Do similar patient and spouse perceptions of myocardial infarction predict recovery?

The present study examines whether the degree of congruence between the patient's and the partner's perceptions of myocardial infarction (MI) has an influence on a range of recovery outcomes in the patient. The MI perceptions of 70 Portuguese couples in which the male had suffered a first heart attack were assessed at 3 months after discharge from hospital, using the Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ). Several dimensions of patient recovery were assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months post-MI, using standardised measures of psychological well-being, return to work, disability, social functioning, sexual functioning, and indices of lifestyle changes. The degree of congruence in each couple's illness perceptions was assessed and related to each outcome measure. The results suggest that the degree of congruence between patients and partners in their illness perceptions was related to different dimensions of recovery at 3, 6 and 12 months. The results revealed that in couples who had similar positive perceptions of the identity and consequences of the MI, patients showed (a) better physical and psychological functioning, (b) better sexual functioning, and (c) less impact of MI on social and recreational activities. Also, similar positive perceptions of timeline were associated with lower levels of disability, and similar positive cure/control beliefs were linked with greater dietary changes. Separate analyses showed that these effects were not confounded with marital functioning. This study provides clear evidence that the degree of match/mismatch between the patient's and partner's perceptions of the MI is associated with a range of recovery outcomes.     

Perceived antecedents of marital satisfaction among Turkish,Turkish‐Dutch,and Dutch couples

We studied mainstream couples in The Netherlands and Turkey as well as Turkish‐Dutch immigrant couples to address cultural factors associated with marital satisfaction. A total of 13 Turkish (mainstream couples living in Turkey), 19 Turkish‐Dutch (Turkish immigrant couples living in The Netherlands), and 17 Dutch (mainstream couples living in The Netherlands) married dyads (total of 98 individuals) were independently interviewed about positive and negative characteristics of marriages, determinants of general marital satisfaction and dissatisfaction, spousal communication, marital conflict, and marital roles. Multivariate tests revealed ethnic group differences on all marriage‐related domains except the conflict resolution strategies. However, univariate analyses showed differences in few themes within domains; main differences were assessed between the Turkish/Turkish‐Dutch (who put more emphasis on children and economical aspects) and Dutch couples (who put more emphasis on behavior, and personality of the spouse, reciprocity, emotional sharing, and psychological roles). Turkish‐Dutch couples were more similar to Turkish than to Dutch couples. Results were discussed in light of the socioeconomic development and cultural value theories, which are believed to provide a useful framework for understanding the role of culture in marital satisfaction.     

Situation models and memory: The effects of temporal and causal information on recall sequence

Participants watched an episode of the television show Cheers on video and then reported free recall. Recall sequence followed the sequence of events in the story; if one concept was observed immediately after another, it was recalled immediately after it. We also made a causal network of the show's story and found that recall sequence followed causal links; effects were recalled immediately after their causes. Recall sequence was more likely to follow causal links than temporal sequence, and most likely to follow causal links that were temporally sequential. Results were similar at 10-minute and 1-week delayed recall. This is the most direct and detailed evidence reported on sequential effects in recall. The causal network also predicted probability of recall; concepts with more links and concepts on the main causal chain were most likely to be recalled. This extends the causal network model to more complex materials than previous research.     

The self in the couple relationship: part 1

This paper discusses the importance of the ‘good-enough’ development of the core self in the couple relationship. It argues that difficulties in the development of the self lie behind a significant number of troubled couple relationships. Part 1 focuses on individual psychotherapy and how changes to the core self are often attended by shifts in the marital relationship. It traces how this occurs through clinical material and analyses what kinds of changes to the self are needed for the couple relationship to function well. Psychodynamic theory is used to understand the core changes over time and how these are related to significant second-order change in the couple relationship. The construct of the ‘transitional space’ is used to theorize the couple relationship. Implications for the practice of individual psychotherapy are discussed. In Part 2, the significance of change in the experience of the self of one or both partners for a successful outcome of couples therapy is discussed, along with the place of work with individual partner(s) in the course of conjoint couples therapy.     

The Impact of Parental Abduction on the Couple

SUMMARY

The abduction of a parent's child by the other parent can be an extremely heart-wrenching experience. Not only are the child's whereabouts and safety placed in doubt, the searching parent's life is thrown into turmoil. This case example describes the impact that the long-term abduction of a mother's son had on the mother's ability to maintain a relationship as a member of a new couple.     

Marriage and Family Therapy Students’ Change in Multicultural Counseling Competencies after a Diversity Course

Attention to diversity is required in Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education-accredited programs, yet not much research exists regarding the effectiveness of graduate training on therapists’ multicultural counseling competencies. In this study, 12 students enrolled in a masters-level diversity class were given pre- and post-tests of their multicultural counseling competencies. Results showed that students significantly increased their multicultural awareness, knowledge, and skills after completing the diversity class. The discussion includes implications for educators who seek to improve students’ multicultural counseling competencies.     

The Effect of Forgiveness on Marital Satisfaction in Relation to Marital Stability

The present study examined the association between forgiveness and marital satisfaction in relation to marital stability. It was a comparative study between first-married and remarried adults involving 787 respondents from the Flanders region in Belgium. The current study showed that, although in the overall forgiveness, there was no significant difference between the first-married and remarried, the first-married significantly differed in two subscales of Enright Forgiveness Inventory (EFI) from the remarried. A significant difference in the marital satisfaction was found between the first-married and remarried adults. The present study also reported a significant positive correlation between forgiveness and general-life adjustment.This study was carried out at the Institute for the Family and Sexuality Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, as part of docotral research.     

Religiosity and Marital Satisfaction

This study examined the association between religiosity and marital satisfaction among first-married and remarried adults. Seven hundred and eighty-seven heterosexually married adults from the Flanders region in Belgium completed the Maudsley Marital Questionnaire (MMQ) and a four-item religiosity scale, measuring marital satisfaction and religiosity respectively. This study found the effect of gender and marital status statistically significant (p < .0001) on religiosity. For marital satisfaction, the effect of gender and marital status statistically significant only for MMQ-S (p < .0001) and MMQ-M (p < .0001) respectively. Religiosity had a significant positive correlation (r = .19, p < .0001) with sexual-adjustment problems (MMQ-S). The ultimate aim of this study was to inform marital and relational therapists the value of a possible association religiosity has on marital satisfaction.This study was conducted at the Institute for the Family and Sexuality Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, as part of doctoral research.     

Age variations in the suicide rates and self-reported subjective well-being of married and never married persons

Previous research has established that people who never marry have higher suicide rates and lower self-reported subjective well-being than the married. The present study examines how the differences between: (1) never married persons who live alone, (2) never married cohabitees; and (3) currently married people, vary between age groups. The relevance of such age variations for status integration theory and theories of marital selection is discussed. Summing up results from previous studies of suicide rates, the relative position of the never married is found to be most unfavourable for people in their 30s and 40s; the differences are smaller among the young and the old. Data on self-reported well-being are taken from a large-scale survey of the population of one of Norway's 19 counties (n = 51 000), and are analysed by means of ordinary multiple regression. With regard to single people who were married or who never married, the results are largely consistent with the suicide findings; the advantage of marriage increases until about 40 years of age, then declines. The survey data also provide information about unmarried cohabitation, which seems to be more or less equivalent to marriage in most age groups. Neither status integration theory nor any other single theory of marriage effects or marital selection seems to be able to account for these findings in a satisfactory way.     

The History of Family Therapy in South Africa

The history of family therapy in South Africa is presented from 1960 up to the present. The early days leading to the establishment of the South African Association of Marital and Family Therapy, national conferences, publications, national and international links are discussed.