Relationship satisfaction is a popular variable to consider when looking at long-term success for couples. Research indicates positive and negative events have an impact on relationship satisfaction. Considering the influence of the Vulnerability-Stress-Adaptation framework, the present study focuses on the daily impact of positive and negative events that happen outside of therapy on couple relationship satisfaction for couples seeking therapy. Daily diary methods were used to collect data, a first for using this method with clinical couples. Random effects and multilevel models of analysis controlled for days and couples. Results suggest that on any given day, positive events impact both male and female daily relationship satisfaction. Findings also propose that these events outside of therapy tend to occur more frequently in the evening on any given day, specifically for negative events. Understanding these findings, therapists have an opportunity to use therapy as a tool to enhance adaptive processes for couples in order for couples to continue experiencing higher levels of couple satisfaction.

The functioning of the family system has a substantial impact on youth social development and behavioral adjustment. Although the impact of parenting, specifically coercive parenting, and the influence of deviant peers are well-documented risk factors for child maladaptive behavior, less understood is how parents' satisfaction in their couple relationship influences family functioning and child outcomes. This study examined negative family conflict as an underlying mediating variable in the association between couple satisfaction and adolescents' future outcomes in a sample of 241 couples and their adolescent children (127 males and 114 females). Adolescents were an average age of 16 to 17 at the initial time point and they participated in follow-up one year later. Structural equation modeling on longitudinal data showed that the model fit the data well and that higher couple satisfaction was related to better future outcomes (defined as lower levels of future antisocial behavior). Higher couple satisfaction was also associated with lower levels of negative family conflict which predicted lower levels of adolescent future antisocial behavior (ASB). For all adolescents, findings also demonstrated that negative family conflict completely mediated the relationship between couple relationship satisfaction and adolescents' future ASB. Sex differences were found in these relationships when males and females were examined separately, especially related to couple dissatisfaction, which was directly predictive of male future ASB but not female future ASB. This study supports existing research demonstrating that adolescents in families with poor couple satisfaction are more likely to engage in ASB than those whose parents reported higher levels of couple satisfaction. Furthermore, these findings highlight the mediating role of negative family conflict in the association between couple satisfaction and adolescents' future ASB. Findings from this study have implications for couples and family interventions. For instance, clinical intervention focused on enhancing couple satisfaction and reducing negative family conflict may promote better outcomes for children.

Gottman identified the phenomenon accepting influence in couple relationships, defining it as the action of letting one’s partner influence their opinions, as well as the approach of being open-minded towards one’s partner. In this study, we examine accepting influence among a dyadic sample of military couples (N=242 couples). We first replicate Gottman’s findings which link accepting influence to couple satisfaction, and then expand this area of research by examining how accepting influence within the couple relationship relates to family-level outcomes based on theoretical underpinnings from systems theory and the spillover hypothesis. To model relationships within and between partners, we utilize an actor-partner interdependence model. Results demonstrate that accepting influence is related to both couple and family satisfaction in military families, although these were primarily actor effects (i.e., perceptions of accepting influence were primarily associated with personal reports of couple and family satisfaction). Implications for practice and research will be discussed.

The purpose of this study was to further clarify the relationship between couple leisure patterns and marital satisfaction by examining the contribution of joint couple leisure involvement, leisure time, and leisure satisfaction to couples' satisfaction with married life. The sample consisted of 48 married couples (N = 96). The Marital Activity Profile (MAP), a modified version of the Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP) was used to determine couple leisure involvement in core and balance leisure activities and leisure satisfaction. The Satisfaction With Married Life (SWML), a modified version of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) was used to measure marital satisfaction. Blocked multiple regression analyses indicated a positive relationship between satisfaction with couple leisure and marital satisfaction, specifically satisfaction with core leisure activity patterns. Implications and recommendations for further research are discussed.