Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy Research Articles

Effects of integrative behavioral couple therapy on communication patterns and marital adjustment.

Couples experience maladjustment and serious problems in establishing and maintaining intimate relationships. Therefore, therapists employ different methods for helping couples experience more intimate and compatible relationships. Nowadays, professionals are more interested in using integrative approaches than ever before. Integrative behavioral couple therapy (IBCT) is an exemplar of such methods. This study aimed to analyze the effects of IBCT on communication patterns and marital adjustment. This study included pretest and posttest steps with a control group. The statistical population included couples aged 20-45 years old visiting the counseling and psychological service centers of Tehran for marital conflicts in 2022. After the initial evaluation, 76 couples were selected as the sample through convenience sampling. They were then randomly assigned to the test and control groups. All participants were asked to fill out the Spanier Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and the Communication Patterns Questionnaire (CPQ) one week before the first intervention session and one week after the last intervention session. Participants in the test group attended eleven 90-minute sessions of IBCT, whereas those in the control group received no interventions in this period. The one-way ANCOVA was used for data analysis in SPSS 26. The results indicated that IBCT managed to significantly improve marital adjustment and constructive communication patterns. It reduced two communication patterns called "mutual avoidance" and "demand/withdraw" in the test group (P = 0.001). However, since the effect size of "demand/withdraw" was 0.26, this result should be interpreted cautiously. According to the research findings, Iranian couple therapists can employ IBCT to improve constructive communication patterns and mitigate destructive ones in couples. Given the effect size, IBCT increased dyadic cohesion, affection, dyadic satisfaction, and dyadic consensus as well as improving the marital adjustment of participants.

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy: reliable clinical change analysis

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy: reliable clinical change analysis

The Effects of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy on Emotion Regulation and Cognitive Flexibility of Emotionally Divorced Couples

Background: The upward trends in divorce and the conflicts and distress in couples’ relationships made researchers seek cost-effective interventions to reduce marital problems. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of integrative behavioral couple therapy (IBCT) on emotion regulation and cognitive flexibility among emotionally divorced couples (EDCs). Methods: The study was conducted on 20-50-year-old EDCs visiting Ramshir counseling centers in Iran in 2022. The purposive sampling method was used to select 12 couples (24 individuals). This experimental research adopted a pretest-posttest design with follow-up. The experimental group received ten 90-minute IBCT sessions. The research instruments included the Gottman Emotional Divorce Scale, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and Cognitive Flexibility Inventory—the repeated measures ANOVA was then used for data analysis in SPSS software version 27. Results: The mean (± SD) of emotion regulation was 80.25 ± 7.92 on the pretest, whereas it was 124.88 ± 11.63 and 120.88 ± 8.70 on the posttest and follow-up. Moreover, the mean (± SD) of cognitive flexibility was 60.50 ± 5.70 on the pretest, while it was 100.46 ± 6.33 and 97.13 ± 4.47 on the posttest and follow-up. The results indicated that IBCT improved emotion regulation and cognitive flexibility in EDCs (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Based on the results, IBCT can enhance emotion regulation and cognitive flexibility in couples experiencing marital conflicts and emotional divorce. Couples therapists should hold IBCT training workshops to improve emotion regulation and cognitive flexibility in EDCs.

A Study on the Effect of Acceptance of Differences on Marital Satisfaction in Newlywed Couples: Focusing on the Perspective of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy

본 연구의 목적은 신혼기 부부의 차이 수용 태도가 결혼만족도에 미치는 영향을 확인함으로써 부부상담 현장에 필요한 기초자료를 축적하는 것이다. 본 연구에서는 신혼기 부부 160쌍을 모집하여 쌍자료를 수집한 후 자기-상대방 상호의존 모델 분석을 통해 자기효과와 상대방효과를 분석하였다. 본 연구의 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 차이 수용 태도 및 결혼만족도에서 남녀 간의 유의미한 차이가 있었다. 둘째, 부부의 차이 수용 태도는 결혼만족도에 대한 자기효과를 나타냈다. 셋째, 차이 수용 태도와 결혼만족도의 관계에서 상대방효과는 아내에게서만 유의하였다. 이러한 연구 결과를 통해 본 연구에서는 국내에서도 수용을 중점적으로 다루고 있는 인지행동 커플치료에 조금 더 주목할 필요가 있으며, 부부상담 전문가들이 신혼기 부부, 특히 아내의 차이 수용 태도를 촉진하는 데 유용한 전략 및 기법을 계획하고 사용할 필요성을 시사하였다.Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of the acceptance of differences on marital satisfaction in newlywed couples. Methods: To achieve this purpose, 160 couples were recruited, and an online survey was conducted using ADCRS and K-CSI. The collected dyadic data were analyzed using APIM to calculate actor effects and partner effects. Results: First, a significant difference was found between men and women in the acceptance of differences and marital satisfaction. Second, the acceptance of differences of newlywed couples had an actor effect on marital satisfaction. Third, the partner effect was significant only in women for the relationship between the acceptance of differences and marital satisfaction. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that it is more effective to focus on enhancing each spouse's acceptance of differences, especially the wife's acceptance of differences during couple therapy. Therefore, it is expected that relationship education and couple therapy experts will plan and use strategies and techniques to promote acceptance of differences between newlyweds.

