelante. Este estudio analizó a 87 parejas que comenzaron terapia de pareja basada en la comunidad durante un estudio longitudinal de parejas en las fuerzas armadas. Se evaluó a las parejas seis veces durante el transcurso de tres años, incluidos momentos específicos antes y después de comenzar la terapia de pareja. Utilizando un diseño de series de tiempo interrumpido, analizamos las trayectorias a lo largo del comienzo de la terapia de pareja en la satisfacción con la relación, la propensión al divorcio y la comunicación negativa. Los resultados demostraron que la satisfacción con la relación de la pareja estaba disminuyendo y que tanto la propensión al divorcio como la comunicacióin negativa estaban aumentando antes de comenzar la terapia de pareja. Después de comenzar la terapia de pareja, el funcionamiento de las parejas en las tres variables se nivelaron pero no demostraron otros cambios, aunque la experiencia previa en capacitación en relaciones moderó estos efectos. Específicamente, los que fueron asignados al programa de capacitación en relaciones (frente al grupo de control) demostraron una mayor reducción de la propensión al divorcio y un mayor aumento de la satisfacción conyugal después de comenzar la terapia, sin embargo, también comenzaron la terapia más angustiados.
Assuntos
Terapia de Casal , Relações Interpessoais , Casamento/psicologia , Satisfação Pessoal , Adulto , Divórcio/estatística & dados numéricos , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Resultado do Tratamento , Adulto JovemRESUMO
This study examined characteristics of individuals that are associated with being in asymmetrically committed relationships (ACRs), defined as romantic relationships in which there was a substantial difference in the commitment levels of the partners. These ACRs were studied in a national sample of unmarried, opposite-sex romantic relationships (N = 315 couples). Perceiving oneself as having more potential alternative partners was associated with increased odds of being the less committed partner in an ACR compared to not being in an ACR, as was being more attachment avoidant, having more prior relationship partners, and having a history of extradyadic sex during the present relationship. Additionally, having parents who never married was associated with being the less committed partner in an ACR but parental divorce was not. Although fewer characteristics were associated with being the more committed partner within an ACR, more attachment anxiety was associated with increased odds of being in such a position compared to not being in an ACR. We also address how some findings change when controlling for commitment levels. Overall, the findings advance understanding of commitment in romantic relationships, particularly when there are substantial asymmetries involved. Implications for both research on asymmetrical commitment as well as practice (e.g., therapy or relationship education) are discussed.
Este estudio examinó características de individuos que se encuentran en relaciones comprometidas asimétricamente (RCA), definidas como relaciones románticas en las que hay una diferencia significativa en los niveles de compromiso de cada pareja. Estas RCA fueron estudiadas en una muestra nacional de relaciones románticas solteras con el sexo opuesto (N = 315 parejas). La autopercepción de tener más alternativas posibles de parejas se asoció a una probabilidad mayor de ser la pareja menos comprometida en una RCA en comparación con no estar en una RCA, así como de evitar más los apegos, tener más parejas previas, y tener un historial de sexo extradiádico durante la relación actual. Además, tener padres que nunca se casaron se asoció a ser la pareja menos comprometida en una RCA, pero no así el divorcio de los padres. Aunque se asociaron menos características a ser la pareja más comprometida en una RCA, se asoció más ansiedad de apego a una probabilidad mayor de encontrarse en dicha posición en comparación con no estar en una RCA. También abordamos el tema de cómo cambian algunos hallazgos al controlar niveles de compromiso. En conjunto, los hallazgos avanzan el entendimiento del compromiso en relaciones románticas, especialmente cuando incluye asimetrías significativas. Se discuten las implicaciones tanto para la investigación del compromiso asimétrico así como la práctica (p.ej. terapia o educación de relaciones).
Assuntos
Características da Família , Relações Interpessoais , Apego ao Objeto , Parceiros Sexuais/psicologia , Adulto , Ansiedade/psicologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pais/psicologia , Adulto JovemRESUMO
This study examined the within-family and between-family associations between fathers' military-related PTSD symptoms and parent ratings of children's behavioral and emotional problems. The sample included married couples (N = 419) with children composed of a civilian wife and an active-duty husband serving in the U.S. Army. Results indicate that changes in fathers' PTSD symptoms over time were associated with corresponding changes in both mothers' and fathers' reports of child behavioral and emotional problems. These within-family findings were independent from between-family effects, which showed that higher average PTSD symptomatology was associated with more overall behavioral and emotional problems for children. This study uses advances in statistical methodologies to increase knowledge about how PTSD symptoms and child problems are related, both across different families and over time within families.