Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory Research Articles

A curvilinear association between therapists' use of discourse particles and therapist empathy in psychotherapy.

This study investigates the relationships between therapists' use of discourse particles and therapist empathy. Discourse particles, commonly found in non-English languages, are verbal elements that constitute metacommunication by encoding speakers' emotions and attitudes, which are typically expressed by nonverbal behaviors (e.g., intonation, tone, facial expression, nodding). We hypothesize an inverted U-shaped curvilinear relationship between therapists' use of discourse particles and therapist empathy, given the notion that an optimal level of therapists' emotion in psychotherapy can facilitate clients' inner experiencing and self-expression. Four psychotherapy sessions each from 39 therapist-client dyads were analyzed. After each session, therapist empathy was rated by trained observers using the Therapist Empathy Scale (TES) and by clients using the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory (BLRI). Multilevel modeling shows that both the person-level negative quadratic term and positive linear term for therapists' usage of discourse particles are significant in predicting mean TES with large effect sizes. The same predictors do not yield significant results in predicting mean BLRI but they trend in similar directions of associations with medium effect sizes. Our results suggest the optimal usage of discourse particles by therapists is around 20.3% (out of all utterances). The nonsignificant results in BLRI may be attributed to the relatively small sample size of our data and the noncommunication orientation of the client-rated measure. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

An Online Structured Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Programme Improves Glycaemic Control in Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes.

We explore the effect of a structured online DSMES program on glycaemic control and the self-management behaviour of adolescents and young adults with T1DM. We used a pre-post uncontrolled intervention design over a period of 6 months. A total of 37 youths with T1DM aged 10-45 years were enrolled. The intervention comprised 11 structured online DSMES course sessions; these were video-based and delivered by a diabetes specialist, nurses and a dietitian. The primary outcome was a change in (glycated hemoglobin) HbA1c. The secondary outcomes were changes in hypoglycaemia frequency, time in target range (TIR) among patients using a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system and self-management behaviour; the latter was measured using a T1DM self-management scale for Chinese adults (SMOD-CA) and the Chinese version of the diabetic behaviour rating scale in adolescents with T1DM (DBRS). Twenty-three (85.2%) participants attended ≥8 of the online sessions. There was a significant reduction in HbA1c (from 6.92% to 6.47%, P = 0.002), hypoglycaemic episodes (from 6.0 to 4.0 during the preceding month, P = 0.026) and a significant increase in TIR (from 74.0% to 80.5%, P = 0.027) and an increase in the SMOD-CA score (from 79.6 to 84.6, P = 0.026) in young adults. No significant change in glucose control, hypoglycaemic events or DBRS score were found among children and adolescents. The score of the 12-item version of the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory (B-L RI:mini) indicated that more than half of the participants experienced congruence, positive regard, and an empathic understanding in this programme. The online structured DSMES programme was effective in improving the glycaemic control and self-management behaviour of young adults with T1DM; however, integrating offline visits or appointments with online consultations may be necessary for youth patients.

An exploration of the psychometric properties of the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory (BLRI Obs-40) with young people

ABSTRACT Many young people experience poor mental health, which, if left untreated, can have detrimental effects into adulthood. Person-centered and humanistic therapies are widely used for this population. However, the evidence for their effectiveness is limited, and tools to assess person-centered therapy’s ‘core conditions’ with young people is also lacking. The Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory Observer Form (BLRI Obs-40) assesses the therapist-provided conditions of empathy, congruence, level of regard, and unconditionality of regard. This study assesses the psychometric properties of the BLRI Obs-40 with young people, using data from 136 audio recordings of school-based humanistic counseling. The scale’s internal consistency was high and the five-month test-retest reliability was satisfactory. Inter-rater reliability, however, was poor. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) supported the original four-subscale dimensionality of the scale. The BLRI Obs-40 showed good convergent validity with the Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy Scale adapted for young people (PCEPS-YP). The BLRI Obs-40 may be used with young populations for practice, supervision, and research. However, further exploration of, and evidence for, the scale’s psychometric properties are recommended to validate its use. Extended training of raters will be essential to enhance the scale’s inter-rater reliability.

