Evaluating the Impact of a Gottman-Based Marriage Strengthening Program on Families Adopting ...

184 Pages·2015·0.75 MB·English

by  Leah Walker

Florida State University Libraries
Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School
2013
Evaluating the Impact of a Gottman-
Based Marriage Strengthening Program on
Families Adopting Children with Special
Needs
Leah K. Walker
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FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF HUMAN SCIENCES

EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF A GOTTMAN-BASED MARRIAGE STRENGTHENING
PROGRAM ON FAMILIES ADOPTING CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

By

LEAH K. WALKER

A Dissertation submitted to the
Department of Family and Child Sciences
in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Awarded:
Fall Semester, 2013
Leah K. Walker defended this dissertation on October 21, 2013.
The members of the supervisory committee were:

Robert E. Lee
Professor Directing Dissertation

David Gussak
University Representative

Christine A. Readdick
Committee Member

The Graduate School has verified and approved the above-named committee members, and
certifies that the dissertation has been approved in accordance with university requirements.

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In memory of my father, Ernest Gross, and my sister, Linda Gross.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I often think of that phrase about the journey of a thousand miles beginning with a single step. I
began this journey as a single mother, with a baby and a 6 year old, believing it would take three
or four years. Well, the babies are now 11 and 17, and I took many more steps on that journey
than I ever imagined was possible. The journey at times became more like an odyssey with the
many slings and arrows of life that I faced along the way.

However, I finally did it, but not without the support and guidance of my major professor, Dr.
Robert E. Lee. Thank you for your patience and not giving up on me, even when I gave up on
myself. I thanked you recently for something you had done, and you said, “That is just what
majors do.” Maybe, but, I still think that you went above and beyond for me many times, and I
sincerely thank you for it. Thank you to Dr. Christine Readdick and Dr. David Gussak for your
patience and your insight and perspectives in this process. You have been a wonderful
committee.

I want to also thank the families who were willing to let me come into their lives and interview
them for this dissertation. I appreciate your generosity in sharing with me and enabling this study
to be completed.

My family deserves more than a paragraph. To my children, Ian and India, thank you for giving
me the time and space necessary to finish this dissertation. I know it was hard to hear so often,
“Not now. I’m busy.” Thank you for being mature and responsible beyond your years and for
making me laugh when I needed it the most. (And never forget that you both inherited that dark,
twisted sense of humor from me)! I hope that I have set an example for you to never give up on
your dreams.

Thank you to my mother for all you have done. We are blessed to have had you for almost 92
years.

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Thank you to my siblings for the countless words of encouragement and support. Thank you for
all the help you provided with babysitting and taking care of things in general. You all have been
a huge part of this process.

Thank you to my sister, Linda. You helped me to understand why someone would spend years in
school, just for the pursuit of knowledge. You taught me the discussion and analysis of ideas
was the most important and exciting thing in the world. But, also, to never forget that while you
engage in this discussion and analysis, it is imperative that you do it wearing Italian leather
shoes, cashmere, and a Hermes scarf. I wish you and Dad were both still here to see this, but
somehow, I think you all know.

Barry, the love of my life: You kept me going, especially when I was so ill and not sure I would
be able to do much of anything, let alone finish this process. I love you. You are my rock.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of Tables ...................................................................................................................................x
Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... xi
1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................1
Research Assumptions .................................................................................................................4
2. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE .............................................................................................6
Scope of the Problem ...................................................................................................................6
Post Adoption: Maintaining Permanent Placements....................................................................8
Marital Stress in Adoptive Families ...............................................................................9
Marital Conflict and Child Outcomes ..........................................................................13
The Impact of Marital Conflict on Children ................................................................13
The Impact of Marital Conflict on Adopted Children .................................................14
The Case for Marital Education in Special Needs Adoption………………………………….20
Marital Satisfaction ......................................................................................................21
Evidence Based Marital Education……………………………………………………………23
Two Prominent Approaches: PREP; Sound Marital House…………………..........................25
Purpose of the Study ..................................................................................................................31
Strong Couples, Healthy Children .............................................................................................33
Program Goals……………………………………………………………………....33
Expectations for Consumers ......................................................................................34
Concerns about Dosage..............................................................................................34
Initial Data and its Limitations ..................................................................................34
Present Investigation .................................................................................................................35
Time Span ...................................................................................................................35
Consulting the Consumer ............................................................................................35
Common Therapeutic Factors……………………………………………………….38
3: METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................................42
Theoretical Assumptions……………………………………………………………………...42
Research Assumptions ..............................................................................................................42
Research Design........................................................................................................................44

