Thursday, August 22, 2002

A story released today by the United Press International reports that according to researchers form Loyola University in Chicago, commitment to the idea of marriage, sharing values and mutual affection hold a troubled marriage together better than communication skills or financial concerns.

"Perhaps psychologists and counselors who deal with couples in troubled relationships should have their patients concentrate more on what they have in common rather than suggesting 'better communication'," said Marilyn Susman, associate professor of counseling psychology at Loyola University in Chicago.

"We found that intra-personal characteristics of the couple -- affection, commitment, shared values, optimism, tolerance -- were most important in holding the relationship together," she said during her presentation at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association.

She suggested couples who stay together despite their troubles find ways of building upon things in their relationship that both parties cherish and desire. She added clinicians should consider these factors in addressing issues of conflict and resolution when conducting marital therapy.

"I think this study is a good starting point for understanding why some couples stay together and others do not," said Malcolm Anderson, associate professor of psychology at Argosy University-Georgia School of Professional Psychology in Atlanta.

Anderson noted that the research conducted by Susman appears to be similar to what he finds when he counsels couples in his private practice. He indicated some clinicians might have to re-evaluate the benefits of emphasizing communications skills over other factors in relationships.

Susman said the study involved various ethnic groups in the United States, and although there were some differences in how important the intrapersonal characteristics ranked, overall those types of characteristics defined couples who stayed rather than split.