Psychometric Properties of the Turkish version of the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Rogeryen bakış açısı ile geliştirilmiş olan Barrett-Lennard İlişki Envanteri’nin [BLİE] Türkçe uyarlamasının, algılanan ebeveyn ilişkisi ölçümündeki geçerlik ve güvenilirliğini incelemektir. Yöntem: Araştırma 729 kişilik örneklem ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmada Barrett-Lennard İlişki Envanteri, Algılanan Ebeveyn Tutumları-Kısa Formu, Beck Anksiyete Envanteri ve Beck Depresyon Envanteri kullanılmıştır. Bulgular: Ölçeğin güvenilirliğini saptamak için yapılan iç tutarlık, madde toplam korelasyon, test-tekrar test güvenilirliği ve iki yarım güvenilirliği analizleri BLİE’nin oldukça yüksek güvenilirlik değerleri olduğuna işaret etmiştir. Yapı geçerliğini test etmek için uygulanan doğrulayıcı faktör analizi ile ölçeğin orijinal dört faktörü doğrulanmıştır. Ölçeğin eş zaman geçerliği başka bir ebeveyn tutum ölçeği ile korelasyonları hesaplanarak test edilmiş ve iki ölçeğin tüm alt ölçekleri anlamlı olarak ilişkili bulunmuştur. Ölçeğin kriter geçerliğini destekleyecek şekilde ölçeğin toplam puanının ve tüm alt ölçeklerinin, yüksek ve düşük depresyon ve anksiyete gruplarını birbirinden anlamlı olarak ayırt edebildiği saptanmıştır. Sonuç: Bu çalışma ile Türkçeye uyarlanan envanterin algılanan ebeveyn ilişkisi ölçümünde geçerli ve güvenilir olarak kullanılabileceği desteklenmiştir.

The Relationship Between Resilience Degree and Perceived Parental Relationship, Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Personality Traits in the Emerging Adulthood

This study examines the relationships between resilience level and perceived parental relationship, cognitive emotion regulation, and personality traits in emerging adulthood. The sample of the research consists of undergraduate students whose age range is 18-25. The study was conducted with 609 people, 317 (52%) female and 292 (48%) male students. Resilience Scale (RS), The Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory (BLRI), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), Big Five Inventory (BFI) and Demographic Information Form were applied to the participants. One-way ANOVA analysis, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient Analysis and Hierarchical Linear Regression analysis were used to analyse the data. In the study, resilience mean scores of female students were found to be higher than male students. A positive relationship was found between the resilience scores of university students and their perceived parental relationship scores. A significant negative relationship was found with self-blame, which is the sub-dimension of cognitive emotion regulation. A positive and significant relationship was found with the other sub-dimensions of cognitive emotion regulation, respectively; acceptance, rumination, positive refocusing, re-focus on the plan, positive reappraisal, putting into perspective, other-blame and catastrophising. At the same time, a significant positive correlation was found between resilience scores and personality traits dimensions. According to the hierarchical regression analysis findings, it was concluded that perceived parental relationship, especially perceived father relationship, the catastrophising sub-dimension of cognitive emotion regulation, and personality traits predicted resilience. The study findings were discussed according to the relevant field, and recommendations were presented.

Development and validation of a 12-item version of the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory (B-L RI:mini) using item response theory

The Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory (B-L RI; Barrett-Lennard, (2015). The Relationship Inventory A Complete Resource and Guide. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:101:1-201602103917) is the most widely used measure of the facilitative conditions described by Carl Rogers as important for constructive personality development in his person-centered theory. At with 64 items it is however time consuming for participants to complete, and even in its shorter form, the B-L RI is 40-items long. In order to improve its utility, a mini form of the B-L RI was developed. In study 1, we used item response theory to select 12 out of the full 64 items to form the B-L RI:mini based on their discrimination, difficulty, information, and measurement invariance across the English (n = 298), Chinese (n = 658), and Spanish (n = 330) language versions of the inventory. In study 2 (N = 362), we validated the reliability and validity of the new 12-item measure. It was found that the B-L RI:mini showed excellent total internal consistency, temporal stability, and construct validity. According to the results of the study, the B-L RI:mini maintains optimal psychometric properties with a small number of items. This scale is recommended for use in further studies.

Measurement Invariance of the English, Chinese, and Spanish Versions of the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory

The Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory was designed to assess the extent to which a person experiences unconditional positive regard, empathic understanding, and genuineness in a relationship. This study (N = 1,286) investigated measurement invariance between English, Chinese, and Spanish language versions of the inventory and partial scalar invariance was established.

