A comparison of the generalization of behavioral marital therapy and enhanced behavioral marital therapy

Abstract

This study examined the generalization of behavioral marital therapy (BMT) and enhanced behavioral marital therapy (EBMT), which added cognitive restructuring, affect exploration, and generalization training to BMT. Couples' communication and cognitions were assessed in the clinic and at home. Both BMT and EBMT were effective in decreasing negative communication behaviors and cognition across settings, but there was little evidence of differential generalization or change between the treatments. A series of regression equations showed no significant association between the extent of change in communication or cognitions and change in frequency of marital disagreements or marital satisfaction. It is concluded that BMT results in impressive generalization of communication and cognitive change, but it remains to be demonstrated that these changes are crucial to improvements in marital satisfaction.