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Client Motivation, Working Alliance and the Use of Homework in Psychotherapy

This study examined a preliminary model of client, therapist and process factors in relation to psychotherapy outcome. These factors included client motivation, homework compliance, therapist homework delivery behaviors and working alliance. Self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000; 2002) was used to examine qualitative differences in autonomous and controlled forms of client motivation. Data were collected from 147 participants receiving individual counseling at 1 of 3 university counseling centers in the United States. Participants completed an online survey which consisted of 6 questionnaires. Structural equation modeling with maximum likelihood estimation was used to estimate model parameters. Multiple fit indices were examined in order to assess overall fit and the preliminary model was respecified twice. Examination of the path coefficients revealed that 3 of the hypothesized relationships were not significant. Neither autonomous nor controlled motivation significantly predicted outcome, and working alliance did not significantly predict homework compliance. A significant relationship emerged which was not originally hypothesized: therapist homework delivery behaviors significantly predicted working alliance. Working alliance emerged as a strong mediator of autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, and therapist homework delivery behaviors in relation to psychotherapy outcome. Homework compliance significantly mediated the relationship between controlled motivation and psychotherapy outcome. Five indirect effects and 2 direct effects were reported, thus the final model was a strongly mediated model which accounted for 52% of the variance in treatment outcome. Overall, results indicated that qualitative differences in client motivation may influence psychotherapy process and outcome variables, and that working alliance and homework compliance are significant mediators of both client and therapist factors. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2012. / April 26, 2012. / Client Motivation, Homework Compliance, Psychotherapy Outcome, Self-Determination Theory, Working Alliance / Includes bibliographical references. / Georgios Lampropoulos, Professor Directing Dissertation; Lynn Panton, University Representative; James P. Sampson, Committee Member; Robert Eklund, Committee Member.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_182861
ContributorsFranco, Candice M. (authoraut), Lampropoulos, Georgios (professor directing dissertation), Panton, Lynn (university representative), Sampson, James P. (committee member), Eklund, Robert (committee member), Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution)
PublisherFlorida State University, Florida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
LanguageEnglish, English
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText, text
Format1 online resource, computer, application/pdf
RightsThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them.

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