Post-traumatic growth in prisoners and its association with the quality of staff-prisoner relationships.

Being sentenced to imprisonment can be traumatic. This may lead to further negative effects, including reoffending or disorders of mental health. Emerging research, however, has suggested that traumatic events can, at times, also lead to post-traumatic growth, leading us to question whether prisoners could experience this. Our aims were to explore the prevalence of post-traumatic growth in prisoners and any association between this and prisoners' perceptions of the quality of their relationships with staff. Our primary hypothesis was that there would be a positive association between perceptions of the quality of relationships with staff members and post-traumatic growth. We also hypothesised an interaction between staff-prisoner relationships and the extent to which sentencing was experienced as traumatic. The Post-traumatic Growth Inventory and the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory were distributed to all 762 prisoners in a high-security prison for adult men in England. First, one-tailed correlations between variables were run, then a hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to test for an interaction between staff-prisoner relationship ratings, trauma of sentencing and post-traumatic growth. Just over one fifth of the men (n = 160) returned questionnaires; 76 (48%) had scores indicative of moderate-to-high post-traumatic growth. There was a significant positive association between perceptions of the relationships with staff members and the post-traumatic growth reported. There was no significant interaction between the staff-prisoner relationships and the experience of trauma of imprisonment. Our study extends understanding of prisoners through finding that higher levels of self-rated post-traumatic growth were associated with experiencing empathy, positive regard, acceptance and genuineness from prison staff. This highlights the need for high-quality relationships to be adopted in all aspects of prison setting and culture and offers further direction for research into such relationships and their role in promoting positive psychological outcomes.

Client-centred therapeutic relationship conditions and authenticity: a prospective study

ABSTRACT The aim was to investigate the association between experiencing a therapeutic relationship and subsequent authenticity. Forty-six clients completed the Barrett–Lennard Relationship Inventory (B-LRI), Relational Depth Inventory (RDI), a measure of the therapeutic alliance (ARM-5) and the Authenticity Scale (AS) at intervals over 10 therapy sessions. Higher scores on the B-LRI at sessions 3, 5 and 10 were associated with an increase in authenticity over the 10 sessions. These results provide some initial evidence in support of Rogers's (1957) theory that it is the conditions of the therapeutic relationship that lead to greater authenticity.

Effects of Genetic Counselor Self-Disclosure: an Experimental Analog Study.

The complex nature of self-disclosure poses challenges for genetic counselors in clinical practice. We examined the impact of genetic counselor self-disclosure on observer perceptions of the counselor. In an online analog study, 123 participants watched a 3-minute video of a simulated genetic counseling session. For half the participants, the video showed the counselor disclosing that she had a family medical history similar to the patient (direct personal disclosure). For half the participants, the counselor revealed her experience with other patients (direct professional disclosure). Half the participants in each video condition read that the patient had discovered personal information about the counselor during a pre-session web search (indirect personal disclosure); half read that the patient learned of the counselor's FAQ webpage for prospective patients (indirect professional disclosure). Participants in the direct personal disclosure conditions gave higher ratings to the counseling relationship on an abbreviated version of the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory and rated themselves more likely to see the counselor compared to those in the direct professional disclosure conditions. The content of the indirect disclosure conditions (personal or professional) had no effect. Brief, direct, verbal disclosure of session-relevant personal information by a genetic counselor appears to enhance the counselor-patient relationship and increase the likelihood of patients returning to the counselor.

Development and Preliminary Examination of the Psychometric Properties of the Psychoeducational Group Alliance Scale for Children (PGAS-c) in Two Samples of Children Participating in Groups

Studies examining processes in youth group psychotherapy are scarce. This article reports on the development and psychometric properties of the Psychoeducational Group Alliance Scale for Children (PGAS-c). This scale was designed to assess the therapeutic alliance that develops between the members and the facilitator in a psychoeducational group intervention for children and was tested in 2 samples of children participating in different psychoeducational groups. The PGAS-c was internally consistent in both samples. Concurrent validity was examined using correlations with an established measure of therapeutic relationship (the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory). Reliability and validity of the PGAS-c were supported in both samples.

