Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Couples Therapy

Couples Therapy

Couples therapy is a therapeutic approach designed to help individuals in intimate relationships address conflicts, improve communication, and foster healthier dynamics. It is appropriate for couples at various stages, including those who are dating, married, or in long-term partnerships, and aims to support partners in navigating their unique relational challenges.
Core Principles and Techniques
Couples therapy often incorporates cognitive-behavioral principles to identify and modify negative...

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a structured, time-limited therapeutic approach initially developed to treat depression. It integrates key concepts from psychodynamic, humanistic, and cognitive-behavioral therapies, making it a uniquely eclectic framework. The therapy is rooted in the interpersonal theories of Adolph Meyer and Harry Stack Sullivan, as well as John Bowlby's attachment theory, and focuses on the interplay between interpersonal relationships and emotional well-being.

Social Relationships and Well-Being

Social Relationships and Well-Being

The significance of social relationships in psychological well-being is a well-established area of inquiry within social psychology. Research consistently demonstrates that the presence of meaningful, supportive relationships enhances emotional health, while the absence or deterioration of such connections can contribute to psychological distress. Relationships serve as a foundation for emotional support, identity, and social belonging, all of which are critical to an individual’s overall...

Elements Crucial for Effective Psychotherapy

Elements Crucial for Effective Psychotherapy

Research has highlighted several critical factors that influence the effectiveness of psychotherapy, such as the therapeutic alliance, the therapist, and the client.
The Therapeutic Alliance
The therapeutic alliance refers to the relationship between the therapist and the client. The alliance strengthens when the therapist and the client engage in a nurturing, supportive, trusting, empathetic, and respectful relationship, improving therapeutic outcomes. Therapists must monitor this relationship...

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic Therapy

Psychodynamic therapies emphasize the exploration of unconscious processes and early childhood experiences as fundamental contributors to psychological difficulties. These therapies, deeply rooted in Freud's psychoanalytic theory, aim to uncover and resolve unconscious conflicts, granting individuals insights that promote emotional and behavioral healing. Contemporary psychodynamic approaches have evolved, integrating a broader range of influences and methodologies while still valuing the...

Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders

Treatment Strategies for Psychological Disorders

Treatment approaches for psychological disorders fall into three main categories: psychological, biological, and sociocultural. Each approach targets different aspects of mental health, requiring varying levels of education and training.
Psychological therapies focus on modifying emotions, thoughts, and behaviors through talking, interpreting, listening, rewarding, challenging, and modeling. Clinical psychologists, counselors, and social workers commonly practice psychotherapy. Clinical...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Career Intentions in Academic Medicine: Factors Influencing Pursuit and Gender Disparities.

Advances in medical education and practice·2026

Same author

Academic medicine career intentions among medical residents: a social cognitive career theory approach.

BMC medical education·2026

Same author

Are there gender differences in academic medical career aspirations related to research, mentoring and discrimination? A national cross-sectional study of French medical residents.

BMJ open·2026

Same author

'Sugar is the devil': Exploring psychological flexibility and inflexibility in orthorexia through interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Journal of health psychology·2026

Same author

Beyond the academic context: perceived stress, coping, and substance use among university students.

Psychology, health & medicine·2026

Same author

Emotion Regulation Interventions for Cancer Patients and Their Relatives: A Systematic Review.

Cancer medicine·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 30, 2025

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

Published on: January 17, 2025

Positive psychology intervention for couples: A pilot study.

Pascal Antoine¹, Eva Andreotti¹, Anne Congard²

¹CNRS, UMR 9193-SCALab-Sciences Cognitives et Sciences Affectives, Univ. Lille, Lille, France.

Stress and Health : Journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress

|January 17, 2020

Summary

This study shows that a positive psychology intervention (PPI) improved couples' positive emotions, communication, and relationship adjustment. These benefits, particularly for relationship adjustment, were sustained one month later.

Keywords:

couple dyadic adjustment dyadic approach emotions self-help well-being

More Related Videos

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Published on: May 31, 2021

Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility

Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility

Published on: May 30, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 30, 2025

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

Published on: January 17, 2025

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design

Published on: May 31, 2021

Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility

Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility

Published on: May 30, 2025

Area of Science:

Psychology
Relationship Science
Positive Psychology

Background:

Many couples seek to enhance their relationship quality beyond a baseline level.
Autonomous couples with good functioning may benefit from interventions aimed at further improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the efficacy of a positive psychology intervention (PPI) for enhancing couples' satisfaction with life, affective experiences, communication, and dyadic adjustment.
To assess the impact of a self-help, theory-driven intervention on individual and dyadic well-being.

Main Methods:

A randomized controlled trial comparing a 4-week multicomponent PPI with a waiting list control (WLC) group.
Thirty-eight couples participated, with assessments at pretest, immediate post-test, and 1-month follow-up.
Intervention involved daily dyadic and individual activities designed to foster positive emotions and connection.

Main Results:

The intervention group showed significant improvements in positive emotions, mutuality in communication, and dyadic adjustment compared to the WLC group.
Improvements in dyadic adjustment were maintained at the 1-month follow-up.
High adherence (92% completion) was observed for the positive psychology intervention.

Conclusions:

Intentional dyadic activities within a positive psychology framework can effectively enhance individual positive emotions and overall dyadic functioning.
This self-help intervention offers a promising approach for couples aiming to improve their relationship quality.
Further research is warranted to explore the long-term effects and broader applicability of this intervention.