Married, Cohabiting, and Dating Couples Presenting for Couple and Family Therapy

There is limited research on the nature and presenting concerns of different-sex cohabiting couples attending therapy. Research suggests that cohabiting and dating couples have lower levels of commitment, which makes their participation in therapy idiosyncratic (Smock, 2000). Information on this group of cohabiters and daters presenting for therapy would add to our knowledge of non-married intimate relationships in general, and provide implications for a population that is already participating in family therapy. Given the increasing number of individuals choosing a cohabiting lifestyle, studying this population is imperative in order to understand the changing nature of couple relationships in the US. The primary research question is what are the characteristics of cohabiting and dating couples presenting at therapy? A secondary question is whether therapeutic techniques traditionally used with married couples are equally viable with cohabiting couples? The sample includes two hundred-twenty-eight different-sex couples attending family therapy in a clinic at a mid-west university. Variables of interest include relationship type, relationship duration, relationship satisfaction, commitment, and the level of differentiation of self. From a social exchange perspective, married couples have more barriers to union dissolution, and may rely on societal standards to keep their relationship together despite relational difficulties.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Human Ecology: Human Development and Family Science

Grantor dc:publisher

The Ohio State University

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Shannon, Samuel Tomas

Contributors dc:contributor

• Bartle-Haring, Suzanne

• Families and Family Life
• Individual and Family Studies
• Therapy
• cohabiting
• couples and family therapy
• satisfaction
• commitment

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1355943711

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:osu1355943711