The Interplay Between Relationship Dissatisfaction and Individual Symptoms: Insights From Dyadic Analyses

Clients seeking couple therapy often experience a blend of individual psychiatric symptoms and severe relationship distress. In a study among 150 heterosexual couples within residential couple therapy in Norway, the aim was to investigate the relationship between individual and relationship distress. The research questions addressed the predictive associations between initial and termination levels of individual and relational distress. By the use of dyadic analysis, the findings identified actor and partner effects. Overall, the results revealed that the level of relational distress at the start of therapy predicted the change in individual psychiatric symptoms more than the opposite direction. No gender differences were revealed. The clinical implications suggest that addressing interventions that strengthen dyadic satisfaction and family functioning is beneficial.