Couple conflict and communication

۞وَٱلۡوَٰلِدَٰتُ يُرۡضِعۡنَ أَوۡلَٰدَهُنَّ حَوۡلَيۡنِ كَامِلَيۡنِۖ لِمَنۡ أَرَادَ أَن يُتِمَّ ٱلرَّضَاعَةَۚ وَعَلَى ٱلۡمَوۡلُودِ لَهُۥ رِزۡقُهُنَّ وَكِسۡوَتُهُنَّ بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۚ لَا تُكَلَّفُ نَفۡسٌ إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۚ لَا تُضَآرَّ وَٰلِدَةُۢ بِوَلَدِهَا وَلَا مَوۡلُودࣱ لَّهُۥ بِوَلَدِهِۦۚ وَعَلَى ٱلۡوَارِثِ مِثۡلُ ذَٰلِكَۗ فَإِنۡ أَرَادَا فِصَالًا عَن تَرَاضࣲ مِّنۡهُمَا وَتَشَاوُرࣲ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡهِمَاۗ وَإِنۡ أَرَدتُّمۡ أَن تَسۡتَرۡضِعُوٓاْ أَوۡلَٰدَكُمۡ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ إِذَا سَلَّمۡتُم مَّآ ءَاتَيۡتُم بِٱلۡمَعۡرُوفِۗ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِيرࣱ‏

Mothers suckle their children for two whole years, if they wish to complete the term, and clothing and maintenance must be borne by the father in a fair manner. No one should be burdened with more than they can bear: no mother shall be made to suffer harm on account of her child, nor any father on account of his. The same duty is incumbent on the father’s heir. If, by mutual consent and consultation, the couple wish to wean [the child], they will not be blamed, nor will there be any blame if you wish to engage a wet nurse, provided you pay as agreed in a fair manner. Be mindful of God, knowing that He sees everything you do

وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَجَابُواْ لِرَبِّهِمۡ وَأَقَامُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَمۡرُهُمۡ شُورَىٰ بَيۡنَهُمۡ وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَٰهُمۡ يُنفِقُونَ

respond to their Lord; keep up the prayer; conduct their affairs by mutual consultation; give to others out of what We have provided for them

فَعَمِيَتۡ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡأَنۢبَآءُ يَوۡمَئِذࣲ فَهُمۡ لَا يَتَسَآءَلُونَ

All arguments will seem obscure to them on that Day; they will not be able to consult one another

فَبِمَا رَحۡمَةࣲ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمۡۖ وَلَوۡ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ ٱلۡقَلۡبِ لَٱنفَضُّواْ مِنۡ حَوۡلِكَۖ فَٱعۡفُ عَنۡهُمۡ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَهُمۡ وَشَاوِرۡهُمۡ فِي ٱلۡأَمۡرِۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمۡتَ فَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَوَكِّلِينَ

By an act of mercy from God, you [Prophet] were gentle in your dealings with them- had you been harsh, or hard-hearted, they would have dispersed and left you- so pardon them and ask forgiveness for them. Consult with them about matters, then, when you have decided on a course of action, put your trust in God: God loves those who put their trust in Him

ءَأَشۡفَقۡتُمۡ أَن تُقَدِّمُواْ بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡ نَجۡوَىٰكُمۡ صَدَقَٰتࣲۚ فَإِذۡ لَمۡ تَفۡعَلُواْ وَتَابَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ فَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَأَطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ

Were you afraid to give charity before consulting the Prophet? Since you did not give charity, and God has relented towards you, you should [at least] observe your prayers, pay the prescribed alms, and obey God and His Messenger: God is well aware of your actions

أَسۡكِنُوهُنَّ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ سَكَنتُم مِّن وُجۡدِكُمۡ وَلَا تُضَآرُّوهُنَّ لِتُضَيِّقُواْ عَلَيۡهِنَّۚ وَإِن كُنَّ أُوْلَٰتِ حَمۡلࣲ فَأَنفِقُواْ عَلَيۡهِنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَضَعۡنَ حَمۡلَهُنَّۚ فَإِنۡ أَرۡضَعۡنَ لَكُمۡ فَـَٔاتُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ وَأۡتَمِرُواْ بَيۡنَكُم بِمَعۡرُوفࣲۖ وَإِن تَعَاسَرۡتُمۡ فَسَتُرۡضِعُ لَهُۥٓ أُخۡرَىٰ

House the wives you are divorcing according to your means, wherever you house yourselves, and do not harass them so as to make their lives difficult. If they are pregnant, maintain them until they are delivered of their burdens; if they suckle your infants, pay them for it. Consult together in a good way- if you make difficulties for one another, another woman may suckle the child for the father––

