The path to couples therapy: A descriptive analysis on a veteran sample.

Abstract

The current study uses descriptive data from a sample of Veterans and their partners (N ϭ 97 opposite-sex couples) presenting to a Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The purpose of this investigation was to examine (a) the problems couples face before seeking treatment, (b) how long it took couples to seek treatment, and (c) what attempts couples made to improve their relationship before couples therapy. We also examined how these treatment initiation factors were related to relationship distress and expectations for therapy. Results suggest the relationship problems that precede Veteran couples seeking treatment are varied (e.g., stressors outside of relationship, communication problems, and lack of trust) and agreement between partners on type of relationship problem is not predictive of relationship satisfaction, perception of relationship problem severity, nor expectations for therapy. Partners tend to wait ϳ4 -7 years before pursuing couples therapy to resolve relational concerns. The length of time partners wait to pursue therapy is positively associated with optimistic expectations for therapy. In addition, before treatment initiation, partners tend to make multiple attempts to improve their relationship (M ϭ 1.79 attempts for men; M ϭ 2.40 attempts for women), and the number of unique attempts made to improve the relationship is associated with greater distress and more negative perceptions of relationship problem severity. Findings have implications for identifying Veteran couples who may be more or less receptive to intervention and informing the development of a stepped-care approach for couples treatment referral and planning.

Trajectories of relationship and individual functioning among waitlisted couples for an online relationship intervention

“…Additionally, because the sample sizes were relatively small (ranging from 5 to 33 in Baucom and from 5 to 20 in Roddy), estimates were less robust and there was less power to detect effects. Second, partners seeking couple therapy are likely to be quite distressed and typically only seek treatment after an extended period of declining relationship functioning (e.g., Jarnecke et al, 2020; Owen et al, 2019). This suggests that this group may be especially unlikely to improve (and arguably makes it striking that the mean pattern was one of stability) and that they may not represent all “help‐seeking couples.” Indeed, it is more common for distressed help‐seeking couples to seek assistance for their relationship through means other than couple therapy, including reading self‐help books, looking up information online, or seeking advice from friends or family (Stewart et al, 2016).…”

VA family service access and utilization in a national sample of veterans.

“…Many veteran couples experience similar barriers to accessing care (Sherman & Larsen, 2018). As a result, veteran couples may experience a prolonged period of relationship distress before accessing help, with one study estimating the delay between onset of relationship problems and formal help-seeking among veterans as 4–7 years (Jarnecke et al, 2020). Given the deleterious impacts of relationship distress, this delayed access to care is cause for concern.…”

How long do people wait before seeking couples therapy? A research note

“…Future research is needed to replicate the findings of the present study. A nationally representative sample would help resolve differences such as our findings versus the Jarnecke et al (2020) study. The role of gender differences in delay in seeking couples therapy merits further exploration, along with various subpopulations’ access to, and delays in seeking therapy for relationship problems.…”

“…After the present study was completed and went through initial peer review for publication, we came across a new study that reported on how long a sample of 97 heterosexual married couples in a Veterans Administration clinic waited before seeking couples therapy (Jarnecke et al, 2020). Spouses were asked to give the date when they “first realized they had a relationship problem.” The delay was calculated as the time between that date and their first couples therapy appointment.…”