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Couple attachment and relationship duration in psychotherapy patients: exploring a new methodology of assessment

  • Antigonos Sochos
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Abstract

The couple relationship is an essential source of support for individuals undergoing psychological treatment and the aim of this study was to apply a new methodology in assessing the quality of such support. A theoretically informed thematic analysis of interview transcripts was conducted, triangulated by quantitative data. Twenty-one brief psychotherapy outpatients were interviewed on their couple relationships before they embarked on cognitive analytic therapy. Patients suffered from a variety of psychological difficulties, including anxiety, depression and personality disorder. Thematic analysis captured empirically eight components of couple attachment as proposed by theory. Thematic analysis also suggested that these components defined four overarching relationship themes, indicating different types of relational difficulties experienced by the patients. Triangulation with quantitative data suggested that relationship themes were unrelated to severity and type of patient pathology but were associated with the duration of the relationship. A stage theory of couple attachment formation may provide a useful framework for understanding the findings. © 2013 © 2013 Taylor & Francis.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 138-153

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

British Journal of Guidance and Counselling (Volume 42, Issue 2)

Publication milestones

  • Accepted/In press - 18/09/2013
  • Published - 25/10/2013

Publication status

Published - 25/10/2013

ISSN

0306-9885

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/624431
  • Scopus: 84896701693

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