Mothers shall suckle their children two whole years-for those who desire to complete the suckling. Great is that Lord who is unique in loving kindness and without peer in caressing servants. He be- stows in testing, He is loyal to assurances. If we call Him, He hears, and if we do not, He knows. He is generous, loving, love-showing, and love-increasing; gentle, defect-hiding, excuse-hearing, a good God. His bounty is beyond all bounty, His generosity beyond all generosity, His mercy greater than all mercies, His love not like other loves. The example given of utmost mercy is the mercy of mothers, but God's mercy toward His servants is more than that, and His love is not like their love. Do you not see that He commands mothers to give milk to their children for two complete years, He urges them to nurture them, and He counsels them to take care of them? He does not confine Himself to the

Mothers shall suckle their children for two full years kāmilayn ‘two full ones’ is an adjective for emphasis; this is for such as desire to fulfil the suckling and this is the maximum length of time. It is for the father to provide food for them the mothers and clothe them during the suckling if they be divorced honourably to the best of his ability. No soul is charged save to its capacity its ability; a mother shall not be harmed by her child that is on account of the child by being forced to suckle it if she does not want to; neither should a father be harmed by his child that is on account of it by being charged with more than he is able to bear. The mention of both parents here in relation to the child is intended to show sympathy for both. The heir the one inheriting from his father that is the young man who is the trustee of his father’s property has a similar duty to that of the f

and those who answer their Lord those who respond to what He has summoned them in the way of affirming His Oneness and worship of Him and observe prayer maintaining it regularly and whose courses of action those courses of action that seem good to them are a matter of counsel between them in which they consult one another and do not act hastily and who of what We have bestowed on them expend in obedience to God — such mentioned individuals constitute one category;

So whatever you have been given is but (a passing) enjoyment for this worldly life, but that which is with Allah is better and more lasting for those who believe and put their trust in their Lord (36)And those who shun the greater sins, and Al-Fawahish, and when they are angry, they forgive (37)And those who answer the Call of their Lord, and perform the Salah, and who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation, and who spend of what We have bestowed on them (38)And those who, when an oppressive wrong is done to them, take revenge (39) The Attributes of Those Who deserve that which is with Allah Here Allah points out the insignificance of this worldly life and its transient adornments and luxuries. فَمَا أُوتِيتُمْ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فَمَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ (So whatever you have been given is but (a passing) enjoyment for this worldly life.) means, no matter what you achieve a

It was by a mercy of God that thou wert soft with them. Hadst thou been harsh and hard of heart, they would have scattered from around thee. So pardon them, ask forgiveness for them, and consult with them in the affair. And when thou art resolved, trust in God. Surely God loves those who trust. “O master of masters! O paragon of engendered beings! You are generous and lovingly kind, gentle and ever-merciful to everyone. You drive everyone by customs that hit the mark. You call everyone to the table of exaltedness and convey to everlasting felicity. You are like a father for the orphans, a husband for the widowed. You caress the familiar and you show the road to the estranged. You are mercy itself for the world's folk, a cause of generous giving to all the servants. O master, there is all of this, but take care not to see yourself. Do not consider these as your own acquisitions, for all o

(O ye who believe! When ye hold conference with the messenger�) [58:12-13]. Muqatil ibn Hayyan said: �This was revealed about the rich. This is because they used to go to the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, and converse with him at length. In this fashion, they always beat the poor to the assemblies to the extent that the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, disliked their prolonged sitting and conference. Allah, glorified and exalted is He, therefore revealed this verse and commanded that alms be given upon each conference with the Prophet. As for those who had straitened means, they did not have anything to give for alms, while those who were well off were niggardly. The Companions of the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, found this tough and so a dispensation was revealed�. �Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be well pleased with him, said: �There

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، رضى الله عنها قَالَتْ لَمَّا أُمِرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِتَخْيِيرِ أَزْوَاجِهِ بَدَأَ بِي فَقَالَ ‏"‏ يَا عَائِشَةُ إِنِّي ذَاكِرٌ لَكِ أَمْرًا فَلاَ عَلَيْكِ أَنْ لاَ تَسْتَعْجِلِي حَتَّى تَسْتَأْمِرِي أَبَوَيْكِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ وَقَدْ عَلِمَ أَنَّ أَبَوَاىَ لَمْ يَكُونَا لِيَأْمُرَانِي بِفِرَاقِهِ قَالَتْ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى يَقُولُ‏:‏ ‏(‏ يا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ قُلْ لأَزْوَاجِكَ إِنْ كُنْتُنَّ تُرِدْنَ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا فَتَعَالَيْنَ ‏)‏ حَتَّى بَلَغَ ‏:‏ ‏(‏ للْمُحْسِنَاتِ مِنْكُنَّ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا ‏)‏ فَقُلْتُ فِي أَىِّ هَذَا أَسْتَأْمِرُ أَبَوَىَّ فَإِنِّي أُرِيدُ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَالدَّارَ الآخِرَةَ وَفَعَلَ أَزْوَاجُ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِثْلَ مَا فَعَلْتُ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏ وَقَدْ رُوِيَ هَذَا أَيْضًا عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رضى الله عنها ‏.‏