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Couple Therapy in the Way of Psychodrama and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) on Improving Conflict Resolution Tactics in Contradictory Couples

Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of Psychodrama Couple Therapy and Integrated Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) on improving conflict resolution tactics of contradictory couples. Method: The method of this semi-experimental study is pre-test/post-test with a control group and a follow-up phase. The statistical population included all conflicting couples who referred to Dramatherapy Center of Iran in 2019. The sample of this study includes 36 persons (18 couples) who referred to Dramatherapy Center of Iran who were selected by the available sampling method. Then they were assigned in 3 groups of 12 persons including two experimental groups and one control group. The first experimental group underwent 12 sessions of Psychodrama Couple Therapy by Moreno (1969) and the second experimental group underwent 12 sessions of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy by Christensen et al. (2014). Data were obtained by using Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2) by Straus (1996) and analyzed by methods of repeated measure analysis of variance using spss22 software. Results: The results of this study showed that Psychodrama Couple Therapy reduced physical assault (F=11.52 and p=0.001) and psychological violence (F=12.74 and p=0.001) and increased non-violent negotiation (F=58.84 and p=0.001) in the victim form and respectively physical assault (F=17.96 and p=0.001), psychological violence (F=17.08 and p=0.001) and non-violent negotiation (F=89.45 and p=0.001) in the aggressive form. Conclusion: The results indicated the effectiveness of Psychodrama Couple Therapy on reducing physical assault and psychological violence and increasing non-violent negotiation in conflicting couples and its durability over time. Therefore, health professionals and therapists can use Psychodrama Couple Therapy along with other treatment methods to improve couples' conflict resolution tactics.

A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Integrative Couple Therapy and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy on Increasing Emotional and Sexual Intimacy of Couples Traumatized by Infidelity

Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of integrative couple therapy and integrative behavioral couple therapy on increasing the emotional and sexual intimacy of couples affected by infidelity in Shahriar (Andishe city in Iran).
 Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population included couples whose male partner had cheated, and were referred to counseling centers of Andishe city in 2018. Twenty four couples were selected through convenient sampling and randomly assigned into two experimental groups and one control group (8 couples in each group). The subjects in the two experimental groups attended 10 couple therapy sessions, whereas no intervention was carried out for the control group. The subjects responed to the Marital Intimacy Needs Questionnaire (Bagarozzi, 2001).
 Results: The results of analysis of covariance and block analysis of variance showed that integrative behavioral couple therapy and integrative couple therapy had a significant effect on the component of satisfaction with confrontation in the dimension of sexual intimacy )p<0.05), but no significant difference was observed between the two approaches. Integrative behavioral couple therapy was also effective in increasing emotional intimacy in all components, but this effectiveness was not achieved in integrative couple therapy.
 Conclusion: Considering the effectiveness of integrative couple therapy and integrative behavioral couple therapy on the component of satisfaction with confrontation in sexual intimacy, the use of these approaches in promoting sexual intimacy of couples affected by infidelity may be effective. Also, considering the effectiveness of integrative behavioral couple therapy in increasing emotional and sexual intimacy, this approach can be used by couple therapists.

A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Integrative Couple Therapy and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy on Increasing Emotional and Sexual Intimacy of Couples Traumatized by Infidelity

Aim: The present study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of integrative couple therapy and integrative behavioral couple therapy on increasing the emotional and sexual intimacy of couples affected by infidelity in Shahriar (Andishe city in Iran).
 Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population included couples whose male partner had cheated, and were referred to counseling centers of Andishe city in 2018. Twenty four couples were selected through convenient sampling and randomly assigned into two experimental groups and one control group (8 couples in each group). The subjects in the two experimental groups attended 10 couple therapy sessions, whereas no intervention was carried out for the control group. The subjects responed to the Marital Intimacy Needs Questionnaire (Bagarozzi, 2001).
 Results: The results of analysis of covariance and block analysis of variance showed that integrative behavioral couple therapy and integrative couple therapy had a significant effect on the component of satisfaction with confrontation in the dimension of sexual intimacy )p<0.05), but no significant difference was observed between the two approaches. Integrative behavioral couple therapy was also effective in increasing emotional intimacy in all components, but this effectiveness was not achieved in integrative couple therapy.
 Conclusion: Considering the effectiveness of integrative couple therapy and integrative behavioral couple therapy on the component of satisfaction with confrontation in sexual intimacy, the use of these approaches in promoting sexual intimacy of couples affected by infidelity may be effective. Also, considering the effectiveness of integrative behavioral couple therapy in increasing emotional and sexual intimacy, this approach can be used by couple therapists.

