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Relational uncertainty refers to the questions people have about their perceptions of involvement within close relationships. To complement a wealth of research examining the link between relational uncertainty and people's self-reported communication strategies, we investigate relational uncertainty as a predictor of behavioral sequences within interaction. We draw on both seminal and contemporary theorizing to hypothesize that relational uncertainty impedes dyadic synchrony, or the coordination between partners within interaction. Couples (N = 97) participated in a 5-minute discussion designed to facilitate expressions of intimacy; we coded these interactions using the circumplex-based Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) model. We evaluated whether couples experiencing relational uncertainty exhibit forms of dyadic asynchrony in which self-disclosure and validation are met by a partner's hostility. Sequential analyses revealed that, after covarying relationship quality, relationship uncertainty was associated with sequences of self-disclosure/hostility among men (H1), and self uncertainty and relationship uncertainty were associated with sequences of validation/hostility among both men and women (H2). Partner uncertainty did not predict dyadic asynchrony in either form. These findings advance scholarship on relational uncertainty by underscoring the importance of sequential exchanges within couple interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Affectionate communication may play a key role in how military couples navigate the transition from deployment to reintegration. Informed by relational turbulence theory, this study considered how the trajectory of relational turbulence experienced by military couples over time predicted their verbal and nonverbal expressions of affection. Online self-report data were gathered from 268 U.S. military couples across eight months beginning at homecoming. Relational turbulence increased over time and affectionate communication decreased over time. Also as predicted, the trajectory of increasing relational turbulence corresponded with greater declines in verbal and nonverbal expressions of affection. These results advance relational turbulence theory, illuminate the trajectory of affectionate communication over time, and inform ways to assist military couples upon reunion after deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To purchase or authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2008.00254.x Byline: WILLIAM M. PINSOF ([dagger]), RICHARD ZINBARG ([dagger]), LYNNE M. KNOBLOCH-FEDDERS ([dagger]) Keywords: Alliance; Integrative; Validity Abstract: The Integrative Psychotherapy Alliance model brought an interpersonal and systemic perspective to bear on theory, research, and practice on the psychotherapeutic alliance. Questions have been raised about the independence of the theoretical factors in the model and their operationalization in the Individual, Couple, and Family Therapy Alliance Scales. This paper presents results of a confirmatory factor analysis of the scales that delineated at least three distinct interpersonal factors as well as shorter versions of the three scales to facilitate their use in research and practice. The paper also presents the results of a study testing each factor's association with client retention and progress over the first eight sessions in individual and couple therapy. At least two of the interpersonal factors were uniquely associated with progress in individual and couple functioning. Implications of the results for theory, research, practice, and training in individual, couple, and family therapy are elaborated. Abstract (French) RESUMEN Validez de constructo y factorial de las versiones cortas revisadas de las escalas de alianza en psicoterapia integradora para la terapia familiar, de pareja e individual El modelo de alianza psicoterapeutica integradora aplico una perspectiva sistemica e interpersonal en la teoria, la investigacion y la practica de la alianza psicoterapeutica. Se cuestiono la independencia de los factores teoricos en el modelo y su operacionalizacion en las escalas de alianza en terapia individual, de pareja y familiar. Este articulo presenta resultados de un analisis factorial confirmativo de las escalas que delinearon por lo menos tres factores interpersonales distintos, como tambien versiones mas cortas de las tres escalas para facilitar su uso en la investigacion y la practica. El articulo tambien presenta los resultados de un estudio que analiza la asociacion de cada factor con la fidelizacion de clientes y la evolucion durante las primeras ocho sesiones en terapia individual y de pareja. Por lo menos dos de los factores interpersonales estuvieron asociados exclusivamente con la evolucion en el funcionamiento individual y de pareja. Se elaboran las implicancias de los resultados para la teoria, la investigacion, la practica y la capacitacion en terapia individual, de pareja y familiar. Palabras clave: alianza, analisis factorial, validez de constructo, evolucion/resultado, integracion Author Affiliation: ([dagger])Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies, The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Psychology Department, Northwestern University Article note: Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to William M. Pinsof, Center for Applied Psychological and Family Studies, The Family Institute at Northwestern University, 618 Library Place, Evanston, IL 60201. E-mail: w-pinsof@northwestern.edu

