Individuals with diverse and traditionally underrepresented sexual orientations – those who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) – experience compounded stress due to their marginalized identity in a heteronormative society. Such stressors, which include but are not limited to discrimination and internalized heterosexism, increase risks for various affective disorders and negatively impact relationship functioning. Empirically supported relationship education programs, including the Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET), have been found efficacious in increasing psychological and relationship well-being; however, the original CCET and related education programs do not specifically target how couples can identify, communicate, and cope with sexual minority stressors. The purpose of this pilot study was to test the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary evidence of effectiveness of the Couples Coping Enhancement Training – Sexual Minority Stress (CCET-SMS) relationship education program. Results from nine couples showed trends in decreased reports of sexual minority stress and general distress, and significant increases in reports of positive dyadic coping and relationship satisfaction. Additional results based on the program feasibility and acceptability along with limitations and suggestions for future directions are presented.

Aim: Many studies have been conducted to investigate the effectiveness of couple coping skills training. Many of these studies found substantial differences when compared to the control group, however, the exact effect is unclear, and more research is needed to integrate these findings. The goal of this meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET). Methods: Twenty studies that can be investigated in terms of technique were chosen and analyzed. SID.IR, Magiran.com, Noormags.com, Sciencedirect.com, jstor.org, tandfonline.com, Wiley.com, link.springer.com, APA and Google Scholar databases are among the information search resources. Couples coping enhancement training (CCET) was the search term. CMA2 software and Hedges' g index were used for data analysis and effect size calculation. Results: The findings of this meta-analysis showed that the fixed effect size of CCET is 0.27 and the random effect size is 0.13. When the heterogeneity of results was examined using Cochran's Q test, the Q value was 2488.87 and the I-squared value was 92.16, both of which were significant (p > 0.001). As a result, the effect sizes vary, and the random effect model should be used to examine the effects. The g value of the random Hedges was 0.27 (p < 0.001). Clinically, this value is regarded as less than usual. As a result, it was decided that CCET was ineffective. Furthermore, a comparison of effects in studies conducted in Iran (64 studies) and Switzerland (132 studies) reveals that the fixed and random Hedges' g in Iran are 0.62 and 0.73, respectively, and 0.06 and 0.09 in Switzerland. The value of I square in both societies is higher than 0.90. Hedges' g has a minor effect on Swiss society and a moderate effect on Iranian society. Conclusions: Therapists should pay attention to the ignored elements discussed in this article in addition to treatment.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET) on resilience and marital conflicts in couples during the transition to parenthood. Methods: This quasi-experimental research employed a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up design with experimental and control groups. The population consisted of couples attending counseling centers in Shiraz in 2022, from whom 12 couples were selected using a volunteer-available sampling method based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and randomly assigned to either the experimental group (6 couples with training) or the control group (6 couples without training). The CCET training sessions for the experimental group were conducted over nine weekly two-hour sessions. Data were collected using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (Connor & Davidson, 2003) and the Sanaei Zaker and Barati Marital Conflict Questionnaire (2008). The data were analysed with analysis of variance with repeated measurements method using SPSS-25 software. Findings: Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance in SPSS26. The findings indicated that CCET significantly enhanced resilience and reduced marital conflicts in the experimental group compared to the control group in the post-test. Furthermore, the non-significant difference between post-test and follow-up scores in the experimental group suggests the lasting impact of CCET on resilience and marital conflicts in couples during the transition to parenthood. Conclusion: Therefore, CCET can be utilized to increase resilience among couples and aid in reducing marital conflicts post-childbirth.

ABSTRACT Lack of menopausal knowledge damages the quality of life (QoL) and couples’ relationships. A new approach to prevent marital distress based upon stress and coping has introduced Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET). The present study assessed the effect of menopause care training using CCET approach on QoL and coping in menopausal women. This educational interventional study was conducted in 2019 on 80 postmenopausal women and their spouses. The couples were randomly selected from health care centers using the cluster random sampling method and were divided into control and intervention groups. Four training sessions were held for the intervention group. Data were collected using The Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire, menopausal knowledge questionnaire, and Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI) and were analyzed using independent Sample t-test, Paired Sample T-Test, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in SPSS version 25 and Amos version 21 software. At the beginning of the study, there was no significant difference in menopausal knowledge, QoL, and dyadic coping between the two groups. However, the CCET approach significantly increased menopausal knowledge, coping in couples and women’s QoL in the intervention group compared to the control group. CCET can help couples to cope with menopausal symptoms more efficiently.