Recent Trends in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Couple and Family Therapeutic Implications -Focusing on Acceptance-Commitment Therapy and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy-

본 연구의 목적은 수용전념치료(ACT)와 통합적 행동 부부치료(IBCT)를 중심으로, 인지행동치료의 최근 동향에서 나타나고 있는 변화가 국내 부부․가족치료에 시사하는 함의를 도출하고자 하는 것이다. 이 두 치료모델은 인지행동치료의 ‘제3의 흐름’으로 부각되고 있으며, 인지행동 접근과 수용 접근을 결합함으로써 미국의 부부․가족치료에서 부상하고 있는 추세이다. 본 연구에서는 심리치료 분야에서의 인지행동 접근의 변화 동향을 살펴보고, 수용전념치료 모델과 통합적 행동 부부치료 모델을 이론적으로 고찰한 다음, 두 모델들의 전제와 특성의 파악, 그리고 비교를 통해 국내 부부․가족치료에 활용될 수 있는 가능성과 시사점을 탐색해 보고자 하였다. 본 연구의 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 수용-전념치료와 통합적 행동 부부치료는 기존의 인지행동치료를 바탕으로 마음챙김이나 수용을 강조하고 통합적 성격을 지니면서 새로운 인지행동치료의 흐름 속에 중심적 위치를 차지하고 있다. 둘째, 수용-전념치료는 심리적 유연성의 증가, 통합적 행동 부부치료는 차이의 수용을 통한 갈등 해결과 변화를 목표로 하며, 국내에서 이 모델들에 대한 개인치료에서의 관심은 고조되고 있지만 부부․가족치료에서의 활용은 아직 활성화되고 있지 않다. 셋째, 두 모델은 수용중심적 접근이라는 공통점을 지니고 있으며 처치의 과정에서 차이가 있기는 하지만, 통합적 성격과 근거기반 실천 모델을 중심으로 심리치료 분야에서 개인뿐만 아니라 관계에서도 효과적으로 적용될 가능성이 높다. 본 연구에서는 두 모델의 부부․가족치료에서의 적용 가능성 탐색과 논의를 통해, 국내 인지행동 부부 및 가족치료 연구의 활성화와 상담기법의 다양화, 그리고 가족치료 현장에서 적용되는 치료모델의 확장과 심화를 위한 기초자료 축적에 기여하고자 하였다.

PERMA model vs. integrative-behavioral couple therapy for fertility problems: A randomized clinical trial protocol.

BackgroundPsychological interventions may reduce fertility problems. Positive emotion, engagement, meaning, positive relationship and accomplishment (PERMA) is a cognitive intervention and integrative-behavioral couple therapy (IBCT) is a behavioral intervention. Appropriate mental interventions are important in infertility treatment.ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of the PERMA model vs. IBCT in reducing the fertility problems of couples.Materials and MethodsThe content of the interventions was developed and adjusted based on a literature review and the opinions of experts. In this three-arm parallel randomized clinical trial, 42 couples undergoing infertility treatment will be allocated randomly into three groups (n = 14 couples/each). Group 1 will receive the PERMA intervention, group 2 will receive the IBCT intervention, and group 3 as the control group will receive an infertility treatment training program intervention. The primary outcome will be the fertility problems, which will be measured by completing a fertility problem inventory at baseline, as well as in the 5 and 9 wk as a follow-up. Another primary outcome, satisfaction with the intervention, will also be assessed in the 5 and 9 wk. The secondry outcome will be a positive pregnancy test at wk 12. The interventions will be conducted through a combination of face-to-face and online via WhatsApp.ConclusionThis study will assess social, sexual, and parenthood concerns. A combination of online and face-to-face interventions will be appropriate given the COVID-19 pandemic. Couple's counseling may provide better counseling outcomes for fertility problems in comparison with group counseling. This study will try to optimize resilience during infertility treatment through learning better relationship and problem-solving skills, and may have an indirect impact on pregnancy rate, burden of infertility, and costs of treatment due to increased effectiveness.