Relational uncertainty is both prominent and pivotal during the transition from deployment to reintegration. Most prior research has considered the outcomes rather than the origins of relational uncertainty, hampering the development of interventions for military couples. We theorize about two predictors of relational uncertainty during the post-deployment transition: suspicion about a partner's deception and trust. Results of an 8-wave longitudinal study involving 287 U.S. military couples (N = 4,147 observations) revealed that relational uncertainty increased over the transition for both returning service members and at-home partners. Suspicion about a partner's deception, and particularly trust, predicted the relational uncertainty of military couples at homecoming and over time. These findings advance knowledge about the roots of relational uncertainty and suggest ways to assist military couples upon reunion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated associations between couples' interpersonal behavior, depressive symptoms, and relationship distress over the course of couple psychotherapy. Method: After every other session of Integrative Systemic Therapy (M = 13 sessions), N = 100 individuals within 50 couples rated their in-session affiliation and autonomy behavior using the circumplex-based Structural Analysis of Social Behavior Intrex. Concurrent and prospective associations of interpersonal behavior with depressive symptoms and relationship distress were evaluated via multivariate multilevel modeling using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model. Results: An individual's hostility, as well as the partner's hostility, positively predicted an individual's concurrent depressive symptoms and relationship distress, as well as his or her relationship distress at the following session. Partner hostility during one session predicted an individual's subsequent depressive symptoms. During sessions in which individuals controlled the partner, and separated themselves from the partner, they reported more concurrent depressive symptoms and relationship distress, and more subsequent relationship distress. When partners separated themselves, individuals reported more concurrent depressive symptoms and relationship distress, and more subsequent relationship distress. Conclusions: Results underscore the importance of couples' in-session affiliation and autonomy behavior in the treatment of depressive symptoms and relationship distress within couple therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Understanding the factors that predict the reintegration difficulty of military couples during the postdeployment transition has important implications for theory, research, and practice. Building on the logic of the relational turbulence model, this paper evaluates the relationship processes of reunion uncertainty and reintegration interference from a partner as mediators of the connection between people's mental health symptoms and their difficulty with reintegration after deployment. Method: Dyadic longitudinal data were collected from 555 US military couples once per month for 8 consecutive months. Results: Findings mapped the trajectory of reintegration difficulty and suggested reunion uncertainty and reintegration interference from a partner as mediators of the link between people's depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms and the magnitude of their reintegration difficulty. Conclusion: These results highlight relationship processes as a key domain of intervention to preserve the well‐being of military couples during the postdeployment transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the associations between relationship distress, depression symptoms, and discrepancy in interpersonal perception within couples. After completing a series of discussion tasks, couples ( N = 88) rated their behavior using the circumplex-based Structural Analysis of Social Behavior Model ( SASB; Benjamin, 1979, 1987, 2000). Overall, couple members were strikingly similar in their interpersonal perceptions, and tended to see themselves as friendly, reciprocal in their focus, and balanced between connection and separateness. As hypothesized, however, perceptual discrepancy was related to relationship distress and depression. Relationship distress was associated with discrepancy regarding transitive behavior focused on the partner, while depression was associated with disagreement about intransitive, self-focused behavior. Analysis of affiliation and autonomy revealed that relationship distress was associated with seeing oneself as reacting with more hostility than the partner sees, and perceiving one's partner as more hostile, more controlling, and less submissive than he or she does. Partners of depressed individuals viewed themselves as more controlling than their mate did. Men's depression was associated with disagreement between partners regarding men's self-focused behavior. Results underscore the importance of considering interpersonal perception when conceptualizing relationship distress and depression within intimate relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1983, a group of 14 prominent psychotherapy process researchers attended a workshop sponsored by the US National Institute of Mental Health. Although the previous decade had seen a marked emphasis on psychotherapy outcome research, there had also been several major advances in the field of process research. The goals of the workshop were to review the current state of the field, address methodological and conceptual issues, and provide recommendations to advance scholarship in this area. In this paper, we summarize the major themes of the workshop and consider the degree to which its recommendations have come to fruition via subsequent developments in the field. Although 30 years have passed since the workshop was held, its insights remain highly relevant to psychotherapy process research today. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]