Narrated 'Aishah [may Allah be pleased with her]:"When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was ordered to tell his wives to make a choice, he started with me. He said: 'O 'Aishah! I am going to mention something to you, but you should not hasten (to reply) until you have consulted your parents.'" She said: "And he knew that my parents would not have ordered me to part from him.'" She said: "Then Allah [Most High] revealed: 'O Prophet! Say to your wives: If you desire the life of this world and its glitter then come...' until reaching: '...for the good doers among you an enormous reward (33:28 & 29).' I said: 'For what should I consult my parents? Indeed I want Allah, His Messenger, and the abode of the Hereafter.' The (remaining) wives of the Prophet (ﷺ) did the same as I did

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّزَّاقِ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لاِبْنِ رَافِعٍ - حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ ذَكْوَانُ مَوْلَى عَائِشَةَ سَمِعْتُ عَائِشَةَ، تَقُولُ سَأَلْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الْجَارِيَةِ يُنْكِحُهَا أَهْلُهَا أَتُسْتَأْمَرُ أَمْ لاَ فَقَالَ لَهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ نَعَمْ تُسْتَأْمَرُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ فَإِنَّهَا تَسْتَحْيِي ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ فَذَلِكَ إِذْنُهَا إِذَا هِيَ سَكَتَتْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported:I asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about a virgin whose marriage is solemnised by her guardian, whether it was necessary or not to consult her. Allah's Messerger (ﷺ) said: Yes, she must be consulted. 'A'isha reported: I told him that she feels shy, whereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Her silence implies her consent

حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي بُكَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ الْمُسْتَشَارُ مُؤْتَمَنٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Narrated AbuHurayrah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: He who is consulted is trustworthy

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدَةَ الضَّبِّيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ ‏:‏ ‏(‏وتُخْفِي فِي نَفْسِكَ مَا اللَّهُ مُبْدِيهِ وَتَخْشَى النَّاسَ ‏)‏ فِي شَأْنِ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ جَحْشٍ جَاءَ زَيْدٌ يَشْكُو فَهَمَّ بِطَلاَقِهَا فَاسْتَأْمَرَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ زَوْجَكَ وَاتَّقِ اللَّهَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏

Narrated Anas:"When this Ayah was revealed: 'But you did hide in yourself that which Allah will make manifest... (33:37)' about Zainab bint Jahsh, Zaid had come to the Prophet (ﷺ) complaining, and he wanted to divorce her, so he consulted with the Prophet (ﷺ). The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Keep your wife to yourself, and have Taqwa of Allah (33:)

حَدَّثَنَا عِيسَى بْنُ حَمَّادٍ الْمِصْرِيُّ، أَنْبَأَنَا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي حُسَيْنٍ، عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ عَدِيٍّ الْكِنْدِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ "‏ الثَّيِّبُ تُعْرِبُ عَنْ نَفْسِهَا وَالْبِكْرُ رِضَاهَا صَمْتُهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Adi bin Adi Al-Kindi that:his father said: “The Messenger of Allah said: 'A previously-married woman can speak for herself, and the consent of a virgin is her silence.' ”

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدِّمَشْقِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نَافِعٍ الصَّائِغُ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، ‏.‏ أَنَّهُ حِينَ هَلَكَ عُثْمَانُ بْنُ مَظْعُونٍ تَرَكَ ابْنَةً لَهُ ‏.‏ قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ فَزَوَّجَنِيهَا خَالِي قُدَامَةُ وَهُوَ عَمُّهَا وَلَمْ يُشَاوِرْهَا وَذَلِكَ بَعْدَ مَا هَلَكَ أَبُوهَا فَكَرِهَتْ نِكَاحَهُ وَأَحَبَّتِ الْجَارِيَةُ أَنْ يُزَوِّجَهَا الْمُغِيرَةَ بْنَ شُعْبَةَ فَزَوَّجَهَا إِيَّاهُ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Ibn Umar that:when Uthman bin Mazun died, he left behind a daughter. Ibn Umar said: “My maternal uncle Qudamah, who was her paternal uncle, married me to her, but he did not consult her. That was after her father had died. She did not like this marriage, and the girl wanted to marry Mughirah bin Shubah, so she married him.”

