Motivational Interviewing as an Intervention for At‐risk Couples

Abstract

Thirty-one couples participated in a pilot, motivational interviewing, intervention for at-risk couples called the Marriage Checkup (MC). The MC consisted of thorough relationship assessment and individualized feedback. It attracted substantial numbers of at-risk couples who were not otherwise seeking treatment. Partners' marital satisfaction improved significantly from pre- to post-check-up and remained improved at 1-month follow up. Partners were no longer significantly different from a non-distressed comparison group following intervention. Although not addressing the efficacy of the MC, this study supports its viability as an indicated preventive intervention with couples at-risk for severe marital distress by addressing its attractiveness, tolerability, and safety.

The Promise of Motivational Interviewing in School Mental Health

“…The majority of MI adaptations, including the Drinker's Check-Up (Miller & Sovereign, 1989) and Project MATCH (Project MATCH Research Group, 1997) utilize the principles and techniques of MI to guide communication and include a feedback routine in which assessment results are shared with the client in a non-directive fashion. Adaptations have been applied to addictions (Miller, Zweben, DiClemente, & Rychtaric, 1992), prenatal counseling (Handmaker, Miller, & Manicke, 1999), diabetes management (Smith, Heckemeyer, Kratt, & Mason, 1997), and relationship distress (Marriage Check-Up, Cordova, Warren, & Gee, 2001).…”

Healthy Nests Transition to Parenthood Program: A Phenomenological Analysis of Participant Experiences

“…Researchers have found empirical support for the utility of brief, early and education-based services for couples such as Bringing Baby Home program mentioned above; yet, conventional interventions are largely reactive as they are designed to intervene with distressed couples in longterm relationships, often following chronic conflict (Cordova et al 2001). Given that children and the partners themselves can be negatively affected by couple distress, accessible and effective early intervention and prevention services for couples could be beneficial.…”

“…Moderate to high levels of maladaptive conflict negatively impact partners' health, well-being, and quality of life, and are a risk factor for poor child outcomes (Ablow et al 2009;Cordova et al 2001;Linville et al 2010). In addition, couple conflict often disrupts parentchild relations and is associated with diminished parenting, resulting in negative parenting behaviors such as harsher discipline and being less involved with their children (Erel and Burman 1995;Krishnakumar and Buehler 2000;Nelson et al 2014).…”

Help a Buddy Take a Knee: Creating Persuasive Messages for Military Service Members to Encourage Others to Seek Mental Health Help

“…Marital psychotherapy Behavioral marital therapy is effective for treating co-occurring marital distress and depression (Beach, 2001;Cordova, Warren, and Gee, 2001;Prince and Jacobsen, 1995 (Anderson, 2000;Arroll et al, 2005;Bech et al, 2000).…”