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Couples' Facilitative Communication Skill as a Dimension of Marital Therapy Outcome *
Author(s) -
Gurman Alan S.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
journal of marital and family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.868
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1752-0606
pISSN - 0194-472X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-0606.1975.tb00081.x
Subject(s) - outcome (game theory) , psychology , marital therapy , perception , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , mathematics , mathematical economics , neuroscience
This study examined the relationships between three dimensions of patients' perceptions of their spouses' empathic understanding, warmth, and genuineness, and marital co‐therapy outcome. The relationships between selected therapist and treatment factors and couples' communication skill was also investigated. Results indicated (a) a positive relationship between patient‐rated outcome and final levels of rated Total Facilitative Conditions (TFC), but not initial levels; (b) a near‐zero relationship between pre‐ and post‐therapy TFC similarity and outcome; (c) positive relationships between changes in perceived TFC and outcome, but no relationship between outcome and symmetry of TFC change; (d) no relationship between treatment length and either outcome or TFC change; and (e) a significant negative relationship between co‐therapists' experience level differences and two dimensions of rated TFC change. Discussion of these findings focused on implications for the clinical practice of conjoint couples' therapy.