Researchers and clinicians report that they think the client is the most influential component in determining the outcome of therapy. Although a variety of studies have examined the impact of various client factors on the outcome of couple therapy, this research is not cohesive and produces inconsistent results. The purpose of this multi-method study is to present a sense of the range and depth of client factors that influence the outcome of couple therapy. The use of qualitative and quantitative methods allowed the data to build on existing research while expanding the range of client factors considered. Data were gathered using a dynamic, web-based survey which assigned participants to discuss a case of successful or unsuccessful couple therapy. Participants provided their own descriptions of influential client characteristics. Participants also rated how important they thought several literature-based client factors were. Quantitative data analysis utilized descriptive statistics, principal components analysis, and logistic regression. Qualitative data were analyzed in two stages, using content analysis. Results indicated that couples can be conceptualized by five arenas of couple focus; these arenas accurately predicted whether participants were discussing a successful or unsuccessful case of couple therapy 85.9% of the time. Regarding individual client characteristics, in general, clients whose couple therapy was successful tended to be open to each other and committed to the relationship and to therapy. Unsuccessful couple therapy tended to focus on a greater number of individual issues. Couple dynamics characteristics differed according to outcome groups; participants described four types of couple dynamics that influenced couple therapy to be unsuccessful. Data showed that many client factors influenced the outcome of couple therapy, and that uncommon client characteristics could be vital to the outcome of some cases. Participants described a client's life events as impacting the outcome of couple therapy by increasing one person's vulnerability to his or her partner. If the partner acted in a way that created a sense of connection or support, this contributed to successful couple therapy. The results are presented in connection to previous research, when possible. Finally, implications for theory, research, and clinical work with couples are discussed. / Ph. D.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/27631 |
| Date | 25 May 2010 |
| Creators | Perkins, Susan Nadine |
| Contributors | Human Development, Piercy, Fred P., Dolbin-MacNab, Megan L., Blow, Adrian J., Doolittle, Peter E. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
| Relation | sperkins_dissertation_2010.pdf |
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