Changes in Relationship-Specific Attachment in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy.
Emotionally focused couple therapy (EFT; Johnson, The practice of emotionally focused couple therapy (1st/2nd edition). Brunner-Routledge, New York, 2004) is an effective treatment of relationship distress (Johnson et al., Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 1999; 6, 67). However, less is known about EFT's impact on couples' relationship-specific attachment bond. Using hierarchical linear modeling with a sample of 32 couples, we examined session-by-session changes in couples' relationship-specific attachment anxiety and avoidance and pre- to posttherapy changes in their relationship-specific attachment behaviors. Couples significantly decreased in relationship-specific attachment avoidance, and those who completed a blamer softening significantly decreased in relationship-specific attachment anxiety. Couples' attachment behavior significantly increased toward security. Finally, session-by-session decreases in relationship-specific attachment anxiety and avoidance were significant associated with increases in relationship satisfaction across sessions. These results provide empirical support for the attachment-based assumptions of EFT. Video abstract accessible by clicking here.
Emmrys, Dawe, Parlee Group.|Department of Psychology, Mount Allison University.
Melissa
M
Burgess Moser
School of Psychology, University of Ottawa.|Ottawa Couple and Family Institute.
Susan M
SM
Johnson
Greenbelt Family Health Team, Ottawa Couple and Family Institute.
Tracy L
TL
Dalgleish
School of Psychology, University of Ottawa.
Marie-France
MF
Lafontaine
School of Psychology, University of Ottawa.|Ottawa Couple and Family Institute.|The Ottawa Hospital.
Stephanie A
SA
Wiebe
School of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa.|Department of Psychology, The Ottawa Hospital.
Giorgio A
GA
Tasca
D000328:Adult; D019546:Couples Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D013811:Psychotherapeutic Processes