Research investigating how same-sex military couples conjointly experience the deployment process is absent. This study employed transcendental phenomenological methods (Moustakas, 1994) to explore the lived experiences of same-sex military couples and the deployment process. In-depth, conjoint interviews were conducted with eighteen individuals: five female couples and four male couples, representing four military branches, Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. Three thematic categories emerged that revealed the essence of the couples' experiences of deployment: deployment experience is context-dependent, challenges associated with sexual minority status, and learned resilience. Though couples experienced a host of unique challenges related to their minority status and restrictive policies, couples developed adaptive coping strategies that served to mediate the impact of distinctive barriers and restrictions. Findings demonstrate the vulnerability and resilience of same-sex military couples during deployment. Political, clinical, and research implications are discussed. / Master of Science

Studies exploring the impact of work-related traumatic stress on law enforcement couples are limited. Such studies suggest that when work-related traumatic stress impacts law enforcement professionals, their spouses may experience secondary traumatic stress and serve in a supportive role following trauma exposure. Grounded in secondary traumatic stress theory, this study explored the impact of work-related traumatic stress on law enforcement couples. Semi-structured dyadic interviews were conducted with law enforcement couples (N = 7) using transcendental phenomenology. Three themes emerged within the data that captured the essence of law enforcement couple experiences of work-related traumatic stress: (1) the stressful nature of the law enforcement profession, (2) the impact of work-related traumatic stress on the couple relationship, and (3) resilient couple characteristics. The impact of work-related traumatic stress manifested in couple's communication, role responsibilities and parenting, and commitment to the relationship and the profession. Whereas the impact of work-related traumatic events differed for the law enforcement professional and their spouse based on the type of traumatic event, overall work-related traumatic stress led couples to engage in a meaning making process and activation of resilient couple coping characteristics. Given the significant impact that work-related traumatic stress has on the law enforcement couple dyad, couples therapy interventions are needed for law enforcement professionals and their spouses. / Master of Science / Law enforcement professionals often experience symptoms of traumatic stress as a result of repeated exposure to work-related traumatic events. Spouses of law enforcement professionals may also experience secondary traumatic stress and serve in a supportive role following work-related traumatic stress exposure. This study explored the impact of work-related traumatic stress on law enforcement couples. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with law enforcement couples (N = 7) using transcendental phenomenology. Couples experienced work-related stress related to the nature of the law enforcement professional's work outside of the instances of work-related traumatic events. Job demands and expectations of police culture contributed to work-related stress along with the stress of work-related traumatic events. Three themes emerged within the data that captured the essence of law enforcement couple experiences including: (1) the stressful nature of the law enforcement profession, (2) the impact of work-related traumatic stress on the couple relationship, and (3) resilient couple characteristics. The impact of work-related traumatic stress manifested in couple's communication, role responsibilities and parenting, and commitment to the relationship and the profession. While the impact of work-related traumatic events differed for the law enforcement professional and their spouse based on the type of traumatic event, overall work-related traumatic stress led couples to engage in a meaning making process and activation of resilient couple coping characteristics. Given the significant impact that work-related traumatic stress has on the law enforcement couple dyad, interventions are needed for law enforcement couples.

This was an exploratory study of the experiences of 26 clients and 5 therapists participating in a research project testing a manualized multi-couple treatment program for domestic violence. The purpose of this study was to understand the experience of clients and therapists in participating in a research study with the hope of informing researchers who are seeking to make manualized treatment programs more effective. Despite a low level of conscious awareness of the research project, clients and their therapists provided a rich set of data. From the clients, the themes revealed views on how little the research project seemed to affect their therapy, and how the research project reinforced their learning and changes and allowed them to feel they were making a contribution to others. The therapists felt challenged to balance their roles with the research project's requirements. Theoretical fit was not an issue, but their comments inform the body of research on research participation. The therapists reported the model worked well, but early on they had to struggle with components. The study found that clients appreciate being asked their views through the treatment. Both therapists and clients recommend using a thorough check-in/check-out process with domestic violence. Therapists recommended that any fielded programs should include an ongoing evaluation process. Also, when clients and therapists believe that participating in a research project may help others and that they are participating together in something special, the therapeutic process may be enhanced. These elements appear to be easily incorporated into conventional therapy and may generate the same beneficial effect observed in this project. / Master of Science

