Common Factors in the Enhancement of Dyadic Coping

Stress and coping are important constructs in understanding the dynamics of close relationships. Couple therapy and marital distress prevention approaches have become increasingly focused on these variables to gain knowledge of how stress and coping may impact the quality and stability of close relationships. In this paper, we outline couple's coping enhancement training (CCET) and the coping-oriented couple's therapy (COCT); both, couple interventions derived from stress and coping research. We address specific features of each approach and report data on their efficacy and effectiveness. We also examine both the common and specific factors that may play a role in the effectiveness of these approaches.

► Stress and coping are important factors in understanding the dynamics of close relationships.
► External stress is a central trigger for relationship problems; therefore, couple therapy should include coping techniques.
► Coping-oriented couples programs strengthen dyadic coping between partners and predicts long-term positive changes.
► The 3-phase method represents a novel technique allowing strengthening stress communication and dyadic coping.
► Specific (3-phase method) and common factor play an important role in the effectiveness of these new coping approaches.