Brief Interventions for Couples: An Integrative Review

Abstract

Objective To review brief couple interventions (BCIs), with a focus on contributions to theory, development, and implications for practice. Background For decades, scholars have observed the individual and societal costs of relationship instability. Due to these costs, state and federal agencies have invested millions of dollars in relationship and marriage education programs with the hope of promoting the positive effects associated with healthy relationships. However, the plausibility of many of these interventions has been challenged, suggesting a need for renewed focus on different approaches to promote relationship quality and stability throughout the life course. Method We searched numerous databases to review brief interventions used in multiple disciplines. This review resulted in 12 studies ranging from samples of young adults to established couples. Results We found several interventions using distinct delivery methods and theoretical frameworks. These interventions targeted numerous individual and relational processes, such as self‐esteem, distress related to conflict, and gratitude that promoted healthy relationship functioning. Conclusion We provide evidence that brief interventions influence individual and relational processes by targeting factors relevant to couples across the life course. We ultimately find support for the utility of the vulnerability–stress–adaptation model when developing interventions for couples. Implications On the basis of our review, we end with numerous practical suggestions for clinicians to adopt when developing programs to promote healthy relationships.

Expectations and Experiences of Couples Receiving Therapy Through Videoconferencing: A Qualitative Study

“…There are a number of interventions for couples that have displayed efficacy when tested with face-to-face delivery (Wadsworth and Markman, 2012;Kanter and Schramm, 2017). However, due to the heightened complexity associated with conducting couples therapy, there are a number of barriers that may prevent couples in need from accessing this service.…”

What Relationship Researchers and Relationship Practitioners Wished the Other Knew: Integrating Discovery and Practice in Couple Relationships

“…As we have previously discussed, recent research and more rigorous studies show the limited effectiveness of RME programs that are based primarily on teaching communication and problem-solving skills. With others (Kanter, 2016;Kanter & Schramm, 2018), we argue that the field of RME needs to shift from a primarily skills-focused approach to more of a balanced focus on principles or guidelines that are research-based to help promote and build on the positives that are already occurring in relationships. To this end, the time is ripe to shift from prescribing skills, to exploring new possibilities including conveying general relational principles to aid couples.…”

“…In line with principle-based approaches, some RME programs are turning toward more simple, brief interventions. Inspired by the unexpected findings discussed earlier by Rogge et al (2013), including the improvement in relationship quality from the RA task of watching and discussing videos, other brief interventions have emerged (for review, see Kanter & Schramm, 2018). These types of interventions may have equal or larger impacts on relationships than intensive programs because they promote small changes in perspectives that subsequently influence peoples' regular activities (Walton, 2014).…”

The Effectiveness of EMOVERE: An Emotional Education Program for Young Couples

“…Therefore, emotional education of the couple from youth is a social need that has to be covered through the implementation of validated and effective interventions [ 39 ]. Nevertheless, there are some methodological weaknesses in the demonstration of the effectiveness of a large part of the intervention programs applied in couples: evaluation with valid and reliable quantitative data, comparison of an experimental group with a control group or longitudinal evaluation of the effects, to give some examples [ 44 ]. Some of these interventions have been carried out with populations with specific characteristics, such as couples with a new-born [ 45 ], with fertility difficulties [ 46 ] or couples in which one of the members has a chronic disease [ 47 ].…”

“…To promote the effectiveness of interventions, as well as a careful methodology, it is imperative to base them on sound theoretical frameworks [ 44 , 51 ]. The EMOVERE program is based on the theory of vulnerability–stress–adaptation, as well as on the contrasted model of emotion regulation which in turn has been adapted to the emotional inter-regulation of couples.…”