1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«[T]he main purpose of the present study was to determine the role of sociodemographic variables, therapeutic mandates (i.e., alleviation of couple distress or ambivalence resolution) and pre-treatment prognostic indicators (i.e., relationship distress and attachment) in the prediction of early termination of couple treatment.» (p. 63)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«Based on the slowly growing data-base on early termination, we hypothesized that elevated initial couple distress would increase the likelihood of early termination, as assessed by therapists. We hypothesized that partners pursuing an ambivalence resolution mandate would present a higher rate of early termination as compared to couples seeking help for the alleviation of relationship distress. Finally, it was hypothesized that elevated attachment insecurity, expressed through either anxiety or avoidance, would increase the likelihood of couple therapy early termination.» (p. 63)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«Between September 2005 and February 2009, 148 heterosexual couples who initiated therapy at a fee-for-service couple therapy clinic affiliated with the University of Montreal and located in the Montreal, Quebec, Canada area were recruited. » (p. 63) «The therapists who participated in the study were 6 licensed psychologists […]; 2 clinical psychology doctoral interns […]; and 8 clinical psychology graduate trainees […].» (p. 64)

Instruments :
Questionnaire

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«Many significant findings emerged from the present study. First, the prevalence rate of early termination of couple treatment in a fee-for-service clinic reached 25 %. Ambivalent couples were more prone to drop out of couple treatment (42.9 %) than couples in which the main treatment goal was to alleviate relationship distress (18.9 %). […] Second, [a]s expected, demographic factors were not significantly related to treatment discontinuation, but theoretically-relevant predictors were identified. More specifically, relationship distress, therapeutic mandates, and attachment anxiety were, alone or in interaction, consistent predictors of early treatment discontinuation. […] The present results also reveal that, for women, the role of pre-treatment relationship distress is contextualized by men’s attachment anxiety. More specifically, the association between women’s relationship distress and early termination was significant only when men evidenced high attachment anxiety.» (p. 68) «In the present study, the most robust predictor of early termination in couple treatment was an ambivalence resolution mandate. In contrast, couples seeking help for an alleviation of distress mandate were four times more likely, according to their therapist’s judgment, to complete couple therapy.» (p. 68-69)