Journal of Marital and Family Therapy This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Systematic review and data synthesis on the treatment of sexual violence victimization by an intimate partner
In conclusion, sexual coercion is a complex issue that has adverse effects on mental health and the well-being of the survivors. More research is needed that investigates what kind of interventions are effective for this specific population. (Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy)
Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy - September 26, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Gunnur Karakurt, Allison L. Baier, Alexandra R. Bowling, Srinidhi Singuri, Cerag Oguztuzun, Shari Bolen Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Examining engagement in a self ‐in‐relationship observation exercise by couples coping with breast cancer: A qualitative analysis of text‐based feedback
AbstractYoung women with breast cancer (BC) and their partners generally face greater psychosocial difficulties relative to older couples, justifying the need for targeted support for this group. Toward this end, we examined how couples facing BC responded to participating in a self-in-relationship observation exercise intended to improve the relationship. Participants (N = 60) were 30 women and 30 male partners who, over the course of a week, observed and textually described/reported their “turning-towards-and-away-behaviors” deemed to contribute to relationship closeness/distance. Text-based feedback on the exerc...
Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy - September 25, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Sami I. Harb, Karen D. Fergus Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Relational sanctification, communal coping, and depression among African American couples
This study examines the association between relational sanctification and depressive symptoms  as mediated by the communal coping of 467 African American married and cohabiting couples. Data from the sampled couples were analyzed using a common fate model, and analyses revealed higher scores on the measure of sanctification were associated with more communal coping; more communal coping wa s associated with fewer depressive symptoms among women and men, and communal coping acted as a mediator between relational sanctification and depressive symptoms in both partners. Findings from this study underscore the importance of ...
Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy - August 31, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Antonius D. Skipper, Andrew H. Rose, Noel A. Card, Travis James Moore, Debra Lavender ‐Bratcher, Cassandra Chaney Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Talking and making meaning about parental mental health problems: The role of children's family caregivers
We present a Grounded Theory of how children's family caregivers construct meaning about the parental MHP and communicate about it with children. Nineteen caregivers participated in qualitative interviews. Each supported at least one related child aged 4 –17 years with a parent with MHPs. We found that caregivers engaged in a Core Social Process of providing protection in uncertainty. This comprised three categories as follows: shaping the interactional space, communicating through the developmental process, and engendering a sense of safety. Care givers appeared to act from a Key Social Positioning of developing a careg...
Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy - August 29, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Rebecca J. Gammage, Lizette Nolte Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Justifying by degrees: A grounded theory of men's decision ‐making process in infidelity
AbstractInfidelity is a common reason couples seek therapeutic help as betrayed partners are often hurt and dismayed by their partners' decision to engage in an extradyadic relationship. Despite its common occurrence, there are very few empirical studies of the decision-making process behind infidelity. To address this gap, the current study used grounded theory, a qualitative approach commonly used to develop theories from participants'  experiences, to explore men's processes in deciding to engage in infidelity. Analysis of interviews with participants (n = 13) resulted in a grounded theory of decision-making by cis...
Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy - August 29, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Carlos Perez, Stephen T. Fife, Dane Eggleston, Jason B. Whiting Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Maternal engagement, relational closeness, and adolescent internalizing symptoms: The association of engaged mothering with adolescent depression and anxiety
AbstractPrevalence rates of anxiety and depression have increased among adolescents in recent years. The etiology of these internalizing symptoms is complex, but mothers can play a role in the mental health of their adolescent children. Using data from Year 15 of the fragile families and child well-being study, we analyzed associations between adolescent-reported maternal engagement, mother –adolescent relationship closeness, and adolescent depression and anxiety in a sample of 3146 mother–adolescent dyads. Using structural equation modeling, the four areas of engagement, closeness, anxiety, and depression were all mod...
Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy - August 16, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Benjamin Jones, Jared Durtschi, Brooke Keilholtz Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Relationship standards and Malay Muslim couples' marital satisfaction
AbstractRelationship standards are beliefs about what is important in high-quality couple relationships. Clarifying standards cross-culturally informs theory about relationship quality and goals for culturally appropriate couple therapy. The current study assessed four standards (Couple Bond, Family Responsibility, Relationship Effort, and Religion) inn = 113 Malay Muslim couples, and the association of those standards with marital satisfaction. All four standards were strongly endorsed, Religion was the most strongly endorsed, and there were minimal sex differences. Separate actor–partner interdependence models show...
Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy - August 7, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Noratthiah Nordin, William Kim Halford, Fiona K. Barlow, Khairul A. Mastor Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

