Vulnerable Emotional Expression In Emotion Focused Couples Therapy: Relating Interactional Processes To Outcome

McKinnon, Jacqueline M.; Greenberg, Leslie S.

doi:10.1111/jmft.12229

Cited by 33 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Increases in emotional closeness served as a mechanism of change for men and women participating in behavioral and integrative couple therapy at VA hospitals (Doss et al, 2015). In a study of Emotion Focused Couple Therapy (EFCT), observed partner supportiveness in session acted as a mediator of change in satisfaction (McKinnon & Greenberg, 2017). Additionally, the occurrence of an emotional softening event during EFCT predicted gains in satisfaction during treatment (Dalgleish, Johnson, Moser, Wiebe, & Tasca, 2015).…”

Section: Mechanisms Of Change During the Interventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms of change in a brief, online relationship intervention.

Roddy¹,

Stamatis²,

Rothman³

et al. 2020

Journal of Family Psychology

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Internet delivery of couple interventions is becoming increasingly popular; however, little is known about mechanisms of change during these interventions. One online, self-help relationship intervention—the OurRelationship program—has been shown to improve relationship satisfaction (Doss et al., 2016) during the intervention and to maintain gains through 12-months follow-up (Doss, Roddy, Nowlan, Rothman, & Christensen, 2019). This study seeks to understand mechanisms during and following this program using the same sample of 300 couples (600 individuals) randomly assigned to the program or a waitlist control group. Results from the bivariate growth curves revealed that greater increases in relationship satisfaction during the intervention were explained by improvements in negative communication, emotional intimacy, as well as target problem confidence and severity. However, changes in acceptance of targeted relationship problems, positive communication, and self-protective orientation were not related to changes in satisfaction during the intervention. Additionally, in a multivariate model, relationship target problem severity alone remained significant in the presence of other mechanisms. Improvements in positive and negative communication during the intervention and level of negative communication at the end of the intervention predicted maintenance of gains in satisfaction over 12-month follow-up. Results replicate previous findings that communication (Doss, Thum, Sevier, Atkins, & Christensen, 2005) and emotional intimacy (Doss et al., 2005; Hawrilenko, Gray, & Córdova, 2016) are key components in initial decreases in relationship distress. Furthermore, results suggest that improvements in communication may help couples more effectively navigate problems following the intervention—above and beyond its associations with prepost improvements in satisfaction.

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Section: Mechanisms Of Change During the Interventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms of change in a brief, online relationship intervention.

Roddy¹,

Stamatis²,

Rothman³

et al. 2020

Journal of Family Psychology

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show abstract

“…While indirectly targeted in TBCT, both IBCT and emotionally focused couple therapy (EFCT) directly target this construct through empathic joining and fostering safe and responsive emotional connections, respectively. Observed in-session partner supportiveness (McKinnon & Greenberg, 2017) and emotional softening (Dalgleish et al, 2015) predicted improvements in relationship satisfaction in EFCT. Furthermore, similar constructs such as emotional closeness and emotional intimacy function as a mechanism in TAU couple therapy and the OR program (Doss et al, 2015; Roddy, Stamatis, et al, 2020).…”

Section: Previous Research On Mechanisms During Couple Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms of improvements and maintenance in online relationship programs for distressed low-income couples.

Le¹,

Roddy²,

Hatch³

et al. 2020

Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

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Objective: Web-based relationship interventions have been shown to improve relationship functioning for low-income couples, with gains maintained up through 12 months (Doss et al., 2020; Roddy et al., 2020). However, little is known about mechanisms of improvements and maintenance for these programs. Method: A sample of 742 low-income couples (Mage = 33; 55% non-Hispanic White; 52% married; Mdn annual household income = $27,000) were randomly assigned to the OurRelationship (OR) program, the ePREP program, or a waitlist control group. Couples were repeatedly assessed over 6 months on two relationship outcomes (satisfaction and breakup potential) and five relationship mechanisms (positive and negative communication, relationship problem intensity and confidence, and emotional support) with self-report measures. Results: Intervention couples, compared with the control couples, experienced significantly greater improvements in all mechanisms by the end of the program (Mean |d| = 0.58). Those with greater improvements in mechanisms also reported greater improvements in both relationship outcomes. From post- to 4-months follow-up, only prepost improvements in negative communication significantly predicted maintenance of gains in satisfaction. In contrast, prepost improvements in all mechanisms significantly predicted maintenance of reductions in breakup potential, with the largest effect via improvements in emotional support. Conclusions: These results indicate that both programs improve targeted mechanisms during the intervention period and support the role of these constructs as mechanisms of improvements in broader relationship functioning. Moreover, findings on mechanisms of maintenance highlighted the importance of including an emphasis on communication and emotional support to better maintain program gains.

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“…A great deal of research in EFT‐C has focused on facilitating resolution when working with couples confronting an emotional injury (e.g., Greenberg et al, 2010; Halchuk et al, 2010; Makinen & Johnson, 2006; McKinnon & Greenberg, 2013, 2017). In recent studies that have tested the key transformative elements in the resolution process, Mckinnon and Greenberg (2013, 2017) indicated that expression of vulnerability by the injured partner predicted the other partner’s responsiveness, as well as greater injury resolution and trust. However, for these salubrious effects to occur, the partners need to accurately perceive each other's vulnerability.…”

Section: Accuracy and Bias In Partners’ Perceptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accuracy and Bias in Vulnerability Perceptions of Partners Undergoing Emotion‐Focused Therapy for Couples

et al. 2020

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The primary mechanism of change in emotion-focused couples therapy (EFT-C) is described as one partner accessing and expressing vulnerability, with the other partner responding affiliatively, with compassion, acceptance, validation, and support. These interactions are assumed to restructure the negative, rigid interactional cycle that usually brings couples to therapy and helps build a positive emotional bond. The primary aim of this study was to test whether for this process to occur, partners need to accurately perceive their spouse's experiences of vulnerability during therapy. Specifically, it examined the factors (i.e., tracking accuracy, assumed-similarity bias, and directional bias) shaping partners' perceptions of their spouse's vulnerability and whether accurate perceptions predict positive session outcomes during EFT-C. Data from 36 couples who took part in the York Emotional Injury Project were analyzed. Following each session, clients reported their own experience of vulnerability as well as their perceptions of their partners' vulnerability. Session outcome was defined as the extent to which clients reported resolution. Using a multilevel Truth and Bias model, the results indicated that partners accurately perceived changes in their spouses' expressions of vulnerability (i.e., significant tracking accuracy). Interestingly, partners' perceptions were also tied to their own expressions of vulnerability (i.e., significant assumed-similarity bias) and tended to underestimate the level of their partners' vulnerability expressions (i.e., significant negative mean-level bias). Using a multilevel Response Surface Analysis, we found that accuracy regarding partners' vulnerability was associated with higher levels of resolution.

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Vulnerable Emotional Expression In Emotion Focused Couples Therapy: Relating Interactional Processes To Outcome

Cited by 33 publications

References 32 publications

Mechanisms of change in a brief, online relationship intervention.

Mechanisms of change in a brief, online relationship intervention.

Mechanisms of improvements and maintenance in online relationship programs for distressed low-income couples.

Accuracy and Bias in Vulnerability Perceptions of Partners Undergoing Emotion‐Focused Therapy for Couples

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