Toward Comprehensive Behavioral Family Intervention

A comprehensive behavioral family intervention would serve a heterogeneous family population and would be comprised of public and replicable decision-making rules and intervention techniques. Current family behavior and priorities, rather than crude surrogates such as socioeconomic status, would generate matching decisions. As a step towards a comprehensive behavioral family intervention, this paper presents an algorithm to solve the problem of matching families and behavioral child-related interventions. The algorithm reveals that the needs of some families might not be met by the three prevalent child-related interventions: contingency management, contingency contracting, and problem-solving training. Sample interventions that might meet these needs are briefly described: parent self-control training, parent self-sufficiency training, and marital problem-solving training.

Reflections on partner violence: 20 years of research and beyond

The authors reflect on past research and technology as well as their hopes for future innovations within the field of intimate partner violence. They review work that has contributed to current conceptual definitions of partner violence, particularly those that have shaped the field's broadened perspective. They discuss technological and measurement innovations that have contributed to more accurate assessments of violence prevalence. The authors believe that via these technologies, the true extent of violence within the home has been made known. In conclusion, the authors argue that to reduce violence between partners, there is an overwhelming need for future researchers to build on past data, develop improved theories, and apply those ideas to prevention and intervention techniques and programs. Furthermore, they believe that it is imperative for current and future programs to be extensively evaluated and tested for their effectiveness.

Short- and long-term effects of a marital enrichment program upon couple functioning

Short- and long-term effects of a new marital enrichment program (MEP), based upon Sager's contractual model of couple functioning, were evaluated using both self-inventories (DAS, MCI) and behavioral scales (MICS). Couples were randomly assigned to either no-treatment control conditions or the 20-hour long MEP. Evaluations of marital functioning of both groups were repeatedly done during the experimentation, at pretest, midtest, posttest and follow-up 1 (two months after completion of the program). A second follow-up on the experimental couples was done a year after the end of MEP. Significant results were obtained for five of the seven criterion variables (marital adjustment and communication and certain aspects of problem-solving behavior). Positive gains shown by the experimental couples in the subjective measures were maintained for an entire year following MEP. It was concluded that the program succeeded in meeting both its short- and long-term goals, thus representing a most promising preventative strategy to modern couple living.

Naturalistic observation in assessment of behavioral marital therapy

The purpose of the present study was to gather preliminary naturalistic observations on the effects of behavioral marital therapy. A second purpose was to gather preliminary data on the importance of the sequence of components of a behavioral marital treatment involving communication training and training in negotiation and contracting. Marital satisfaction of seven couples participating in a marital intervention program was assessed with questionnaires and home observations during a baseline period, after a didactic education phase, after training in communication, and after training in negotiation and contracting. Four couples received communication skills training prior to training in negotiation and contracting; three couples received these components in the reverse order. A 1-yr. follow-up of marital satisfaction was also conducted. Significant increases were noted in self-reported marital satisfaction throughout the program although there was no significant relationship between outcome and the sequence of the two main treatment components. Data from naturalistic observation showed decreases in the rate of both negative and positive behaviors in marital interaction over the course of therapy.