How therapists respond to “uneven” alliances in couple and family therapy: A conversation‐analytic study
This article  examines how family and couple therapists respond to uneven alliances with their clients at the micro-level of therapeutic exchanges in the context of Interpersonal Process Recall (IPR) interviews. We operationalize uneven alliance with the interactional concept of asymmetry of affiliation. To thi s end, first, using conversation analysis (CA), we identify episodes of asymmetry of affiliation in the moment-by-moment conversation between the therapist and the client in therapy consultation. Second, applying CA to the IPR interview data, we examine how therapists orient to the episodes of the session in which...
Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy - August 1, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Bernadetta Janusz, Joanna Pawelczyk, Barbara J ózefik Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Integrative couple therapy in action: A practical guide for handling common relationship problems and crises By Arthur C. Neilson,New York, NY: Routledge. 2022. pp. 284. $42.95
(Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy)
Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy - July 16, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: BOOK REVIEW Source Type: research

“No, It's You:” Dyadic perceived need for change predicts relationship education outcomes
AbstractRelationship education (RE) efforts have been shown to help couples and individuals with a variety of family relationships. However, much still needs to be identified in terms of what factors are salient to outcomes. Drawing on therapeutic models of change, we have identified perceived need for change as one such potential factor. Using data from a couple RE course (n = 447 couples), we assessed how dyadic congruence and average ratings of each partner's need for change were associated with change in three RE outcomes: knowledge, communication, and commitment. In general, the more partners perceived that their ...
Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy - July 15, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: J. Scott Crapo, Kay Bradford, Olena Kopystynska, Bryan K. Spuhler, Brian J. Higginbotham Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Affection preference, enactment, and relationship satisfaction: A dyadic analysis of love languages
AbstractDespite its popularity,The Five Love Languages relationship self-help book has received little empirical investigation. This may result in a disconnect between clinicians and clients with preconceived notions based on the book. The current research sought to evaluate love languages through the lens of responsiveness by examining if an accurate or biased understanding of partner preferences for different modes of affection were associated with enacted affectionate behavior, the perception of partner behavior, and relationship satisfaction. The results from a sample of 84 couples indicated that individuals tend to ha...
Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy - July 11, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Anthony E. Coy, Lindsey M. Rodriguez Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

Issue Information
(Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy)
Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy - July 9, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Tags: ISSUE INFORMATION Source Type: research

“How did you stay together so long?” Relationship longevity, a cross‐generational qualitative study
This study has two sample groups. In sample one (n = 137) we asked individuals in relationship of 3–15 years questions they would ask couples in marriages of 40+ years. We then asked our second sample of coupled individuals married 40+ years (n = 180) these questions. The primary question from the younger couples to couples in long-term marriages regarded their “secret” to relationship longevity. This study focuses on this one question and coupled individuals' self-articulation of their “secrets” to relationship longevity. The top seven were (1) commitment, (2) altruism, (3) shared values, (4) good commun...
Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy - July 8, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Christian Heim, Caroline Heim Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

“Bringing and Removing Self from the Table”: Therapists’ use and management of eating disorder lived experience in the treatment of clients with eating disorders
AbstractTherapists report significant countertransference reactions when treating clients with eating disorders (EDs). Countertransference may be pronounced among therapists with eating disorder lived experience (EDLE). Minimal research examines how therapists with EDLE negotiate their experiences while treating ED clients. Informed by the person-of-the-therapist philosophy, this study sought to understand how therapists use and manage their EDLE when working with ED clients. Using constructivist grounded theory methodology, semistructured interviews (Mtime = 89 min) were conducted with 22 therapists with EDLE. Resul...
Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy - July 5, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Ashley A. King, Jody M. Russon Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research

A case study of virtually delivered emotion ‐focused family therapy
AbstractClinical psychologists and therapists are increasingly taking advantage of internet and mobile-based technologies to deliver mental health services for individuals and groups since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a dearth of research evaluating the appropriateness of virtual platforms for family interventions. Further, no research has examined the effectiveness of weekly emotion-focused family therapy (EFFT). This case study presents a virtually delivered 8-week EFFT intervention, which supported  caregivers to manage child symptoms of depression, anxiety, and anger, facilitate emotion processing, and s...
Source: Journal of Marital and Family Therapy - June 27, 2023 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Jackson A. Smith, Ahad Bandealy, Dillon T. Browne Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research