وكذلك الفدية والخلع التي شرعها الله يخلص كلا من الزوجين من الآخر إذا وقع الشقاق بينهما فجعلوه حيلة للحنث في اليمين وبقاء النكاح والله سبحانه إنما شرعه لقطع النكاح حيث يكون قطعه مصلحة لهما

ثم يسبح الله تعالى ويحمده حتى يبلغ الركن العراقي فعنده يقول اللهم إني أعوذ بك من الشرك الشك والكفر والنفاق والشقاق وسوء الأخلاق وسوء المنظر في الأهل والمال والولد

أما الزوج فعليه مراعاة الاعتدال والأدب في اثني عشر أمرا في الوليمة والمعاشرة والدعابة والسياسة والغيرة والنفقة والتعليم والقسم والتأديب في النشوز والوقاع والولادة والمفارقة بالطلاق

التاسع: النشوز، فإذا كان النشوز من المرأة، فله أن يؤدبها ويحملها على الطاعة قهرا، ولكنه ينبغي أن يتدرج فى تأديبها بتقديم الوعظ والتخويف، فإن لم ينفع

قوله : ويصح بثلاثة شرائط باستواء الحالات عند العبد وسقوط الخصومة مع الخلق والخلاص من المسألة والإلحاح

وذلك : لأن المسألة : فيها ضرب من الخصومة والمنازعة والمحاربة والرجوع عن مالك الضر والنفع إلى من لا يملك لنفسه ضرا ولا نفعا إلا بربه وفيها الغيبة عن المعطي المانع

Evaluating a brief prevention program for improving marital conflict in community families.: Marital conflict is related to well-being in children and adults (E. M. Cummings & P. T. Davies, 2002). Marital conflict is likely most effectively ameliorated before it becomes clinically significant. However, families without significant problems may be unwilling to participate in couples therapies or other lengthy or intensive interventions. Responding to this gap, the authors developed a 4-session psychoeducational program about marital conflict for community families. Couples with children

Parent training with behavioral couples therapy for fathers' alcohol abuse: effects on substance use, parental relationship, parenting, and CPS involvement.: This pilot study examined effects of Parent Skills with Behavioral Couples Therapy (PSBCT) on substance use, parenting, and relationship conflict among fathers with alcohol use disorders. Male participants (N = 30) entering outpatient alcohol treatment, their female partners, and a custodial child (8 to 12 years) were randomly assigned to (a) PSBCT; (b) Behavioral Couples Therapy (BCT); or (c) Individual-Based Treatment (IBT). Children were not actively involved in treatment. Parents completed m

A two-dimensional approach to relationship conflict: meta-analytic findings.: This meta-analysis of 64 studies (5,071 couples) used a metacoding system to categorize observed couple conflict behaviors into categories differing in terms of valence (positive to negative) and intensity (high to low) and resulting in five behavioral categories: hostility, distress, withdrawal, problem solving, and intimacy. Aggregate effect sizes indicated that women were somewhat more likely to display hostility, distress, and intimacy during conflict, whereas men were somewhat more likely t

Fathers' and mothers' attachment styles, couple conflict, parenting quality, and children's behavior problems: an intervention test of mediation.: A diverse sample of 239 primarily low-income couples participated in a random controlled trial of the Supporting Father Involvement couples group intervention. In this report, we examined the value of adding measures of fathers' attachment style and parenting to mothers' measures in order to explain variations in children's behavior problems. We also tested the hypothesis that the link between intervention-induced reductions in couple conflict and reductions in anxious/harsh parenting can be exp

Effects of a Program to Promote High Quality Parenting by Divorced and Separated Fathers.: This paper reports on the effects on parenting and on children's mental health problems and competencies from a randomized trial of a parenting program for divorced and separated fathers. The program, New Beginnings Program-Dads (NBP-Dads), includes ten group sessions (plus two phone sessions) which promote parenting skills to increase positive interactions with children, improve father-child communication, use of effective discipline strategies, and skills to protect children from exposure to i

Long-term interparental conflict behavior and knowledge change after a brief family intervention.: To address a gap in the translational research on marital and family conflict intervention, we used a series of multilevel models to examine how interparental constructive conflict behavior, conflict resolution, and conflict knowledge improved up to 3 years postintervention in the Family Communication Project (FCP). The FCP was an experimental, longitudinal intervention focused on family conflict, communication, and adolescent adjustment. Participants consisted of adolescents and their two prima

Positive parenting program (triple P) for families of adolescents with type 1 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial of self-directed teen triple P.

Objectives: Adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have shown improvements in glycemic control and family relations, via clinic-based family interventions. However, reach and clinician availability may be limited. We evaluated a self-directed intervention for this purpose. Methods: Recruitment for a randomized controlled trial (RCT) occurred through national advertising with diabetes charities and conducted with online data collection. Parents of 11-17-year-olds with diabetes were randomized to usual care (n = 37) or intervention (n = 42) using computerized block randomization. The 10-week intervention comprised the Self-directed Teen Triple P workbook (10 × 1 hr modules) plus chronic illness tip sheet. Primary outcomes of diabetes-related family conflict and parenting stress were assessed pre and post-intervention. Results: Intention-to-treat analyses (n = 79) identified significantly i…