A review of the research during 2010-2019 on evidence-based treatments for couple relationship distress.

The current article presents a review of the published research from 2010 to 2019 on the treatment of couple relationship distress; 37studies met all criteria for inclusion. Behavioral Couple Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Couple Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy meet criteria as "well-established" approaches, Insight-Oriented Couple Therapy is a "possibly efficacious" approach, and several other others are "experimental" treatments for treating couple relationship distress (Southam-Gerow & Prinstein, 2014). Furthermore, several less-intensive interventions-the Marriage Check-up, OurRelationship, and Hold Me Tight programs-have generated substantial support for their ability to improve relationships and are classified as "well-established" or "probably efficacious" interventions. We recommend that future research focus on expanding the reach of evidence-based interventions across a range of settings and populations, deepening our understanding of the mechanisms of change and underlying factors in the change process across approaches, and improving treatment success through treatment matching and progress monitoring.

The Effectiveness of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) on Family Function of the Couples: A Randomized Clinical Trial

The Effectiveness of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) on Family Function of the Couples: A Randomized Clinical Trial

An Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT)-Based Conflict Prevention Program: A Pre-Pilot Study with Non-Clinical Couples.

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) has demonstrated its efficacy treating severe couple conflict. Nevertheless, its capacity to prevent such conflicts before they appear has not been analyzed. The following empirical study examines the effectiveness of a conflict prevention program based on IBCT’s main therapeutic strategies (empathic joining, unified detachment). A sample of 12 individuals (six couples) from the Community of Madrid completed the DAS (Spanier, 1976; Martín-Lanas et al., 2017), IBCTQ (Barraca et al., 2017), and ASPA-A (Carrasco, 1996) pre-treatment, posttreatment, and at a three-year follow up. Three of these couples were randomly assigned to the experimental group, in which they received five, 120-minute sessions of an IBCT-based conflict prevention program. The three remaining couples were assigned to a control group and received no treatment. Results indicated that the experimental couples grew in their acceptance of differences and significantly improved their level of empathic joining and unified detachment; they also manifested greater satisfaction in their total DAS score. At the three-year follow up, neither group showed significant changes with regard to their posttreatment scores. Although the data are based on a small number of couples and should be replicated, the results suggest that a program based on IBCT strategies can help prevent couple conflict up to three years after its application.

A Study on the Integrated Applicability of Structural Family Therapy and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy Through Common Factors, With Implications for Family Therapy

A Study on the Integrated Applicability of Structural Family Therapy and Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy Through Common Factors, With Implications for Family Therapy

The Effectiveness of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) on Emotional Divorce of Couples: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Some scientists consider emotional divorce as the first step in the divorce process, which means that the marital relationship is declining. Research shows the harmful physical and psychological effects of emotional divorce on couples. The present research was carried out to show the effectiveness of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) on emotional divorce among couples. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental design study with a control group, including a pre-test, post-test and a 45-day follow up. The statistical population of this study was all couples referred to the family therapy clinic of Shahid Beheshti Psychiatric Hospital in Zanjan in 2020. Twenty couples were selected based on a score of eight or higher in a 24-item two-choice questionnaire on emotional divorce which was developed by Guttman in 1998. Next, participants were randomly divided into two groups of experimental and control. The experimental group received 11 weekly sessions of IBCT and each intervention session lasted for 120 minutes and the control group did not receive any intervention. Repeated measures ANOVA was used and data were analyzed by SPSS software V18. Results: The results of ANOVA showed that there was a significant difference between the control and experimental groups in the pre-test, post-test and follow-up (p<0.001). Therefore, it can be concluded that IBCT has reduced the emotional divorce of couples in the experimental group. Conclusion: Results suggest that IBCT can be used as a treatment of choice for reduction of emotional divorce.

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy for Intercultural Couples: Helping Couples Navigate Cultural Differences

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT), an empirically supported third-wave behavioral approach for the treatment of couples, is examined in this multiple case study. IBCT was developed to help couples navigate challenging differences, so this study examines its use with couples reporting problems arising from differences in self-identified cultural identities, practices, or beliefs. The experiences of three therapists using IBCT in their work with intercultural couples is examined. Each participating therapist in this study contributes by describing one case in which IBCT was used to help the couple with existing conflicts related to cultural differences. These descriptions, provided through written responses to open-ended questions, were examined using cross-case analysis. Results include descriptions of the various stressors faced by intercultural couples, therapists’ formulations of cultural differences, change processes and change mechanisms during treatment, and similarities and differences across therapists’ reports. Specific quotations that demonstrate main ideas and particularly poignant or useful information are integrated. The study concludes with participating therapists’ recommendations for treatment of intercultural couples in general, their recommendations for utilizing IBCT with intercultural couples, and implications for future research.