This study examined the mediating role of dyadic coping (DC) in the association between internalizing symptoms and dyadic adjustment in a sample of 184 couples expecting their first child. Each partner completed self-report questionnaires assessing symptoms of depression and anxiety, dyadic adjustment and DC during the second trimester of pregnancy. An extension of the actor-partner interdependence model for testing direct and indirect effects was used. Compared to men, women presented higher levels of internalizing symptoms and dyadic adjustment and engaged more in DC by self. Significant indirect effects of internalizing symptoms on dyadic adjustment via common DC and DC by one’s partner were found. Specifically, higher internalizing symptoms were associated with lower common DC and DC by one’s partner, which, in turn, were associated with lower dyadic adjustment. This mediation occurred either within person as well as across partners and occurred similarly for women and men. These results suggest that primiparous couples may benefit from DC-enhancing interventions, such as the cognitive-behavioral couple-based programs Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET) and Coping-Oriented Couple Therapy (COCT), to assist them in responding sensitively to their partners’ psychological symptoms, which may have a positive effect on marital adjustment.

The Cultural Tailoring and Effectiveness of Couples Coping Enhancement Training on Marital Adjustment of Wives

A marital enhancement program were designed to improve marital satisfaction among dual-career couples. Subjects were five dual-career couples (10 spouses) in Yogyakarta. Marital enhancement program was a set of activities designed to help couples develop the better functions of their marriage. The program based on aspects of Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET) from Bordermann and Shantinanth (2004) and Rosen-Grandon (1999). Marital Satisfaction Scale was used to collect data of marital satisfaction level. The data analysis using t-test showed that there was no difference in marital satisfaction between pretest and posttest, which mean that the marital enhancement program was not effective for this research’s subjects. Some related matters were then discussed. Keywords : Marital enhancement, marital satisfaction, dual-career couples

The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the efficacy of an evidence-based relationship distress prevention program, the Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET), in dual well-earning couples and to investigate whether effects vary by (a) hours of professional contact and (b) mode of delivery (face to face vs. self-learning DVD). N = 159 couples were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 intervention conditions: (1) standard CCET (15 hours face to face), (2) compact CCET (12 hr face to face), (3) short CCET (self-learning DVD + 8 hr face to face), or (4) wait-list control group. Relationship satisfaction and dyadic coping skills were assessed by means of questionnaires completed prior to and 2 weeks after completion of the treatment, at 3-month follow-up, and at 6-month follow-up. Baseline latent change models for 2 factors showed that the CCET enhanced relationship satisfaction and dyadic coping skills in couples relative to the wait-list control group, albeit effects were small. The standard format of the CCET was not more effective than the compact or the short format indicating that reduced amount of professional contact did not decrease the treatment's efficacy and that the self-learning DVD successfully replaced the psycho-educational part of the program. Since dual earner couples usually face multiple stressors, it is a promising finding that they can strengthen their relationship with a relatively short time investment. (PsycINFO Database Record

The significance of enhancing parenting skills to reduce child maladjustment is well-established and supports the important role of evidence-based parenting programs. However, the notion that parenting should be the exclusive focus for enhancing child behavior is necessarily limiting. Evidence is growing that relationship-oriented treatments may be another powerful approach to improve child adjustment, albeit the underlying effects in couple- versus parenting-focused programs have been subject to limited study. The aim of this RCT was to compare the treatment effects of (1) a couple-focused program (the Couples Coping Enhancement Training) to (2) a parenting training (Triple P) and (3) a control group on children’s behavioral problems in 150 couples. The parents’ perceptions of relationship quality, parenting behavior, and child’s behavioral problems were assessed by means of questionnaires completed prior to and 2 weeks after the end of the treatment. Multi-group path analyses revealed that in mothers’ perception the couple-focused program reduced child behavioral problems by enhancing the relationship quality whereas improved parenting mediated the benefits in the parenting training. In fathers’ evaluations the couple-focused program reduced dysfunctional parenting which largely accounted for the benefits in child adjustment. The dearth of research on child outcomes in couple-focused intervention studies is a striking gap that should be overcome. It is a promising field because of its evident potential to foster the health of many children.

