TITLE:
When It Helps, When It Hurts: Preliminary Results of Relationship Enhancement Education and The Hold Me Tight Program
AUTHORS:
Adam R. Fisher, Marie F. Stokey, Hiroshi M. Sasaki, Thomas L. Sexton
KEYWORDS:
Self-Help, Psychoeducation, Relationship Education, Emotionally Focused Therapy
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.5 No.10,
August
19,
2014
ABSTRACT: Relationship
education such as self-help and group interventions may be helpful for couples
seeking to improve their relationships. This outcome study sought to provide
preliminary data on the effectiveness of two interventions for couples,
comparing the self-help book Hold Me
Tight: Seven Conversations for a
Lifetime of Love, to the 8-week relationship course, The Hold Me Tight Program: Conversations
for Connection, which includes reading the book at home. Results suggest
that reading the book alone may lead to positive change, attending the course
in addition to reading the book may not result in as much change, and that
participation in the course may have a potentially negative effect for less happy
couples in the area of dyadic consensus. Results signify the importance of
further research to understand the potential benefits as well as iatrogenic
effects of relationship education.