Skip to main content

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
Cancel
×
×
Home
  • Home
Article

A Systematic Review of Controlled Trials Evaluating Interventions Following Non-Marital Relationship Separation

  • Dominique Kazan (a1), Alison L. Calear (a1) and Philip J. Batterham (a1)
Abstract

The effect of a relationship separation on wellbeing is substantial. However, without divorce parameters, individuals in dating or cohabiting relationships may struggle to access support mechanisms. A systematic review was conducted to identify controlled trials of interventions targeting individuals who have experienced a non-marital relationship separation, to supplement the divorce literature. The aim of the review was to assess the impact of these interventions on mental health. Five articles were identified through PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES and Medline databases. Overall, two of the trials reported a significant improvement in specific mental health outcomes at post-test and/or follow-up. Of the two trials demonstrating efficacy in mental health outcomes, one used a weekly, forgiveness-based group intervention and the other was a writing-based, self-initiated intervention. A lack of trials testing theory-driven interventions for relationship separation is of particular concern. Limitations of the existing literature and corresponding directions for future research are discussed.

Copyright
COPYRIGHT: © The Author(s) 2017 
Corresponding author
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Dominique Kazan, The Australian National University, 63 Eggleston Road, Acton ACT 2601 Australia. Email: dominique.kazan@anu.edu.au
References
Hide All
Barney, L.J., Griffiths, K.M., Jorm, A.F., & Christensen, H. (2006). Stigma about depression and its impact on help-seeking intentions. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 40, 51–54.
Batterham, P.J., Fairweather-Schmidt, A.K., Butterworth, P., Calear, A.L., Mackinnon, A.J., & Christensen, H. (2014). Temporal effects of separation on suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Social Science & Medicine, 111, 58–63.
Beck, A.T., Epstein, N., Brown, G., & Steer, R.A. (1988). An inventory for measuring clinical anxiety: Psychometric properties. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 893–897.
Beck, A.T., Ward, C., & Mendelson, M. (1961). Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Archives of General Psychiatry, 4, 561–571.
Blekesaune, M. (2008). Partnership transitions and mental distress: Investigating temporal order. Journal of Marriage and Family, 70, 879–890.
Bollen, K.N., Verbeke, A.-L., & Euwema, M.C. (2014). Computers work for women: Gender differences in e-supported divorce mediation. Computers in Human Behavior, 30, 230–237.
Bonach, K., & Sales, E. (2002). Forgiveness as a mediator between post divorce cognitive processes and coparenting quality. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 38, 17–38.
Brotherson, S.E., White, J., & Masich, C. (2010). Parents forever: An assessment of the perceived value of a brief divorce education program. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 51, 465–490.
Brown, S.L. (2000). Fertility following marital dissolution the role of cohabitation. Journal of Family Issues, 21, 501–524.
Chung, M.C., Farmer, S., Grant, K., Newton, R., Payne, S., Perry, M., . . . Stone, N. (2003). Coping with post-traumatic stress symptoms following relationship dissolution. Stress and Health, 19, 27–36.
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Costello, C., & Comrey, A.L. (1967). Scales for measuring depression and anxiety. The Journal of Psychology, 66, 303–313.
Cuijpers, P., Geraedts, A.S., van Oppen, P., Andersson, G., Markowitz, J.C., & van Straten, A. (2011). Interpersonal psychotherapy for depression: A meta-analysis. American Journal of Psychiatry, 168, 581–592.
de Mello, M.F., de Jesus Mari, J., Bacaltchuk, J., Verdeli, H., & Neugebauer, R. (2005). A systematic review of research findings on the efficacy of interpersonal therapy for depressive disorders. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 255, 75–82.
Effective Practice Organisation of Care (EPOC). 2015. Suggested risk of bias criteria for EPOC reviews. Oslo: Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services. Retrieved from http://epoc.cochrane.org/epoc-specific-resources-review-authors
Emery, R.E., Sbarra, D., & Grover, T. (2005). Divorce mediation: Research and reflections. Family Court Review, 43, 22–37.
Enright, R.D., & Fitzgibbons, R.P. (2000). Helping clients forgive: An empirical guide for resolving anger and restoring hope. In Enright, R.D. & Fitzgibbons, R.P. (Eds.), The process model of forgiveness therapy (pp. 65–88). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Finkel, E.J., Slotter, E.B., Luchies, L.B., Walton, G.M., & Gross, J.J. (2013). A brief intervention to promote conflict reappraisal preserves marital quality over time. Psychological Science, 24, 1595–601.
