The effect of changes in individual communication behaviors during prep on couples' risk for becoming maritally distressed.

摘要

The recent findings of Schilling, Baucom, Burnett, Allen, and Ragland (2003) and Baucom, Hahlweg, Engl, Thurmaier, and Schilling (in press) suggest that increasing female positive communication or decreasing female negative communication during the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) may increase risk for marital distress among program participants. The current investigation re-examines the couples studied by Schilling et al., using ratings on individual communication behaviors, not composite communication scores, to predict risk for marital distress in both males and females participating in a weekend version of PREP. Results suggest that increasing females' clear and constructive communication, decreasing their argument-encouraging behaviors, or decreasing their denial behaviors increases risk for distress in PREP participants. Results concerning male individual communication behaviors as well as participants' initial risk for marital distress are also discussed and new hypotheses regarding the effects of communication change in PREP females on risk for marital distress are outlined.