Exploratory Analysis of Pursue-Withdraw Patterns, Attachment, and Gender among Couples in Emotionally Focused Therapy. Issue 1 (1st January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huerta, Patricia; Edwards, Caitlin; Asiimwe, Ronald; PettyJohn, Morgan; VanBoxel, Jennifer; Morgan, Preston; Wittenborn, Andrea K.
• Is Part Of: American journal of family therapy. Volume 51:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 57
• Page End: 75
• Publication Date: 2023-01-01
• Subjects: EFT -- attachment -- couple therapy -- clinical research -- gender; Family psychotherapy -- Periodicals; Family Therapy; Marital Therapy; Family; Counseling; 616.8915605
• DOI: 10.1080/01926187.2022.2129521
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0192-6187

Abstract

Abstract: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is an empirically supported treatment for couples experiencing relationship distress. EFT therapists use the pursue-withdraw cycle to track and attend to couples' patterns of interaction and attachment behaviors. However, the relationships between pursue-withdraw categorization and gender and attachment in clinical couples are underexplored. We examined the theoretical mechanisms associated with these relationships and analyzed data from an RCT evaluating EFT's effectiveness addressing couples' relationship satisfaction and depression. Our analysis indicated that study therapists categorized all men as withdrawers and women as pursuers. Conversely, the relationship between attachment and pursue-withdraw categorization was non-significant. Clinical implications are discussed.