Previous research suggests that neuroendocrine mechanisms underlie inter-individual stress coping in couples. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT), while regulating stress-sensitive HPA-axis activity might be crucial in this process. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of dyadic coping abilities and OT on HPA-axis outcomes and constructive behavior during couple conflict. We conducted a secondary analysis of our previous database (Ditzen et al., 2009), assessing the modulating role of dyadic coping and intranasal OT on couple conflict behavior. The data revealed a significant interaction effect of the dyadic coping by oneself score and OT on cortisol responses during couple conflict, suggesting that particularly individuals with low a priori dyadic coping benefit from OT in terms of dampened HPA-activity. The results are in line with previous research suggesting OT’s central role for stress regulation and prosocial behavior. Furthermore, an interaction with dyadic coping indicates adaptations in the sensitivity of the OT system during the individual attachment and relationship history. These data add to the evidence that the neuroendocrine attachment systems influence couple behavior. Future studies of neurobiological mechanisms underlying dyadic coping will be of high relevance for the development of prevention and intervention programs.

Unhappy couple relationships are associated with impaired individual health, an effect thought to be mediated through ongoing couple conflicts. Little is known, however, about the underlying mechanisms regulating psychobiological stress, and particularly autonomic nervous system (ANS) reactivity, during negative couple interaction. In this study, we tested the effects of the neuropeptide oxytocin on ANS reactivity during couple conflict in a standardized laboratory paradigm. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled design, 47 heterosexual couples (total n = 94) received oxytocin or placebo intranasally prior to instructed couple conflict. Participants' behavior was videotaped and salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), a measure of sympathetic activity, and emotional arousal were repeatedly measured during the experiment. Oxytocin significantly reduced sAA during couple conflict in women, whereas men showed increases in sAA levels (sex × group interaction: B = -49.36, t = -2.68, P = 0.009). In men, these increases were related to augmented emotional arousal (r = 0.286, P = 0.028) and more positive behavior (r = 0.291, P = 0.026), whereas there was no such association in women. Our results imply sex-specific effects of oxytocin on sympathetic activity, to negative couple interaction, with the neuropeptide reducing sAA responses and emotional arousal in women while increasing them in men.

Theoretical background: At present, little is known about variables that influence early changes in symptoms during psychotherapy. Objective: This study investigates whether various intrapersonal and interpersonal factors of depressed patients and their spouses are predictive of the course of depressive symptoms during psychotherapy. Method: Results are based on hierarchical linear modeling and included, in a randomized clinical trial, data from 60 couples, treated with cognitive-behavioral, an interpersonal, or a couple-based intervention. Results: Results show that intrapersonal variables such as duration of depression, life satisfaction, and individual coping and interpersonal variables such as social support and negative communication behavior in conflict discussions influence the course of depression during therapy. When interpersonal variables we added to intrapersonal variables, the explained variance increased from 30% to 50%. Conclusion: Interpersonal aspects should be considered further in the treatment of patients suffering from depression, because they have a significant impact on the course of depression symptoms during psychotherapy but are often neglected.

Research has shown that stressors and experienced stress are negatively correlated with sexual activity (i.e., behavior and satisfaction) within couples. Thus far, most studies have been cross-sectional and report correlations only. This study is one of the first to examine the covariation between self-perceived stress and daily sexual activity within a time period of 3 months by collecting data on stress, sexual activity, sexual satisfaction, and sexual fulfillment as well as individual and dyadic coping. The association among these variables was tested in a multilevel model that included cyclical terms to capture the regular variation of sexual behavior over the days of the week. One hundred and three female students completed questionnaires and diaries 12 times during a 3-month period just prior to a major exam. Findings suggest that higher self-reported stress in daily life was associated with lower levels of sexual activity and satisfaction and a decrease in relationship satisfaction. In addition, dyadic coping was positively associated with sexual outcomes but did not moderate the association of experienced stress and sexuality. Implications for sexuality research in close relationships and methods for studying cyclical processes are discussed.

BACKGROUND:In nonhuman mammals, the neuropeptide oxytocin has repeatedly been shown to increase social approach behavior and pair bonding. In particular, central nervous oxytocin reduces behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to social stress and is suggested to mediate the rewarding aspects of attachment in highly social species. However, to date there have been no studies investigating the effects of central oxytocin mechanisms on behavior and physiology in human couple interaction.METHODS:In a double-blind placebo-controlled design, 47 heterosexual couples (total n = 94) received oxytocin or placebo intranasally before a standard instructed couple conflict discussion in the laboratory. The conflict session was videotaped and coded for verbal and nonverbal interaction behavior (e.g., eye contact, nonverbal positive behavior, and self-disclosure). Salivary cortisol was repeatedly measured during the experiment.RESULTS:Oxytocin significantly increased positive communication behavior in relation to negative behavior during the couple conflict discussion (F = 4.18, p = .047) and significantly reduced salivary cortisol levels after the conflict compared with placebo (F = 7.14, p = .011).CONCLUSIONS:These results are in line with animal studies indicating that central oxytocin facilitates approach and pair bonding behavior. Our findings imply an involvement of oxytocin in couple interaction and close relationships in humans.

