title: Coding "We-ness" in couple's relationship stories: A method for assessing mutuality in couple therapy.
abstract: "We-ness," a couple's mutual investment in their relationship and in each other, has been found to be a potent dimension of couple resilience. This study examined the development of a method to capture We-ness in psychotherapy through the coding of relationship narratives co-constructed by couples ("We-Stories"). It used a coding system to identify the core thematic elements that make up these narratives.
  
  
  
  Couples that self-identified as "happy" (N = 53) generated We-Stories and completed measures of relationship satisfaction and mutuality. These stories were then coded using the We-Stories coding manual.
  
  
  
  Findings indicated that security, an element that involves aspects of safety, support, and commitment, was most common, appearing in 58.5% of all narratives. This element was followed by the elements of pleasure (49.1%) and shared meaning/vision (37.7%). The number of "We-ness" elements was also correlated with and predictive of discrepancy scores on measures of relationship mutuality, indicating the validity of the We-Stories coding manual. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Connecticut College , New London , CT , USA.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gildersleeve
authors.affiliation: a Connecticut College , New London , CT , USA.
authors.forename: Jefferson A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.affiliation: b Chicago Center for Family Health , Chicago , IL , USA.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Skerrett
authors.affiliation: a Connecticut College , New London , CT , USA.
authors.forename: Shelter
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019546:Couples Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: We-Stories; narrative psychology; positive couple therapy; relationship satisfaction