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Setting and Sample ......................................................................................................45
Intervention Summary (2004-2009) ............................................................................46
Recruiting the Sample ..................................................................................................47
Data Collection ............................................................................................................50
Data Analysis ...........................................................................................................................51
Trustworthiness ........................................................................................................................53
Protection of Participant Rights ...............................................................................................55
4. FINDINGS ...............................................................................................................................56
Class: Program Involvement ....................................................................................................57
Code: Motivation to Participate ...................................................................................57
Code: Barriers to Participation.....................................................................................61
Code: Enhancing Participation ....................................................................................64
Class: Gottman’s Sound Marital House Model .......................................................................66
Code: Nurturing Fondness and Admiration .................................................................66
Code: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse .............................................................67
Code: Regulating Conflict ...........................................................................................71
Code: Sharing Influence ..............................................................................................75
Code: Turning Towards vs. Turning Away .................................................................76
Class: Generic and Common Factors .......................................................................................77
Code: Taking Time to Focus on the Relationship .......................................................77
Code: Someone to Listen .............................................................................................78
Code: Looking at the Other Point of View ..................................................................79
Code: Teamwork ..........................................................................................................79
Code: Improved Listening ...........................................................................................79
Code: General Feelings of Helpfulness .......................................................................80
Class: Suggestions for the Future ............................................................................................80
Code: Ongoing Services ..............................................................................................80
Class: Not Using What Was Learned .....................................................................................81
Code: Resistance ..........................................................................................................81
Class: Perceived Benefits .........................................................................................................85
Code: Still Together .....................................................................................................84
Code: Less Conflict......................................................................................................85
Code: Increased Happiness ..........................................................................................86
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Code: Benefits for Children .........................................................................................85
Code: Gaining Skills ....................................................................................................86
5. DISCUSSION ..........................................................................................................................88
Class: Program Involvement ....................................................................................................88
Code: Motivation to Participate ...................................................................................88
Code: Barriers to Participation.....................................................................................88
Code: Enhancing Participation ....................................................................................89
Class: Gottman’s Sound Marital House Model .......................................................................89
Code: Nurturing Fondness and Admiration .................................................................89
Code: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse .............................................................90
Code: Regulating Conflict ...........................................................................................90
Code: Sharing Influence ..............................................................................................90
Code: Turning Towards vs. Turning Away .................................................................91
Class: Generic and Common Factors .......................................................................................91
Code: Taking Time to Focus on the Relationship .......................................................91
Code: Someone to Listen .............................................................................................91
Code: Looking at the Other Point of View ..................................................................92
Code: Teamwork ..........................................................................................................92
Code: Improved Listening ...........................................................................................92
Counselors.……………………………………………………………….…………..92
Class: Not Using What Was Learned ......................................................................................96
Code: Resistance ..........................................................................................................96
Class: Perceived Benefits ..........................................................................................................97
Code: Still Together .....................................................................................................97
Code: Less Conflict......................................................................................................97
Code: Increased Happiness ..........................................................................................97
Code: Benefits for Children .........................................................................................97
Code: Gaining Skills ....................................................................................................98
Code: General Feelings of Helpfulness .......................................................................98
Class: Suggestions for the Future……………………………………………………………98
Code: Ongoing Services………………………………………………………..…….98
Discussion of Findings .............................................................................................................98
Implications................................................................................................................100
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Content Implications ..................................................................................................101
Process Implications: Common Therapeutic Factors; Process Factors .....................102
Implications for Pedagogy .........................................................................................104
Implications for Program Evaluations .......................................................................106
Limitations and Delimitations ................................................................................................106
Implications for Future Research ...........................................................................................108
APPENDICES
A. Triangulation ..........................................................................................................................109
B. Beyond the Research Questions: Analysis of Data which Places the Adoptive Family in
the Greater Context of the Child Welfare and Adoption System. ........................................128
C. Sample Phone Script ..............................................................................................................151
D. Sample Contact Letter ...........................................................................................................153
E. Informed Consent Form ........................................................................................................155
F. IRB Approval Letter ..............................................................................................................159
G. Additional Family Demographics…………………………………………………….…….161
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................162
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH .......................................................................................................171

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