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Dyadic Profiles of Romantic Partners' Suicidal Risk and Relationship Distress Presenting for Couples Therapy
Preston C Morgan1, Heather A Love2, Garrin L Morlan1
1Human Development and Family Sciences Department, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma, USA.
Family Process
|September 26, 2025
Summary
A small percentage of couples in therapy present active suicide risk. Clinicians should continuously assess suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) rather than using binary questions.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Family Therapy
Background:
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) are common in therapy, yet under-researched in couples therapy.
- A gap exists in understanding STBs within committed relationships presenting for couple therapy.
- This lack of understanding impacts clinicians' preparedness to manage suicidality in couples.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate types of couples with suicidal risk presenting for couple therapy.
- To apply the Three-Step Theory of suicide as a guiding framework.
- To identify Dyadic Latent Profiles of suicidal risk in couples.
Main Methods:
- Utilized clinical data from 337 couples via the Marriage and Family Therapy Practice Research Network.
- Applied the Three-Step Theory to analyze suicidal risk.
- Identified Dyadic Latent Profiles to categorize couples based on risk.
Main Results:
- A three-profile model was determined: Minimal Risk, Active and Passive Risk, and Both Passive Risk.
- Nearly all predictors and covariates (e.g., demographics, relationship factors, IPV) were not associated with profile membership.
- While most couples showed minimal risk, 7% (Profile 2) exhibited active risk according to the Three-Step Theory.
Conclusions:
- A small but significant number of couples present an active suicide risk in therapy.
- Clinicians need to be aware of this subset of couples.
- Continuous assessment of STBs is encouraged over binary questions for better clinical practice.
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