When It Helps, When It Hurts: Preliminary Results of Relationship Enhancement Education and The Hold Me Tight Program

doi:10.4236/psych.2014.510137

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When It Helps, When It Hurts: Preliminary Results of Relationship Enhancement Education and The Hold Me Tight Program

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DOI: 10.4236/psych.2014.510137 1,372 Downloads 1,525 Views Citations

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Adam R. Fisher, Marie F. Stokey, Hiroshi M. Sasaki, Thomas L. Sexton

Affiliation(s)

Indiana University, Bloomington, USA.
Indiana University, Bloomington, USA.
University of the West, Rosemead, USA.
Indiana University, Bloomington, USA.

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.

KEYWORDS

Self-Help, Psychoeducation, Relationship Education, Emotionally Focused Therapy

Cite this paper

Fisher, A. , Stokey, M. , Sasaki, H. & Sexton, T. (2014). When It Helps, When It Hurts: Preliminary Results of Relationship Enhancement Education and The Hold Me Tight Program. Psychology, 5, 1254-1259. doi: 10.4236/psych.2014.510137.

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