The current study is among the first to address the question of efficacy of a couple‐oriented prevention program in the context of the workplace. As many spillover and cross‐over effects between the workplace and couples’ private lives are known, such a focus seems promising. One hundred and fifty‐seven couples participating in the study were randomly assigned to three treatment conditions: a couple‐oriented intervention (Couples Coping Enhancement Training; CCET), an individual‐oriented coping intervention (ICT), and a waiting‐list control group. Self‐report data were collected at pre‐test, post‐test (2 weeks after the intervention), and at follow‐up (5 months after the training). Results are promising for the couple‐oriented intervention that significantly outperformed both the ICT and the waiting‐list control group. CCET participants scored not only higher in relationship variables (such as communication and dyadic coping) after the training but also in individual variables (e.g. burnout). These findings support the notion that companies should invest more in the well‐being of the relationships of their employees.Cette étude compte parmi les premières à aborder la question de l’efficacité d’un programme de prévention centré sur le couple dans l’environnement professionnel. Cette approche semble prometteuse puisque l’on a mis en évidence de nombreux processus de compensation et de transfert entre la vie de travail et la vie privée des couples. 157 couples relevant de la recherche ont été aléatoirement distribués dans trois conditions: une intervention centrée sur le couple (Formation des couples au renforcement du « faire‐face »—CCET), une intervention sur le « faire‐face » centré sur l’individu (ICT), et une liste d’attente faisant office de groupe contrôle. Des données fournies par les sujets ont été recueillies en pré‐test, en post‐test (deux semaines après l’intervention) et en suivi (cinq mois après l’intervention). Les résultats sont prometteurs pour l’intervention centrée sur le couple qui se révèle significativement plus performante que l’ICT et le groupe témoin. Les participants CCET ont de meilleurs résultats non seulement pour les variables relationnelles (telles que la communication et le faire‐face à deux) à l’issue de la formation, mais aussi pour les variables individuelles (par exemple le burnout). Ces constatations renforcent l’idée que les entreprises devraient investir davantage dans le bien‐être relationnel de leurs salariés.

The efficacy of the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program in improving parenting and child behavior: A comparison with two other treatment conditions

This study is a replication reporting on the effects of the Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET). While previous studies have examined the efficacy of this program mainly in distressed couples thus far and without controlling for the presence of children, the current study tries to evaluate the efficacy of the CCET in couples who have preadolescent children and who are experiencing some degree of stress in their daily life associated with the upbringing of their children. Although the CCET does not target specific child-rearing issues, but rather focuses on stress and coping, communication and problem solving in general, it is hypothesized that the program should be able to not only improve partners' communication and dyadic coping skills but also reduce tensions and disagreements that might arise between partners regarding matters related to their children. This study addresses this question based on an evaluation of 100 couples who were randomly assigned either to the CCET or to a control group that received no skills training. The results support previous findings on the efficacy of the CCET in general. Positive effects of the program were noted among both women and men immediately after the training, with stronger effects noted among the women. However, after 6 months and after 1 year following participation in the program, the effects faded out. Effects on parental disagreement related to children were weaker than expected.

Abstract This study investigates the effectiveness of a marital distress prevention program for couples with low marital satisfaction with regard to a possible improvement of physical and psychological well‐being. Fifty‐nine couples, composing the intervention group, participated in a prevention program lasting 18 hours and focusing on the enhancement of coping resources (Couples Coping Enhancement Training). These couples were matched with 59 couples receiving no intervention (comparison group). The results reveal that the prevention program is able to improve psychological well‐being among both genders and life satisfaction among women. It seems that these effects are stable over 1 year. On the other hand, no significant effects could be observed on physical well‐being. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This study sought to assess the effectiveness of a marital distress prevention program for couples by examining how marital quality, especially marital competencies such as dyadic coping, could be improved by means of a prevention program focusing on the enhancement of coping resources (Couples Coping Enhancement Training). The study consisted of 59 couples in the intervention group and 59 couples in the matched comparison group. The results reveal that it is possible to improve marital quality, especially marital competencies, by means of one short-term intervention lasting 18 hr. However, the effects decreased after 2 years, raising the importance of booster sessions in helping to maintain effects over a longer period of time.