A confirmatory factor analysis of the Mandarin-Chinese version of the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to translate and provide an initial validation for a full Mandarin-Chinese version of the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory (B-L RI:MC) to include forms Other toward Self-64 (OS-64) and Other toward Self-40 (OS-40) for use in the Mandarin-Chinese research and clinical contexts. B-L RI:MC OS-64 was translated by a bilingual panel and subsequently administered to 658 Mandarin-speaking Taiwanese respondents online using an age-stratified random sampling strategy. Through both the factor analytic strategy of principle component analysis (PCA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the reliability and construct validity were investigated. The final results support the original four subscale dimensionality of the inventory. B-L RI:MC OS-64 showed Cronbach’s alpha was .96 and KMO = .97. PCA using Varimax rotation yielded a four-factor model supporting the sub-scales: level of regard, empathic understanding, unconditionality of regard and congruence, which explained 49.911% squared loading of the total variance. B-L RI:MC OS-64 and OS-40 were supported by the structures in CFA, which displayed NFI = .95 and .95, CFI = .97 and .96, IFI = .97 and .96, and RMSEA = .092 and .091, indicating a promising construct validity. In conclusion B-L RI:MC OS-64 and OS-40 versions can be considered appropriate for measuring the Rogerian therapeutic relationship conditions within a Mandarin speaking community.

Therapeutic Factors and Members’ Perception of Co-Leaders’ Attitudes in a Psychoeducational Group for Greek Children With Social Anxiety

The purpose of this study was to investigate therapeutic factors and perception of co-leaders’ attitudes in elementary children. The Critical Incident Questionnaire was collected from participants during 8 sessions of 3 psychoeducational groups for social anxiety, whereas the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory was administered twice. It was found that affective and behavioral therapeutic factors decreased in the working and ending stages, while cognitive therapeutic factors increased significantly as the groups progressed. Moreover, children were able to form a positive perception of co-leaders’ attitudes early on, and perceptions further ameliorated as the groups progressed.

Animal-Assisted Therapy and Rogers’ Core Components Among Middle School Students Receiving Counseling Services: A Descriptive Study

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is an effective counseling method, yet the reasons for this effectiveness are not well understood. It has been theorized but not empirically verified that AAT participants view therapy animals as possessing Carl Rogers’s core counselor characteristics (Friesen, 2010; Parish-Plass, 2008).This study examined the degree to which 312 middle school students in Grades 4 through 8 rated an AAT dog on Rogers’s core counselor characteristics using the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory (1962). The findings show that the AAT dog was rated highly on the 3 Rogerian traits level of regard, empathy, and congruence.

Mutuality of Rogers's therapeutic conditions and treatment progress in the first three psychotherapy sessions

Objective: Research on the effects of Rogers's therapeutic relationship conditions has typically focused on the unilateral provision of empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence from therapist to client. Method: This study looked at both client and therapist mutuality of the Rogerian therapeutic conditions and the association between mutuality and treatment progress in the first three psychotherapy sessions. Clients (N = 62; mean age = 24.32; 77% female, 23% male) and therapists (N = 12; mean age = 34.32; nine female and three male) rated one another using the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory after the first and third session. Results: Both clients and therapists perceived the quality of the relationship as improved over time. Client rating of psychological distress (CORE-OM) was lower after session 3 than at session 1 (es = .85, [95% CIs: .67, 1.03]). Hierarchical multiple regression was used to test the predictive power of mutually high levels of the therapeutic conditions on treatment progress. The association between client rating of therapist-provided conditions and treatment progress at session 3 was higher when both clients and therapists rated each other as providing high levels of the therapeutic conditions (R2 change = .073, p < .03). Conclusions: The findings suggest mutuality of Rogers's therapeutic conditions is related to treatment progress.

Nurses empathy and family needs in the intensive care units.