Fleming, C.B., White, H.R., & Catalano, R.F. (2010). Romantic relationships and substance use in early adulthood an examination of the influences of relationship type, partner substance use, and relationship quality. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 51, 153–167.
Frattaroli, J. (2006). Experimental disclosure and its moderators: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 132, 823–865.
Gibb, S.J., Fergusson, D.M., & Horwood, L.J. (2011). Relationship duration and mental health outcomes: Findings from a 30-year longitudinal study. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 198, 24–30.
Gilbert, S.P., & Sifers, S.K. (2011). Bouncing back from a breakup: Attachment, time perspective, mental health, and romantic loss. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 25, 295–310.
Gulliver, A., Griffiths, K.M., & Christensen, H. (2010). Perceived barriers and facilitators to mental health help-seeking in young people: A systematic review. BMC Psychiatry, 10, 113.
Hasselmo, K., Sbarra, D.A., O'Connor, M.F., & Moreno, F.A. (2015). Psychological distress following marital separation interacts with a polymorphism in the serotonin transporter gene to predict cardiac vagal control in the laboratory. Psychophysiology, 52, 736–744.
Heikkinen, M., Aro, H., & Lönnqvist, J. (1992a). The partners’ views on precipitant stressors in suicide. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 85, 380–384.
Heikkinen, M., Aro, H., & Lönnqvist, J. (1992b). Recent life events and their role in suicide as seen by the spouses. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 86, 489–494.
Hirai, M., Skidmore, S.T., Clum, G.A., & Dolma, S. (2012). An investigation of the efficacy of online expressive writing for trauma-related psychological distress in Hispanic individuals. Behavior Therapy, 43, 812–824.
Horowitz, M., Wilner, N., & Alvarez, W. (1979). Impact of Event Scale: A measure of subjective stress. Psychosomatic Medicine, 41, 209–218.
Jacobs, N., & Jaffe, R. (2010). Investigating the efficacy of CoMet, a new mediation model for high-conflict separating parents. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 38, 16–31.
Kazan, D., Calear, A.L., & Batterham, P.J. (2016). The impact of intimate partner relationships on suicidal thoughts and behaviours: A systematic review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 190, 585–598.
Krpan, K.M., Kross, E., Berman, M.G., Deldin, P.J., Askren, M.K., & Jonides, J. (2013). An everyday activity as a treatment for depression: The benefits of expressive writing for people diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 150, 1148–1151.
Larson, G.M., & Sbarra, D.A. (2015). Participating in research on romantic breakups promotes emotional recovery via changes in self-concept clarity. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 6, 399–406.
Lee, C.M., Picard, M., & Blain, M.D. (1994). A methodological and substantive review of intervention outcome studies for families undergoing divorce. Journal of Family Psychology, 8, 3–15.
Lepore, S.J., & Greenberg, M.A. (2002). Mending broken hearts: Effects of expressive writing on mood, cognitive processing, social adjustment and health following a relationship breakup. Psychology and Health, 17, 547–560.
Lewandowski, G.W. Jr. (2009). Promoting positive emotions following relationship dissolution through writing. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4, 21–31.
Lewandowski, G.W. Jr., & Bizzoco, N.M. (2007). Addition through subtraction: Growth following the dissolution of a low quality relationship. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2, 40–54.
Liefbroer, A.C., & Dourleijn, E. (2006). Unmarried cohabitation and union stability: Testing the role of diffusion using data from 16 European countries. Demography, 43, 203–221.
Lipsitz, J.D., & Markowitz, J.C. (2013). Mechanisms of change in interpersonal therapy (IPT). Clinical Psychology Review, 33, 1134–1147.
Moher, D., Jones, A., Cook, D.J., Jadad, A.R., Moher, M., Tugwell, P., & Klassen, T.P. (1998). Does quality of reports of randomised trials affect estimates of intervention efficacy reported in meta-analyses? The Lancet, 352, 609–613.
Morris, C.E., Reiber, C., & Roman, E. (2015). Quantitative sex differences in response to the dissolution of a romantic relationship. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, 9, 270–282.
Mufson, L., Gallagher, T., Dorta, K.P., & Young, J.F. (2004). A group adaptation of interpersonal psychotherapy for depressed adolescents. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 58, 220–237.
Primeau, J.E., Servaty-Seib, H.L., & Enersen, D. (2013). Type of writing task and college students’ meaning making following a romantic breakup. Journal of College Counseling, 16, 32–48.
Rhoades, G.K., Kamp Dush, C.M., Atkins, D.C., Stanley, S.M., & Markman, H.J. (2011). Breaking up is hard to do: The impact of unmarried relationship dissolution on mental health and life satisfaction. Journal of Family Psychology, 25, 366–374.