The current study is among the first to address the question of efficacy of a couple‐oriented prevention program in the context of the workplace. As many spillover and cross‐over effects between the workplace and couples’ private lives are known, such a focus seems promising. One hundred and fifty‐seven couples participating in the study were randomly assigned to three treatment conditions: a couple‐oriented intervention (Couples Coping Enhancement Training; CCET), an individual‐oriented coping intervention (ICT), and a waiting‐list control group. Self‐report data were collected at pre‐test, post‐test (2 weeks after the intervention), and at follow‐up (5 months after the training). Results are promising for the couple‐oriented intervention that significantly outperformed both the ICT and the waiting‐list control group. CCET participants scored not only higher in relationship variables (such as communication and dyadic coping) after the training but also in individual variables (e.g. burnout). These findings support the notion that companies should invest more in the well‐being of the relationships of their employees.Cette étude compte parmi les premières à aborder la question de l’efficacité d’un programme de prévention centré sur le couple dans l’environnement professionnel. Cette approche semble prometteuse puisque l’on a mis en évidence de nombreux processus de compensation et de transfert entre la vie de travail et la vie privée des couples. 157 couples relevant de la recherche ont été aléatoirement distribués dans trois conditions: une intervention centrée sur le couple (Formation des couples au renforcement du « faire‐face »—CCET), une intervention sur le « faire‐face » centré sur l’individu (ICT), et une liste d’attente faisant office de groupe contrôle. Des données fournies par les sujets ont été recueillies en pré‐test, en post‐test (deux semaines après l’intervention) et en suivi (cinq mois après l’intervention). Les résultats sont prometteurs pour l’intervention centrée sur le couple qui se révèle significativement plus performante que l’ICT et le groupe témoin. Les participants CCET ont de meilleurs résultats non seulement pour les variables relationnelles (telles que la communication et le faire‐face à deux) à l’issue de la formation, mais aussi pour les variables individuelles (par exemple le burnout). Ces constatations renforcent l’idée que les entreprises devraient investir davantage dans le bien‐être relationnel de leurs salariés.

Hintergrund: Die Wirksamkeit von verhaltenstherapeutischen Paarinterventionen ist gut dokumentiert, die erlernten Kompetenzen und die verbesserte Partnerschaftszufriedenheit sind jedoch oftmals nicht von Dauer. Durch Auffrischungssitzungen konnten erste positive Ergebnisse bei der Stabilität der Effekte gemessen werden. Allerdings ist noch unklar, ob Paare, bei denen solche Auffrischungskurse aufgrund eines hohen Trennungsrisikos indiziert wären, diese auch wirklich besuchen. Probanden und Methode: In der vorliegenden 2-Jahres-Längsschnittstudie besuchten Paare (N = 101) einen Basiskurs zur Prävention von Beziehungsstörungen (Couples Coping Enhancement Training, CCET) und konnten anschließend zu verschiedenen Zeitpunkten freiwillig an Auffrischungskursen teilnehmen. Behandlungseffekte wurden mithilfe mulitvariater Varianzanalysen und Diskriminanzanalysen ausgewertet. Ergebnisse: Paare mit und ohne Auffrischungskurse unterschieden sich bezüglich scheidungsrelevanter Variablen zu Beginn der Studie nicht wesentlich voneinander. Die Vorhersage, ob die Paare einen Auffrischungskurs besuchen würden oder nicht, erwies sich als schwierig. Paare mit Auffrischungskurs konnten allerdings die Verbesserungen nach dem Basiskurs länger aufrechterhalten. Innerhalb der Gruppe mit Auffrischungskursen zeigte sich, dass die Paare, die erst den zweiten Termin für einen Auffrischungskurs in Anspruch nahmen, höhere Werte in der Partnerschaftszufriedenheit und im dyadischen Coping aufwiesen, als die Paare, die den erstmöglichen Termin beanspruchten. Schlussfolgerung: Da viele Paare die Auffrischungssitzungen nicht besuchten, obschon dies indiziert gewesen wäre, müssen die Bemühungen verstärkt werden, diese Paare für die Teilnahme an Auffrischungssitzungen zu gewinnen.

Background: The efficacy of marital therapy and distress prevention training for couples is regarded as being well documented. However, only little is known about the mechanisms of change and how couples experience these interventions. Objective: We explored the emotional and physiological reactions of couples in the context of the 3-phases-method of Bodenmann (2004), which trains emotion-centered communication skills and exchange of dyadic coping in couples. Methods: During a conversation about a relationship external stressor, emotions and heart rate were measured. Results: Results reveal higher emotional and physiological reactions and more empathetic in reactions in women than in to men. Furthermore the :results show that dyadic coping is associated with emotional and physiological discharge. Conclusions: The results highlight the importance of dyadic coping for physiological and emotional processes during couple interventions.

Zusammenfassung. Theoretischer Hintergrund: Die Wirksamkeit von Paartherapien und präventiven Interventionsprogrammen für Paare gilt als gut dokumentiert. Das Wissen wie diese Veränderungen zustande kommen ist jedoch defizitär. Aus diesem Grund wurde gefordert, neben dem Therapieoutcome auch die Wirkungsweise der Interventionen zu erforschen. Fragestellung: Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist es zu untersuchen, wie Paare auf eine bewältigungsorientierte paartherapeutische Intervention, die 3-Phasen-Methode von Bodenmann (2004) , emotional und physiologisch reagieren. Methode: Während eines therapeutisch angeleiteten Gesprächs über ein paarexternes Stressereignis wurden bei den Paaren (N = 18) die Herzrate und das emotionale Befinden erfasst. Ergebnisse: Frauen wiesen gegenüber Männern stärkere emotionale und kardiovaskuläre Reaktionen auf und reagierten empathischer. Die Erfahrung von Unterstützung durch den Partner (dyadisches Coping) war mit einer emotionalen und physiologischen Entlastung assoziiert. Schlussfolgerung: Die Resultate unterstreichen unter anderem die Wichtigkeit des dyadischen Copings für emotionale und physiologische Prozesse während Paarinterventionen.