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine differences between dropouts and completers in a domestic violence focused couples treatment (DVFCT) program. Fifty-eight men met the criteria of participating in at least one couples session for domestic violence. Data was analyzed with t-test and chi-squares. The dropout rate was 36 percent. Three variables — age, race, and marital status — were significant predictors of dropping out from the program. White men who were over 30 and married were found significantly more likely to complete treatment than were nonwhite single men younger than 30. Other variables that approached significance were employment, parental status, living arrangement and prior treatment. That is, employed men who lived with their partners, had children with their partners, and had prior treatment tended to stay in treatment. Stages of Change using the URICA and the URICA-DV measures and level of violence at intake using the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale were not found to differentiate between dropouts and completers in this sample. Other variables examined but not found as significant discriminators between completers and dropouts of DVFCT were education and referral source. A literature review of dropouts in therapy, marriage and family therapy, batterer programs and DVFCT; as well as literature on stages of change, is included. Further discussion and recommendations for further research and for improving domestic violence focused couples treatment is included. / Master of Science

The purpose of this multiple case study was to gather information about female aggression in situationally violent relationship. The interviews and surveys of four African-American couples were coded and analyzed to gather information about the impact of female aggression on the relationship, the contextual factors surrounding female aggression, and the motivations for female aggression. The results indicated that female aggression impacts the couple relationship in several ways. First, female aggression is typically minimized by both partners. Another impact on the relationship is that it leads to further escalation of aggression, as well as leading the couple to question their commitment to each other. Female aggression also appeared to become part of the couples struggle for power. The study also identified substance abuse and a family history of abuse as two of the contextual factors present with female aggression. The motives for female aggression that were identified included frustration, wanting control over the relationship, abandonment and retribution. One couple identified self-defense as a motivation for female aggression. Implications for future research and for clinical practice are offered. / Master of Science

Le présente recherche vise à étudier la relation entre le type d'habitation et la perception des attitudes des couples avec ou sans enfants. La procédure comprend l'analyse de trois échelles de mesure soit, l'échelle de satisfaction conjugale, de la perception mutuelle des attitudes conjugales et de satisfaction de l'habitation. Les 131 couples de notre échantillon sont divisés en deux groupes, les résidents d'habitations verticales et les résidents d'habitations horizontales. Les analyses des échelles de mesure sont comparées chez les deux groupes. Les résultats ne sont pas significatifs pour toutes les variables. Ils ne permettent pas de conclure que le type d'habitation influence la satisfaction conjugale, la satisfaction de l'habitation et le degré de congruence des perceptions des attitudes conjugales. Plusieurs facteurs qui pourraient expliquer ces résultats sont discutés.

Although honesty is valued in intimate relationships, there has not been significant research on the range and different types of honesty and deception and their impacts on couples. The purpose of this study was to explore and define the role honesty plays in intimate relationships by examining the spectrum of honest and deceptive behaviors as described by participants. The study utilized qualitative methods to examine how romantic partners describe various types of honesty and deception in their relationships and the influence these have. The data was taken from part of a larger project on healthy and unhealthy relationships where semi-structured interviews were conducted from a diverse sample recruited through convenience and theoretical sampling. Constructivist grounded theory methods were used to code, generate, and refine prominent categories from the data. A model was created to describe and display the different motivations and types of honesty and deception. A better understanding of the role honesty plays in a healthy relationship can equip clinicians to recognize deception and help couples strengthen trust and connection. Understanding how honesty and deception are experienced in relationships can also help couples be more aware of how their actions and their partner's actions impact their relationship. Clinical implications from the study include suggestions for systemic therapists to assess for and explore honesty and deception in the motivations, types, and behaviors within intimate relationships. These can be applied in therapy to fortify trust and strengthen couples.

La présente étude vise à déterminer l'existence d'une relation entre différentes dimensions affectives, symptomatologiques, personologiques et l'ajustement dyadique. Pour ce faire, 201 couples francophones, âgés en moyenne de 34.9 ans ont été recrutés. Les résultats laissent entrevoir des différences notables en fonction du sexe et du degré de détresse conjugale des participants. En effet, les femmes éprouvent plus d'insécurité, d'injustice, de dévalorisation et d'impuissance que les hommes. Elles font aussi davantage appel à des variables affectives comme facteurs prévisionnels de leur degré de satisfaction conjugale. Les conjoints insatisfaits, quant à eux, se démarquent des partenaires satisfaits par la présence de forts sentiments d'insécurité, d'injustice, de dévalorisation et d'impuissance. Ils font également référence à un modèle d'explication plus restreint pour rendre compte des fluctuations de leur degré de détresse conjugale.

