Couples with chronically ill children are at risk for experiencing marital stress. The present study was a randomized control trial that assessed the efficacy of emotionally focused therapy (EFT) in decreasing marital distress in this population of couples. Thirty-two couples with chronically ill children seen at a tertiary care pediatric hospital were randomly assigned to EFT or to a waitlist control group. EFT couples demonstrated significant decreases in marital distress at posttreatment and at a 5-month follow-up in comparison to controls. Clinical improvements in marital functioning following EFT were also demonstrated.

Couples with chronically ill children are particularly at risk for experiencing marital distress. The study presented here is a 2-year follow-up of a randomized control trial that assessed the efficacy of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) in decreasing marital distress in a sample of couples with a chronically ill child. Thirteen couples with chronically ill children who received treatment were assessed to determine if the significant improvement in relationship distress observed at posttreatment and 5-month follow-up would be maintained at 2-year follow-up. Results demonstrated that improvements in marital functioning were not only maintained but, in some cases, enhanced at the 2-year follow-up. This uncontrolled follow-up study provides initial evidence of the longer-term benefits of EFT.

The idea that couples with chronically ill children are particularly at risk for marital distress has been supported by clinical observation and empirical research. Three recent controlled studies, however, did not find evidence for this increased risk. A possible explanation for the discrepant findings is that these three studies employed Spanier's Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) as a unidimensional measure of marital adjustment. To develop a better understanding of the discrepant findings of risk for marital distress in couples with chronically ill children, the present study examined both the appropriateness of the DAS's published norms as well as the criterion validity of the DAS for use in this population of couples. Three hundred and sixteen parents (158 couples) from a large urban pediatric health care setting completed a survey investigating interest and need to participate in an intervention program for marital distress. Results indicated that this instrument can reliably predict marital distress in this population of couples, however, mean DAS scores are higher than those established by Spanier.

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