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The alliance in couple therapy: Partner influence, early change, and alliance patterns in a naturalistic sample.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between the alliance and outcome in couple therapy and examine whether the alliance predicted outcomes over and above early change. The authors also investigated partner influence and gender and sought to identify couple alliance patterns that predicted couple outcomes. Method: The authors examined the alliances and outcomes at posttreatment and follow-up of 250 couples seeking treatment for marital distress in a naturalistic setting. The Session Rating Scale was used to measure the alliance; the Outcome Rating Scale and Locke Wallace Marital Adjustment Scale were used to measure outcomes. Couples were White, Euro-Scandinavian, and heterosexual, with a mean age of 38.5 years and average number of years together of 11.8. On a subsample (n = 118) that included couples with 4 or more sessions, the authors investigated the …

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A randomized pilot study of the Engaging Moms Program for family drug court.

In response to the need for effective drug court interventions, the effectiveness of the Engaging Moms Program (EMP) versus Intensive Case Management Services (ICMS) on multiple outcomes for mothers enrolled in family drug court was investigated. In this intent-to-treat study, mothers (N = 62) were randomly assigned to either usual drug court care or the Engaging Moms drug court program. Mothers were assessed at intake and 3, 6, 12, and 18 months following intake. Results indicated that at 18 months post drug court enrollment, 77% of mothers assigned to EMP versus 55% of mothers assigned to ICMS had positive child welfare dispositions. There were statistically significant time effects for both intervention groups on multiple outcomes including substance use, mental health, parenting practices, and family functioning. EMP showed equal or better improvement than ICMS on all outcomes. The r…

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Self-regulatory failure and intimate partner violence perpetration.

Five studies tested the hypothesis that self-regulatory failure is an important predictor of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration. Study 1 participants were far more likely to experience a violent impulse during conflictual interaction with their romantic partner than they were to enact a violent behavior, suggesting that self-regulatory processes help individuals refrain from perpetrating IPV when they experience a violent impulse. Study 2 participants high in dispositional self-control were less likely to perpetrate IPV, in both cross-sectional and residualized-lagged analyses, than were participants low in dispositional self-control. Study 3 participants verbalized more IPV-related cognitions if they responded immediately to partner provocations than if they responded after a 10-s delay. Study 4 participants whose self-regulatory resources were experimentally depleted were mor…

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Directionality of change in youth anxiety treatment involving parents: an initial examination.

This randomized clinical trial compared cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with minimal parent involvement to CBT with active parent involvement in a sample of 119 youths (7-16 years old; 33.6% Caucasian, 61.3% Latino) with anxiety disorders. The dynamics of change between youth anxiety and parent variables (positive-negative behaviors toward the child, conflict in the parent-youth relationship, and parental anxiety) in both treatment conditions over pretreatment, posttreatment, and 12-month follow-up were also examined. Results indicated that youth anxiety was significantly reduced with both treatments and that the dynamics of change may not solely flow from parent to youth but also from youth to parent. Findings highlight the need for research on directionality and mechanisms of change to move from evidence-based treatments toward evidence-based explanations of treatment outcome.

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Perpetrator Risk Markers for Intimate Terrorism and Situational Couple Violence: A Meta-Analysis.

Johnson developed a typology of intimate partner violence (IPV) which includes two different categories of violence: situational couple violence (SCV) and intimate terrorism (IT). Johnson proposed that IT is more likely to be found in clinical samples (e.g., batterer intervention programs or domestic violence shelters) compared to nonclinical (general population) samples. This meta-analysis (n = 149 studies; k = 216 effect sizes) examines differences in the strengths of IPV risk markers in clinical and nonclinical samples of male perpetrators and female victims. All variables (communication and conflict resolution, demand-withdraw patterns, relationship dissatisfaction, controlling behaviors, jealousy, patriarchal beliefs, power in the relationship, and stalking) were expected to be significantly related to IPV for both clinical and nonclinical populations. However, specific variables in…

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Behaviorally-based couple therapies reduce emotional arousal during couple conflict.

Emotional arousal during relationship conflict is a major target for intervention in couple therapies. The current study examines changes in conflict-related emotional arousal in 104 couples that participated in a randomized clinical trial of two behaviorally-based couple therapies. Emotional arousal is measured using mean fundamental frequency of spouse's speech, and changes in emotional arousal from pre-to post-therapy are examined using multilevel models. Overall emotional arousal, the rate of increase in emotional arousal at the beginning of conflict, and the duration of emotional arousal declined for all couples. Reductions in overall arousal were stronger for TBCT wives than for IBCT wives but not significantly different for IBCT and TBCT husbands. Reductions in the rate of initial arousal were larger for TBCT couples than IBCT couples. Reductions in duration were larger for IBCT c…

matched on Marital Therapy (mesh), couple conflict (text)

Shortened sleep fuels inflammatory responses to marital conflict: Emotion regulation matters.