Les demandes et les dispositions au changement de 24 couples insatisfaits et de 24 couples satisfaits sont comparées dans deux études. Elles sont obtenues sous forme de verbatim à l'aide du Questionnaire sur les changements de comportements (QCC) (Pléchaty, 1988b). La première étude compare le nombre de demandes et le nombre de dispositions au changement et révèle que les couples insatisfaits formulent plus de demandes de changements mais qu'ils sont moins disposés à faire les changements demandés. La deuxième étude compare 1'accord entre les demandes et les dispositions au changement et les résultats indiquent que les couples des deux groupes sont assez semblables. Cependant, plus de conjoints de couples insatisfaits sont en accord sur 1'amélioration de la communication chez l'homme, sur 1'augmentation de la disponibilité de la femme et sur le fait qu'elle doive aussi apporter des changements à 1'intérieur du domaine «couple».

Relationship separation is prevalent in Western society and ongoing problems for adults and children are common, resulting in high personal and social costs. A literature review revealed that no existing measure of separation adjustment assessed multiple domains of separation adjustment, and was psychometrically sound. Additionally, a literature review revealed that few studies have investigated change in separation adjustment over time using cognitive predictors. This thesis is a program of research investigating separation adjustment in recently separated adults. Five studies were conducted with three main aims: (1) to develop a multidimensional, psychometrically reliable and valid measure of separation adjustment; (2) to assess the trajectory of separation adjustment over time; and (3) to test the hypothesis that certain cognitive variables predict the trajectory of separation adjustment. A conceptualisation of separation adjustment was developed consisting of the following five domains: Connection to the former partner, loneliness and emotional negativity (referred to as lonely negativity), parenting negotiation, parent-child relationship and general psychological adjustment. The Problems After Separation Test (PAST) was developed to reflect the first four of the five domains. In Study 1, 268 participants separated for up to 18 months, were recruited to assess the factor structure and internal consistency of the PAST. In Study 2, 209 participants were recruited to assess the stability of the factor structure, and temporal stability. In Study 3, participants from Study 2 were used to obtain convergent and divergent validity. The results of the first three studies showed that separation adjustment is a multidimensional construct, and that the PAST is a reliable and valid measure of separation adjustment. Study 4 aimed to assess the trajectory of separation adjustment over a 6 month period using the PAST and another measure of general psychological adjustment. Participants from both Study 1 and 2 were used, and a longitudinal cohort sequential design was employed. The sample consisted of three cohorts: those separated for up to six months, those separated between 6 and 12 months, and those separated between 12 and 18 months. The results showed that connection to the former partner, lonely negativity, and general psychological adjustment improved over time, but parent-child relationships and parenting negotiation were stable, and chronic parenting problems were common. Men showed greater parent-child relationship problems than women, possibly because men were most likely to be the non-resident parent. Participants separating from a de facto relationship reported only slightly more problems on lonely negativity, general psychological distress and parent-child relationships than participants separating from a marriage. Study 4 also provides information on clinical and reliable change, suggested cut-offs that might be used to define normal, moderate and severe adjustment problems, and attrition analyses. Using participants from Study 2, Study 5 aimed to assess cognitive predictors of change on connection to the former partner, lonely negativity and psychological distress. The cognitions assessed at each data collection were dysfunctional attitudes, attachment style, causal attributions, threat appraisal, and self-efficacy. Causal attributions were obtained by asking participants "For three minutes tell my about the problems you had in your relationship and what lead to the separation". The responses were transcribed, a coding manual was devised, and inter-rater reliability of coding was good. Cross-sectionally, the majority of cognitions were associated with one or more domains of separation adjustment, however longitudinally, cognitions did not predict change in separation adjustment over a 6-month period. Cognitions themselves were found to be somewhat variable, which is not surprising given that stressful life events, such as relationship separation would alter cognitions. Other variables that might be responsible for changes in separation adjustment trajectory are discussed. The results of the combined 5 studies have both theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, separation adjustment is a construct made up of distinct domains which have different trajectories. Connection, lonely negativity and psychological adjustment generally represent transient problems. Although the current research found that a non-trivial minority of participants continued to show distress on these domains two years post separation. On the other hand, parenting negotiation and the parent-child relationship was a chronic problem for many separated people, particularly men. Practically, the results of the current research suggests that most therapeutic attention should be directed towards improving parenting adjustment post separation. Limitations of the current research and suggestions for future research are discussed.