Couple therapy ranks among the most frequently and diligently researched topics in Marital and Family therapy (MFT). Additionally, intimate partner relationships are a key focal point for clinical intervention with increasingly more couples seeking therapy to address relational conflict, repair emotional injury, and increase intimacy (Lebow, Chambers, Christensen, & Johnson 2012). Rigorous empirical inquiry has suggested that attachment theory is a crucial foundation to understanding relationship distress and increasing relationship satisfaction (Wiebe & Johnson, 2016). Secure attachment between intimate partners can lead to an increase in trust (Pistole, 1993), healthy emotion regulation (Kobak & Hazan, 1991), and positive conflict resolution strategies (Feeny, 1998), resulting in higher overall relationship satisfaction, quality, and stability (Kirkpatrick & Davis, 1994; Simpson, 1990). However, research on attachment as a foundational pillar to relationship satisfaction has been largely correlational and conceptual. Therefore, there is a need to understand the causal link between attachment and relationship satisfaction. Aim one of this dissertation will address this gap in the literature by using a sophisticated Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM; Kenny, Kashy, & Cook, 2006) cross-lagged design to determine the causal link between attachment and relationship satisfaction using data from linked dyads in the Marine Corps. This study uses a longitudinal design with data collection taking place at four time points. Aim two uses Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT; Johnson, 2004) as a case example to highlight the need for dyadic research in MFT to strengthen the body of research for evidence-based practice and to address the gap between research evidence and clinician application.
","abstract_html":"<p>Couple therapy ranks among the most frequently and diligently researched topics in Marital and Family therapy (MFT). Additionally, intimate partner relationships are a key focal point for clinical intervention with increasingly more couples seeking therapy to address relational conflict, repair emotional injury, and increase intimacy (Lebow, Chambers, Christensen, & Johnson 2012). Rigorous empirical inquiry has suggested that attachment theory is a crucial foundation to understanding relationship distress and increasing relationship satisfaction (Wiebe & Johnson, 2016). Secure attachment between intimate partners can lead to an increase in trust (Pistole, 1993), healthy emotion regulation (Kobak & Hazan, 1991), and positive conflict resolution strategies (Feeny, 1998), resulting in higher overall relationship satisfaction, quality, and stability (Kirkpatrick & Davis, 1994; Simpson, 1990). However, research on attachment as a foundational pillar to relationship satisfaction has been largely correlational and conceptual. Therefore, there is a need to understand the causal link between attachment and relationship satisfaction. Aim one of this dissertation will address this gap in the literature by using a sophisticated Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM; Kenny, Kashy, & Cook, 2006) cross-lagged design to determine the causal link between attachment and relationship satisfaction using data from linked dyads in the Marine Corps. This study uses a longitudinal design with data collection taking place at four time points. Aim two uses Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT; Johnson, 2004) as a case example to highlight the need for dyadic research in MFT to strengthen the body of research for evidence-based practice and to address the gap between research evidence and clinician application.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Greaves, Bryson"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Marital and Family Therapy","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Distelberg, Brian J.","Furrow, James L.","Huenergardt, Douglas","Moline, Mary M."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2017,"date_issued":"2017-06-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2017-06-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:52:45Z","subjects":["Counseling","Counseling Psychology","Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling","Social and Behavioral Sciences","Couples Therapy; Marital Therapy; Object Attachment","Intimate Partner Relationships; Relational Conflict; Emotion Regulation; Conflict Resolution;"],"languages":["English"],"rights":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/486","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Distelberg, Brian J.","Furrow, James L.","Huenergardt, Douglas","Moline, Mary M."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Greaves, Bryson"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Marital and Family Therapy"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Counseling","Counseling Psychology","Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling","Social and Behavioral Sciences","Couples Therapy; Marital Therapy; Object Attachment","Intimate Partner Relationships; Relational Conflict; Emotion Regulation; Conflict Resolution;"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. 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Secure attachment between intimate partners can lead to an increase in trust (Pistole, 1993), healthy emotion regulation (Kobak & Hazan, 1991), and positive conflict resolution strategies (Feeny, 1998), resulting in higher overall relationship satisfaction, quality, and stability (Kirkpatrick & Davis, 1994; Simpson, 1990). However, research on attachment as a foundational pillar to relationship satisfaction has been largely correlational and conceptual. Therefore, there is a need to understand the causal link between attachment and relationship satisfaction. Aim one of this dissertation will address this gap in the literature by using a sophisticated Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM; Kenny, Kashy, & Cook, 2006) cross-lagged design to determine the causal link between attachment and relationship satisfaction using data from linked dyads in the Marine Corps. This study uses a longitudinal design with data collection taking place at four time points. Aim two uses Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT; Johnson, 2004) as a case example to highlight the need for dyadic research in MFT to strengthen the body of research for evidence-based practice and to address the gap between research evidence and clinician application.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Dyadic Research in Couple Therapy: The Link between Attachment and Relationship Satisfaction"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Distelberg, Brian J.","Furrow, James L.","Huenergardt, Douglas","Moline, Mary M."],"dc:creator":["Greaves, Bryson"],"dc:description.abstract":["Couple therapy ranks among the most frequently and diligently researched topics in Marital and Family therapy (MFT). Additionally, intimate partner relationships are a key focal point for clinical intervention with increasingly more couples seeking therapy to address relational conflict, repair emotional injury, and increase intimacy (Lebow, Chambers, Christensen, & Johnson 2012). Rigorous empirical inquiry has suggested that attachment theory is a crucial foundation to understanding relationship distress and increasing relationship satisfaction (Wiebe & Johnson, 2016). Secure attachment between intimate partners can lead to an increase in trust (Pistole, 1993), healthy emotion regulation (Kobak & Hazan, 1991), and positive conflict resolution strategies (Feeny, 1998), resulting in higher overall relationship satisfaction, quality, and stability (Kirkpatrick & Davis, 1994; Simpson, 1990). However, research on attachment as a foundational pillar to relationship satisfaction has been largely correlational and conceptual. Therefore, there is a need to understand the causal link between attachment and relationship satisfaction. Aim one of this dissertation will address this gap in the literature by using a sophisticated Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM; Kenny, Kashy, & Cook, 2006) cross-lagged design to determine the causal link between attachment and relationship satisfaction using data from linked dyads in the Marine Corps. This study uses a longitudinal design with data collection taking place at four time points. Aim two uses Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT; Johnson, 2004) as a case example to highlight the need for dyadic research in MFT to strengthen the body of research for evidence-based practice and to address the gap between research evidence and clinician application.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/486"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:rights":["This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights."],"dc:subject":["Counseling","Counseling Psychology","Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling","Social and Behavioral Sciences","Couples Therapy; Marital Therapy; Object Attachment","Intimate Partner Relationships; Relational Conflict; Emotion Regulation; Conflict Resolution;"],"dc:title":["Dyadic Research in Couple Therapy: The Link between Attachment and Relationship Satisfaction"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Marital and Family Therapy"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:52:45Z"}