Sleep problems can boost inflammation and may jeopardize interpersonal functioning, risks that may be magnified in couples. This observational study examined the effects of self-reported recent sleep duration on couples' inflammation, inflammatory responses to a problem discussion, interpersonal behavior, and use of emotion regulation strategies (emotion expression, cognitive reappraisal) during conflict. People who slept less had higher stimulated interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) production after the marital problem discussion than those who slept more. However, using emotion expression and cognitive reappraisal strategies during conflict protected couples who slept less from inflammatory reactivity. Specifically, people's short sleep did not relate to inflammatory increases when they expressed their own feelings more or when their partner reappraised or expr…

matched on Family Conflict (mesh), marital conflict (text)

Combined brief psychosexual intervention after mastectomy: effects on sexuality, body image, and psychological well-being.

Background: Mastectomy poses a severe threat to body image and sexuality, interfering with the psychological well-being of both the patient and her partner. Although many psychotherapeutic approaches have been assessed and found effective in such patients, few studies have assessed couple or sex therapy in mastectomy patients. Methods: We report on a structured combination of brief couples and sex therapy (CBPI) used in 20 women with in situ breast cancer and mastectomy and their partners. An equal number of mastectomy patients were used as controls. Results: CBPI patients showed significant improvement in depression and state anxiety scores, as well as in body image, satisfaction with relationship, presumed attractiveness to their partner, orgasm frequency and communicating their desire. Discussion/conclusions: CBPI can be used as an effective alternative to individual or group psychoth…

matched on Marital Therapy (mesh), Communication (mesh)

Couple and family therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) refers to an anxiety or trauma- and stressor-related disorder that is linked to personal or vicarious exposure to traumatic events. PTSD is associated with a range of adverse individual outcomes (e.g. poor health, suicidality) and significant interpersonal problems which include difficulties in intimate and family relationships. A range of couple- and family-based treatments have been suggested as appropriate interventions for families impacted by PTSD. Objectives: The objectives of this review were to: (1) assess the effects of couple and family therapies for adult PTSD, relative to 'no treatment' conditions, 'standard care', and structured or non-specific individual or group psychological therapies; (2) examine the clinical characteristics of studies that influence the relative effects of these therapies; and (3) critically evaluate met…

matched on Marital Therapy (mesh)

Couple therapy for depression.

Background: Couple therapy for depression has the twofold aim of modifying negative interaction patterns and increasing mutually supportive aspects of intimate relationships, changing the interpersonal context of depression. Couple therapy is included in several guidelines among the suggested treatments for depression. Objectives: 1. The main objective was to examine the effects of couple therapy compared to individual psychotherapy for depression.2. Secondary objectives were to examine the effects of couple therapy compared to drug therapy and no/minimal treatment for depression. Search methods: The Cochrane Common Mental Disorders Group Controlled Trials Register (CCMDCTR), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid) and PsycINFO (Ovid) were searched to 19 February 2018. Relevant journals and reference lists were checked. Selection criter…

matched on Marital Therapy (mesh)

Self-help interventions for parenting couples experiencing conflict or relationship distress: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Children exposed to high levels of couple distress are at increased risk for a range of adjustment problems, including behavioral, emotional, and academic difficulties. These relational burdens can also interfere with adult mental health, the coparenting relationship, and the capacity to provide warm and consistent caregiving. Despite these challenges, many couples delay seeking help until their relationship is seriously deteriorated. This randomized controlled trial investigates the effects of two flexible self-help interventions: the OurRelationship program (OR) and couple-focused bibliotherapy (BT). We hypothesize that the OR will outperform BT which in turn will outperform a waitlist (WL) control in reducing communication conflict-the primary outcome-between baseline and post-intervention. We hypothesize that any couple intervention (OR or BT) will outperform WL in reduci…

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Marital quality and survivorship: slowed recovery for breast cancer patients in distressed relationships.

Background: Although marital distress has been implicated in difficulties with adjustment to a breast cancer diagnosis, its long-term effects, especially on physical recovery, are unknown. Methods: Longitudinal data from newly diagnosed breast cancer patients (N=100) who were married or cohabiting were used. Patients were assessed after diagnosis and surgery (baseline) and then reassessed every 4 or 6 months for the next 5 years. Women in stable, distressed relationships (n=28) were compared with those in stable, nondistressed relationships (n=72). Stress, health behavior, and health outcomes were examined using mixed-effects modeling. Results: Overall, marital distress was associated with slowed recovery trajectories and poor outcomes. At baseline, both groups had equivalent, high levels of stress, but diverged thereafter. Stress declined more slowly for the Distressed group, and by 5 y…

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Intranasal oxytocin increases positive communication and reduces cortisol levels during couple conflict.

