Explored effects of mastectomy for breast cancer on individual and marital adjustment among 20 spouse pairs in which wife had single mastectomy. Results indicated that both husbands and wives had adapted to mastectomy and were functioning well as individuals. Measures of marital adjustment, however, indicated serious problems with extremes of…

Discusses shadow realities, which include unacceptable and threatening information and interpretations that could undermine negotiated relationship reality. Offers theoretical discussion of shadow realities, reasons people avoid them, gains and risks for exploring them, and the therapeutic applications of therapy within a framework that includes…

Presents a didactic-experiental workshop that may be used with groups of family therapists and their spouses to help them explore marital issues that sometimes emerge as a result of the work of the family therapist. Concludes family therapists should not neglect their own marriages. (Author/ABL)

Examined structural couple therapy approach to treatment of inhibited sexual desire (ISD). Results from clinical sample of 19 couples with ISD suggest that structural couple therapy approach to ISD is effective in reducing symptoms of sexual disorder and in increasing couple satisfaction. (Author/NB)

Distressed and nondistressed couples held discussions of their major marital problem. Mismatch errors or differences in intent and impact were most likely to occur when the receiver of the message evaluated the message more negatively than it was intended regardless of the group. The results provide some support for both the semantic and…

Assessed the effects of three different methods of observation of couples (one-way mirror, audio recording, and video recording) on 30 volunteer, nonclinical married couples. Results suggest that types of observation do not produce significantly different effects on nonclinical couples. (Author/ABL)

Investigated effects of cognitive restructuring efforts to modify unrealistic beliefs of marital partners in 17 couples. Treatment program sought to impact proactively upon positive therapeutic expectations and relationship goals and enhanced base level of marital satisfaction. On all outcome measures, treatment group (N=9 couples) showed…

Compared Minnesota Couples Communication Program and Structured Behavior Exchange training with a waiting list control group through a multivariate repeated measures procedure (N=32 couples). Results indicated a general short-term improvement for both groups, but a need for follow-up experiences to maintain treatment gains. (JAC)

Examined relationship of discrepancy between couple's actual level of intimacy and desired level of intimacy and marital adjustment using data from 185 randomly selected couples. Results revealed that discrepancy between actual and desired intimacy of husbands and wives was highly predictive of marital adjustment. Couples with low intimacy scores…

Compared 10 compulsive eaters and their spouses with 10 compulsive drinkers and their spouses. Interview data revealed pattern suggesting that couples were often unable to process feelings and resolve conflicts. For subject, couple relationship seemed to affect and perpetuate compulsive behavior. Results point to need to redefine construct of…

Sixty marital dyads completed Dyadic Adjustment Scale and participated in problem discussions while using communication box. Intent ratings of distressed wives were significantly more negative than those provided by distressed husbands or by nondistressed wives. Distressed wives predicted that impact of their messages would be more negative than…

Forty-eight married couples completed Snyder's Marital Satisfaction Inventory and were categorized with Bem Sex-Role Inventory as androgynous, gender role congruent, gender role incongruent, or undifferentiated. Found that androgynous couples featured more wives who were dissatisfied regarding child issues. Conceptualized results in terms of…

Investigated whether 30 maritally distressed military couples differed from 30 distressed civilian couples using marital satisfaction questionnaires. Found same-sex differences across groups, and cross-sex differences within groups. Found military wives were more likely to be physically abused than were civilian wives, and more often requested…

Examines the issues related to informed consent and decisions to employ conjoint or one-spouse formats in therapy with discordant couples. Features a discussion of options for ensuring informed consent as protection for both the therapist and his/her client(s). (Author/ABB)

Determined whether spouses in nondistressed marriages show greater equity and reciprocity of exchange and a greater degree of congruence than spouses experiencing marital distress by examining interactive patterns of self-disclosing behavior using the Self-Disclosure Coding System. Within-couple reciprocity patterns revealed highly similar…