We describe a distress prevention training program for couples and three empirical studies that support its effectiveness. The program, Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET), is based both upon stress and coping theory and research on couples. In addition to traditional elements of couples programs (e.g., communication and problem‐solving skills), the CCET also addresses individual and dyadic coping in promoting marital satisfaction and reducing marital distress. The CCET enjoys good consumer acceptance. Outcome results indicate that, in addition to acquiring relationship skills, participants experienced reduced martial distress and increased marital satisfaction, even among couples who have been in long‐standing relationships where dissatisfaction exists.

This article focuses upon a new preventive approach designed to improve personal stress management skills. The Coping Enhancement Training (CET) is derived from the Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET) and encompasses both an individual and a dyadic aspect. In this study, only the individual element is described. The training is based upon the transactional stress concepts of Lazarus and his coworkers and the further development of this approach by Perrez and Reicherts (1992). Personal coping skills are practiced over a six-hour period by means of theoretical, diagnostic and practical work. This article presents the rationale and content of the program, as well as data concerning the effectiveness of this approach after a period of two years. The data shows that subjects participating in the program displayed better individual coping skills (e.g. active problem-solving and positive self-verbalization) after the training and that they relied upon dysfunctional coping strategies (e.g. rumination and blaming strategies) less often even after two years.

The Effectiveness of the Couples’ Coping Enhancement Training (CCET): A Comparison of Two Training Versions Background: The following study presents the results of two versions of the Couples’ Coping Enhancement Training (CCET). The revised version of the training focuses especially on the dyadic coping, which in comparison with the individual coping is a stronger predictor for the long-term quality of close relationships. Results: The results of the comparison of the two training versions are in favor of the original version of the training, in which individual and dyadic coping are treated as equally important for the couple’s stress management. The enhancement of the relationship of these couples is higher and they report better improvements of the attention for the partner, the dyadic coping, the couple’s communication and their way to solve problems. The effect sizes for the changes of the individual and dyadic coping and the communication confirm the importance of the individual coping especially for the couple’s dyadic coping. Discussion: In general, the results highlight the necessity to promote individual and dyadic competences for the enhancement of the quality of close relationships both in prevention programs and in couple therapies.

This article presents a new preventive approach (Couples Coping Enhancement Training: CCET) aimed at expanding upon the scope of current prevention programs by focussing on stress issues and individual and dyadic coping skills. The cognitive behavioral prevention program is based on stress and coping research in couples and seeks to improve important skills with an 18-hour course. The effectiveness of the approach is examined with respect to 143 couples over a period of one year. The results show that couples participating in the program benefit in terms of a significant increase in marital quality and that intervention couples appraise their relationship even after one year as substantially improved in a number of domains (quality of marital communication, intimacy etc.). Our results support the importance of prevention for couples with low marital satisfaction even if they have been living together for many years.

The Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET) represents a novel preventive approach for couples focusing on the enhancement of relevant skills which predict a better course of the relationship and a lower risk for divorce. Marital and stress research have shown that particularly four competencies act as important resources: (a) communication skills, (b) problem-solving capacities, (c) adequate individual stress management, and (d) dyadic coping competencies. Thus, these findings suggest to teach couples such competencies at a relatively early stage in their relationship. Whereas several preventive trainings for couples focusing on marital communication already exist, the CCET is new in that it primarily focuses on the coping skills of couples. The rationale of our approach is to strengthen marriage by better managing everyday stress. As several studies reveal, stress is an important negative factor for close relationships and gradually destroys marriage over time. The effectiveness of the CCET is evaluated in this article in regard to the subjective appraisals of changes of (a) the relevant skills and (b) the marriage in general within six months. The results reveal that couples who participated in the CCET report a significant better improvement of their relationship, whereas the couples of the control group do not. Thus, the effectiveness of this new preventive training could be established within six months.