The patients' families in intensive care units (ICUs) experience excessive stress which may disrupt their performance in daily life. Empathy is basic to the nursing role and has been found to be associated with improved patient outcomes and greater satisfaction with care in patient and his/her family. However, few studies have investigated the nursing empathy with ICU patients. This study aimed to assess nursing empathy and its relationship with the needs, from the perspective of families of patients in ICU. In this cross-sectional study, 418 subjects were selected among families of patients admitted to ICUs in Tabriz, Iran, by convenience sampling, from May to August 2012. Data were collected through Barrett-Lennard Relationship inventory (BLRI) empathy scale and Critical Care Family Needs Intervention (CCFNI) inventories and were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests. Findings showed that most of the nurses had high level of empathy to the patients (38.8%). There was also statistically significant relationship between nurses' empathy and needs of patients' families (p < 0.001). In this study we found that by increasing the nurse's empathy skills, we would be able to improve providing family needs. Through empathic communication, nurses can encourage family members to participate in planning for the care of their patients. However, further studies are necessary to confirm the results.

A survey of how patient-perceived empathy affects the relationship between health literacy and the understanding of information by orthopedic patients?

BackgroundThere is a lack of research examining patient-perceived empathy and its effect on low-literacy patients’ understanding of health information. This study investigated the moderating effect of patient-perceived empathy on the relationship between health literacy and understanding of preoperative information.MethodsDuring a 2-month period, a total of 144 patients took a survey that included the Chinese-edition Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine, the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory and the Preoperative Information Understanding Scale. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis provided a test of moderator effects.ResultsAll Cronbach’s alphas exceeded 0.6, with REALM at 0.91, BLRI at 0.67, and PIUS at 0.77.The finding that the interaction term was significant suggests perceived empathy is a relevant factor when considering the relationship between health literacy and the understanding of information by patients. The relationship between the health literacy and understanding of information was stronger and positive among patients who perceived greater empathy from their physicians.ConclusionOur study demonstrates that a focus on improving physician–patient empathy skills could be beneficial in helping to overcome the negative consequences associated with limited health-literacy capabilities. Healthcare providers who wish to improve the understanding of information by low health-literacy patients should first identify components of their empathic communication mechanisms, and then try to refine these skills to better serve their patients.

Self-esteem, demand for approval and the facilitativeness of a romantic relationship

ABSTRACT There is some empirical support for the person-centred hypothesis that self-esteem is positively associated with having a facilitative relationship. Rational emotive behaviour theory suggests such an association is more likely to occur in people holding the irrational belief that they must be approved by others while person-centred theory may presume that a less facilitative relationship leads to a demand for approval. The aim of this study was to examine these ideas in romantic relationships using a cross-sectional design. Jones’ Demand for Approval Scale specified for a romantic partner, Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale and a shortened modified Barrett-Lennard's Relationship Inventory were completed by 89 female and 62 male undergraduates. Facilitativeness was not related to demand for approval. Although the rational emotive behaviour hypothesis was not confirmed, demand for approval was more strongly related to self-esteem than facilitativeness. This finding suggests that self-esteem may be increased more if this irrational belief can be successfully challenged than if a more facilitative relationship is provided. The causal nature of these associations need to be investigated.

Beyond Generic Support: Incidence and Impact of Invalidation in Peer Services for Clients With Severe Mental Illness

Beyond Generic Support: Incidence and Impact of Invalidation in Peer Services for Clients With Severe Mental Illness

The patient-physician relationship and medical utilization.

The goal of this study was to (1) explore the relationship between medical utilization and characteristics of the patient-physician relationship and (2) evaluate the relationship between physician perception of patient difficulty, chronic medical problems, and patient somatizing tendencies. Patients in an academic family practice center were asked to complete a demographic data sheet, the PRIME-MD Patient Questionnaire, and the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory regarding their relationship with their physicians. Their physicians completed the Difficult Doctor-Patient Relationship Questionnaire. Patient charts were examined for number of office visits and phone calls in the previous year, as well as number of chronic problems and medications. The study was conducted from September 2000 to November 2001. Forms were completed by 165 patients and 20 physicians. Forty-three patients who were approached refused to participate. Patient ratings on the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory were not related to utilization measures. Physician ratings of difficulty were significantly related to phone calls and visits (p < .05), as well as PRIME-MD Patient Questionnaire somatization tendencies (p < .05) but not to number of chronic problems. Patient and physician ratings were not significantly correlated. Gender (p < .001), marital status (p < .04), education (p < .03), and employment status (p < .002) were all related to utilization measures. Medical utilization was associated with somatizing tendencies of patients and the physicians' perception of patient difficulty. Physicians rated patients as difficult if they tended to somatize but not if they had a number of chronic problems.