Rohde-Brown, J., & Rudestam, K.E. (2011). The role of forgiveness in divorce adjustment and the impact of affect. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 52, 109–124.
Rye, M.S., Fleri, A.M., Moore, C.D., Worthington, E.L. Jr., Wade, N.G., Sandage, S.J., & Cook, K.M. (2012). Evaluation of an intervention designed to help divorced parents forgive their ex-spouse. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 53, 231–245.
Rye, M.S., Folck, C.D., Heim, T.A., Olszewski, B.T., & Traina, E. (2004). Forgiveness of an ex-spouse: How does it relate to mental health following a divorce? Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 41, 31–51.
Rye, M.S., & Pargament, K.I. (2002). Forgiveness and romantic relationships in college: Can it heal the wounded heart? Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58, 419–441.
Rye, M.S., Pargament, K.I., Pan, W., Yingling, D.W., Shogren, K.A., & Ito, M. (2005). Can group interventions facilitate forgiveness of an ex-spouse? A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73, 880.
Samios, C., Henson, D.F., & Simpson, H.J. (2014). Benefit finding and psychological adjustment following a non-marital relationship breakup. Journal of Relationships Research, 5, 1–8.
Sbarra, D.A., Boals, A., Mason, A.E., Larson, G.M., & Mehl, M.R. (2013). Expressive writing can impede emotional recovery following marital separation. Clinical Psychological Science, 1, 120–134.
Sbarra, D.A., Emery, R.E., Beam, C.R., & Ocker, B.L. (2014). Marital dissolution and major depression in midlife a propensity score analysis. Clinical Psychological Science, 2, 249–257.
Sbarra, D.A., Hasselmo, K., & Bourassa, K.J. (2015). Divorce and health beyond individual differences. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 24, 109–113.
Sbarra, D.A., Law, R.W., & Portley, R.M. (2011). Divorce and death: A meta-analysis and research agenda for clinical, social, and health psychology. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6, 454–474.
Shacham, S. (1983). A shortened version of the Profile of Mood States. Journal of Personality Assessment, 47, 305–306.
Sprenkle, D.H., & Storm, C.L. (1983). Divorce therapy outcome research: A substantive and methodological review. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 9, 239–258.
Strouse, J., & Roehrle, B. (2011). A meta-analysis of intervention outcome studies for adults undergoing separation and divorce. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 13, 17–29.
Tashiro, T., & Frazier, P. (2003). ‘I'll never be in a relationship like that again’: Personal growth following romantic relationship breakups. Personal Relationships, 10, 113–128.
Tavares, L.P., & Aassve, A. (2013). Psychological distress of marital and cohabitation breakups. Social Science Research, 42, 1599–1611.
Vennum, A., Lindstrom, R., Monk, J.K., & Adams, R. (2014). ‘It's complicated.’ The continuity and correlates of cycling in cohabiting and marital relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 31, 410–430.
Weiss, D.S. (2007). The Impact of Event Scale: Revised. In Wilson, J.P. & Sokum Tang, C. (Eds.), Cross-cultural assessment of psychological trauma and PTSD (pp. 219–238). New York, NY: Springer.
Wu, Z., & Hart, R. (2002). The effects of marital and nonmarital union transition on health. Journal of Marriage and Family, 64, 420–432.
Yárnoz-Yaben, S. (2015). Forgiveness, adjustment to divorce and support from the former spouse in Spain. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24, 289–297.
Yárnoz Yaben, S. (2009). Forgiveness, attachment, and divorce. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 50, 282–294.
Yeager, D.S., & Walton, G.M. (2011). Social-psychological interventions in education: They're not magic. Review of Educational Research, 81, 267–301.
Zhang, T., Fu, H., & Wan, Y. (2014). The application of group forgiveness intervention for courtship-hurt college students: A Chinese perspective. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 64, 298–320.
Zimpfer, D.G. (1990). Groups for divorce separation: A review. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 15, 51–60.
Recommend this journal

Email your librarian or administrator to recommend adding this journal to your organisation's collection.

Journal of Relationships Research
  • ISSN: -
  • EISSN: 1838-0956
  • URL: /core/journals/journal-of-relationships-research
Please enter your name
Please enter a valid email address
Who would you like to send this to? *

CAPTCHA *

Skip to the audio challenge
×

Keywords:

Metrics

Full text views

Total number of HTML views: 2
Total number of PDF views: 30 *
Loading metrics...

Abstract views

Total abstract views: 363 *
Loading metrics...

* Views captured on Cambridge Core between 6th March 2017 - 13th June 2018. This data will be updated every 24 hours.

Cancel
Confirm
×