Trajectories of Sexual Satisfaction and Frequency During and After Couple Therapy for Relationship Distress

Using a sample of 134 distressed, different-sex couples, this study investigated the effects of Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy and Traditional Behavioral Couple Therapy on sexual dissatisfaction and sexual frequency both during treatment and in the five years following treatment. Therapy effects depended on treatment type, gender, and whether sexual distress was identified as a presenting problem; while couple therapy may initially improve some aspects of the sexual relationship, impacts tend to fade over follow-up. Couple therapy may benefit from incorporating a greater emphasis on sex and inclusion of techniques from sex therapy.

Relative Cost Effectiveness of In-Person and Internet Interventions for Relationship Distress.

While the efficacy of couple therapy has been repeatedly demonstrated, most distressed couples do not seek treatment. To improve reach and overcome barriers to therapy, Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT) was translated into a web-based program, OurRelationship (OR). While both IBCT and OR have been shown to improve relationship and individual functioning, the goal of the present study was to compare the relative cost effectiveness of these two treatment modalities. In IBCT, 74% of couples experienced reliable improvement, compared to 55% of couples in OR. Within-group Cohen's d effect sizes during treatment for relationship satisfaction were d=0.87 for IBCT and d=0.96 for OR. Relative cost effectiveness analyses revealed that even at the highest expense estimates for OR and the lowest expense estimates for IBCT, OR was more cost effective in creating reliable improvement once at least 229 couples were served and was more cost effective in creating large-size effects once at least 153 couples were served. Cost-effectiveness increases for both IBCT and OR as more couples are served; however, this cost savings occurs at a much more rapid rate for OR. These findings demonstrate that despite higher initial development costs, Internet programs are a cost-effective option for dissemination either as a stand-alone service or as an initial intervention in a stepped care model with more intensive in-person services.

Online intervention for couples affected by generalized anxiety disorder

This article describes recent developments in online interventions for distressed couples, with a focus on an adaptation of an online program to address the needs of couples in which one partner has Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This program, OurRelationship.com, is based on Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy, an empirically supported treatment which builds closeness between partners through empathy and acceptance of one another’s differences rather than emphasizing short-term change. We review the rationale for adapting the OurRelationship.com program to focus on couples affected by GAD, the structure of this intervention, and a brief case study illustrating our clinical approach. In this case study, a couple who participated in the online intervention reported that by the end of the program, they had been able to recognize the patterns of communication they had developed related to the female partner’s generalized anxiety. Moreover, they reported they had been able to develop new strategies for responding to these issues that improved the quality of their relationship.

New Frontiers in the Treatment of Couples

Evidence-based treatment of couples began with the provision of behavioral couple therapy, emphasizing positive behavioral exchange and communication skills training to clinically distressed couples. The theoretical models of couple therapy expanded to incorporate cognitive interventions in Cognitive-Behavioral Couple Therapy, and then acceptance-based interventions in Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy. In parallel, Emotion-Focused Couple Therapy developed with a focus on resolving attachment insecurity. Each of these approaches has evidence for their efficacy, and there is no consistent evidence of differential efficacy. In the past two decades couple treatments were adapted for couple-based treatment of individual psychopathology. There are emerging trends to extend the range of disorders for which couple interventions are applied, to address the needs of same-sex couples, to treat inter-partner violence, and to use systematic therapy progress monitoring to enhance couple therapy effectiveness. Rece...

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy: Theoretical Background, Empirical Research, and Dissemination.

Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT), developed by Drs. Andrew Christensen and Neil Jacobson, builds off the tradition of behavioral couple therapy by including acceptance strategies as key components of treatment. Results from a large randomized clinical trial of IBCT indicate that it yields large and significant gains in relationship satisfaction. Furthermore, these benefits have been shown to persist for at least 5years after treatment for the average couple. Not only does IBCT positively impact relationship constructs such as satisfaction and communication, but the benefits of therapy extend to individual, co-parenting, and child functioning. Moreover, IBCT has been shown to operate through the putative mechanisms of improvements in emotional acceptance, behavior change, and communication. IBCT was chosen for nationwide training and dissemination through the Veteran Affairs Medical Centers. Furthermore, the principles of IBCT have been translated into a web-based intervention for distressed couples, OurRelationship.com. IBCT is continuing to evolve and grow as research and technologies allow for continued evaluation and dissemination of this well-supported theoretical model.