Background: In nonhuman mammals, the neuropeptide oxytocin has repeatedly been shown to increase social approach behavior and pair bonding. In particular, central nervous oxytocin reduces behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to social stress and is suggested to mediate the rewarding aspects of attachment in highly social species. However, to date there have been no studies investigating the effects of central oxytocin mechanisms on behavior and physiology in human couple interaction. Methods: In a double-blind placebo-controlled design, 47 heterosexual couples (total n = 94) received oxytocin or placebo intranasally before a standard instructed couple conflict discussion in the laboratory. The conflict session was videotaped and coded for verbal and nonverbal interaction behavior (e.g., eye contact, nonverbal positive behavior, and self-disclosure). Salivary cortisol was repeatedly me…

matched on couple conflict (text), Communication (mesh)

Study protocol for a randomized clinical trial of a fatherhood intervention for African American non-resident fathers: Can we improve father and child outcomes?

Purpose: African American (AA) fathers who live apart from their children face multiple obstacles to consistent and positive involvement with their children. Consequently, significant numbers of children are bereft of their father's positive involvement. Intervention research that is explicitly focused on promoting the positive involvement of non-resident AA fathers with their young children is limited. The purpose of this article is to describe the study protocol of a randomized trial (RCT) designed to test the Building Bridges to Fatherhood program against a financial literacy comparison condition; and discuss early implementation challenges. Methods: Fathers (n=180) are recruited to attend 10 group meetings, reimbursed for transportation, given dinner and activity vouchers for spending time with their child, and incentivized with a $40 gift card at each data collection time point. Mot…

matched on Communication (mesh), Father-Child Relations (mesh)

Effects of couple conflict on alcohol craving: Does intimate partner violence play a role?

Objective: Social stress in the form of maladaptive relationship conflict is a common precipitant to alcohol misuse and problems. Research has also established a clear causal association between alcohol misuse and relationship conflict in the form of intimate partner violence (IPV). Despite the robust literature linking relationship conflict and problematic drinking using survey methodology, no laboratory studies have examined the proximal association between relationship conflict and alcohol craving among couples, or the influence of IPV perpetration and victimization on this association. Method: As part of a larger randomized controlled trial, 30 different-sex community couples with substance misuse completed a laboratory conflict resolution task. Participants reported subjective alcohol craving on a Likert-type scale immediately, before, and after the task. Conflict behaviors were cod…

matched on couple conflict (text), conflict resolution (text)

Evaluation of an Online Gottman's Psychoeducational Intervention to Improve Marital Communication among Iranian Couples.

Amounting evidence indicates that insufficient knowledge of marital communication skills leads to destructive interactions and poor marital adjustments in couples, especially during stressful situations. Despite the high effectiveness of Gottman's psychoeducational intervention, there is a lack of study on the online Gottman's psychoeducation intervention (O-GPI) to improve marital communication and dyadic adjustments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of O-GPI on the improvement of marital communication patterns among Iranian couples. Method: The study followed a single-blind parallel group in a randomized controlled trial using an experimental longitudinal design, comprising 72 heterosexual couples living in Shiraz, Iran, with a 1-7-year marital age and no severe marital problems. The experimental group received eight consecutive O-GPIs via the Zoom platform, whil…

matched on Communication (mesh), demand-withdraw (text)

Forgiveness-reconciliation and communication-conflict-resolution interventions versus retested controls in early married couples.

The first 6 months of marriage are optimal for marriage enrichment interventions. The Hope-Focused Approach to couple enrichment was presented as two 9-hr interventions--(a) Handling Our Problems Effectively (HOPE), which emphasized communication and conflict resolution, and (b) Forgiveness and Reconciliation through Experiencing Empathy (FREE). HOPE and FREE were compared with repeated assessment controls. Couples were randomly assigned and were assessed at pretreatment (t1); 1 month posttreatment (t2) and at 3- (t3), 6- (t4), and 12-month (t5) follow-ups using self-reports. In addition to self-report measures, couples were assessed at t1, t2, and t5 using salivary cortisol, and behavioral coding of decision making. Of 179 couples who began the study, 145 cases were analyzed. Both FREE and HOPE produced lasting positive changes on self-reports. For cortisol reactivity, HOPE and FREE red…

matched on Communication (mesh), conflict resolution (text)

Cancer-related communication, relationship intimacy, and psychological distress among couples coping with localized prostate cancer.

Introduction: The present study evaluated intimacy as a mechanism for the effects of relationship-enhancing (self-disclosure, mutual constructive communication) and relationship-compromising communication (holding back, mutual avoidance, and demand-withdraw communication) on couples' psychological distress. Methods: Seventy-five men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer in the past year and their partners completed surveys about communication, intimacy, and distress. Results: Multi-level models with the couple as unit of analyses indicated that the association between mutual constructive communication, mutual avoidance, and patient demand-partner withdraw and distress could be accounted for by their influence on relationship intimacy. Intimacy did not mediate associations between self-disclosure, holding back, and partner demand-patient withdraw communication and distress. Discussion/…

matched on Communication (mesh), demand-withdraw (text)

Couple and family involvement in adult mental health treatment: a systematic review.

