Change trajectories classes in couple therapy: How much does relationship satisfaction change?

Abstract

This study combined two samples of couples seeking services at an on-campus training clinic (n = 317 couples). The purpose of the study was to assess trajectories of change in relationship satisfaction across the first six sessions of treatment using latent basis growth mixture models (LBGMM) to determine whether there were distinct trajectory classes, and whether those classes were associated with alliance, and termination status. The results of the LBGMM showed two trajectory classes, one in which relationship satisfaction was initially higher and remained relatively flat, and one in which relationship satisfaction was initially lower and showed increases and decreases. These classes were associated with male partner alliance and termination status, with those in the first class more likely to end with agreement, and those in the second class more likely to end without agreement. These results are discussed in context of literature and clinical implications. Public Significance StatementThis study provides evidence that not all couples change in the same way during couple therapy. There appear to be different change classes of couples in treatment, some who come to therapy with fairly high relationship satisfaction, whose satisfaction does not change much, and another set of couples who come with fairly low relationship satisfaction, whose satisfaction changes but not in a linear way. Although there is change in relationship satisfaction, it is unclear from these results, what couples attended treatment pay attention to that enables them to decide that treatment has been successful.

Different trajectories of relationship satisfaction among rural Black couples following preventive relationship intervention.

“…Specifically, they identified a large group of participants who reported moderate initial relationship satisfaction who experienced large improvements in satisfaction across the workshop, a smaller subset who started lower and reported small increases in satisfaction, and another large subset who began high in satisfaction and reported small increases in satisfaction. Another recent study examined trajectories in relationship satisfaction across the first six sessions of couple therapy (Bartle-Haring, 2022). Results revealed two groups of couples, one in which satisfaction was initially higher and remained stable over time and another in which satisfaction began relatively lower and showed some increases and decreases across sessions.…”