We reviewed randomized controlled trials conducted in the United States from January, 1996 through December, 2011 that examined family interventions for adult mental health conditions. We identified 51 articles (39 trials) evaluating 21 different family interventions. Findings for behavioral couple or family therapy (BCT/BFT) and community reinforcement and training (CRAFT) for substance use disorders were each pooled separately for examination in meta-analyses. Findings suggest BCT/BFT reduced substance use (small-to-moderate effects) and improved relationship adjustment (large effects) compared to individually-oriented treatments. CRAFT increased treatment initiation three-fold but did not improve substance use or family functioning over alternative family interventions. Family focused therapy for bipolar disorder improved symptoms over less intensive treatments with mixed findings whe…

matched on Marital Therapy (mesh)

Assisting couples to develop healthy relationships: effects of couples relationship education on cortisol.

Introduction: Couple conflict in unhappy marriages is suggested to impair individual health via chronic psychophysiological stress reactions in couples' everyday lives. As a consequence, we hypothesized that standard couples relationship education (CRE) would decrease psychophysiological stress, namely salivary cortisol levels, during couple conflict in the laboratory as compared to a standard psychological stress paradigm. We considered cortisol to be of particular interest in this context, as it mediates endocrine and immune responses to stress, and thus might influence couples' health. Methods: Salivary cortisol was repeatedly investigated in 61 couples during (a) a standard psychological stress test with no relevance for the couples, and (b) a standard couple conflict discussion in the laboratory before and after CRE. In addition, increases in self-evaluated relationship quality were…

matched on Marital Therapy (mesh), couple conflict (text)

Effects of family-focused therapy on suicidal ideation and behavior in youth at high risk for bipolar disorder.

Background: Youth who are at clinical and familial risk for bipolar disorder (BD) often have significant suicidal ideation (SI). In a randomized trial, we examined whether family-focused therapy (FFT) is associated with reductions in SI and suicidal behaviors in high-risk youth. Methods: Participants (ages 9-17 years) met diagnostic criteria for unspecified BD or major depressive disorder with active mood symptoms and had at least one relative with BD type I or II. Participants were randomly allocated to 12 sessions in 4 months of FFT or 6 sessions in 4 months of psychoeducation (enhanced care, EC), with pharmacotherapy as needed. Clinician- and child-rated assessments of mood, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and family conflict were obtained at baseline and 4-6 month intervals over 1-4 years. Results: Participants (N=127; mean 13.2±2.6 yrs., 82 female) were followed over an average of …

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A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Getting Our Hearts Right Program and the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program in a Sample of Iranian Couples.

For several decades, to enhance relationship quality, marriage and relationship education (MRE) programs have focused on teaching communication skills and conflict management. However, new explanations reveal that the effectiveness of communication skills in MRE programs may largely depend on virtues. Through a randomized controlled trial (RCT), the present study examined the effectiveness of the Getting Our Hearts Right Program (GOHR; a virtue-based approach) and the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP; a skill-based approach). Forty-five eligible couples (i.e., 90 individuals) were randomly assigned to (a) GOHR intervention condition, (b) PREP intervention condition, or (c) wait-list control condition. The couples filled out the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale at baseline, postintervention, and 3-month follow-up phases. The results of both postintervention and 3-month…

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A randomized clinical trial of a brief, problem-focused couple therapy for depression.

The aim of this study was to evaluate a brief couple therapy for depression targeted for mildly discordant or nondiscordant couples struggling with the negative impact of depression. Subjects included women with major depression or dysthymia who had husbands without clinical depression. Thirty-five couples were randomly assigned to the 5-week intervention (n=18) or a waitlist control group (n=17), and followed up 1 and 3 months later. Results showed a significant effect of treatment in reducing women's depressive symptoms, with 67% of women improved and 40% to 47% recovered at follow-up, compared to only 17% improved and 8% recovered among women in the control group. Treatment was also effective in secondarily improving women's marital satisfaction, reducing husbands' levels of psychological distress and depression-specific burden, and improving both partners' understanding and acceptanc…

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Comparing Sildenafil alone vs. Sildenafil plus brief couple sex therapy on erectile dysfunction and couples' sexual and marital quality of life: a pilot study.

Treatment options for managing erectile dysfunction (ED) include medical and psychological interventions. The present study examined the effectiveness of a drug-only vs. combined treatment approach on erectile function as well as other domains of sexual function and cognition, couple intimacy and adaptation, and treatment satisfaction. Couples with ED were randomly assigned to either Viagra-only (VO) or Viagra plus sex therapy (VST). Sexual and relationship variables were measured at specific time points. Despite limitations, study findings extend previous conclusions and provide empirical support for the effectiveness and satisfaction with the combined treatment approach for treating men with ED of mixed etiology.

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