Geoffrey W. Sutton

Marital Satisfaction before and after Deployments Associated with the Global War on Terror

Previously, McLeland and Sutton (2005) assessed marital satisfaction among 46 male civilians and Reserve Component personnel, some of the latter having been alerted for a future deployment. Subsequently, marital satisfaction was also assessed for 74 male Active Component Army personnel who had recently returned from duty in a combat zone. Marital satisfaction scores were compared across personnel status. Mixed results were obtained from an analysis of variance comparing the five subgroups of personnel; however, when the three types of deployment groups were contrasted with the civilian and never-deployed military groups, substantial (ES = 0.55) and significant (p<.005) differences in marital satisfaction were observed. Although exploratory, these data indicate that predeployment and postdeployment situations are stressful for military members and may be associated with lower marital satisfaction for months before and months after a deployment, as well as during the deployment. Furthermore, changes in marital or relationship satisfaction may be more sensitive and timely as indicators of any stressful effects of deployments and separation on military families than changes in marital or relationship stability.

Restoring Christian Leaders

Abstract In this article, we examined factors that might be associated with restoring pastorsto wholeness. We began with an example of a pastors extramarital affair that can have far reaching effects on various members within a community of faith. Next, we examined the concepts of transgression and stress, forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration used in recent empirical studies. We suggested how certain nuances such as state and process conceptualizations might make a difference in clinical practice. Finally, we offered suggestions for clinical practice and research.

Beneficial effects of accurate and false brief biofeedback on relaxation.

Much research has focused on the efficacy of biofeedback therapy; however, previous studies only compared biofeedback treatment with no-treatment conditions or pre- and posttest data. Examination of biofeedback relaxation therapy with a false-feedback condition could produce data on physiological changes suitable to clarify findings. 63 participants were randomly assigned to either an accurate- or false-feedback condition for a 5-min. period. Analysis of the measures yielded significant differences in both groups between pre- and posttests, but not between groups, suggesting a potential placebo effect of biofeedback-induced relaxation.

Religious Leadership Failure: Forgiveness, Apology, and Restitution

Research has generated various definitions of forgiveness, apology, and restitution. We have reviewed the literature concerning these constructs and the variables relating to them, specifically in relation to religious leaders that have offended congregations by violating sexual boundaries with congregants. We looked at what forgiveness is and is not. We also looked at apologies and the variables that contribute to their acceptance. Furthermore, we reviewed restitution, including symbolic restitution when concrete restitution is impossible. We suggested apology and restitution can impact the forgiveness process and concluded with ideas for further research, as well as clinical and interpersonal applications, based on the information gleaned from the research on these constructs.

Professional Ethics Violations Gender, Forgiveness, and the Attitudes of Social Work Students

Consistent with the main hypothesis, social work students (n = 41) were more distrusting toward a community agency following reports of unethical worker-client sex than reports of alcohol or other personnel problems. Students were somewhat more likely to increase follow-up of a male rather than a female supervisor. Trait forgiveness was largely unrelated to level of trust.

MARITAL SATISFACTION AND RELATIONAL ATTACHMENT IN A SAMPLE OF NEWLY MARRIED COUPLES

The purpose was to investigate possible correlates [perception of parental marital satisfaction (Relationship Assessment Scale), marital status of parents, participation in marital enrichment, current stress, and sex] of marital satisfaction (Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale) and relational attachment (Revised Adult Attachment Scale). 71 young couples (M age = 25.3 yr., SD = 3.2) in their first ten years of marriage completed the measures. Backward regression analysis indicated that marital status of parents, participation in marital enrichment, current stress, and sex accounted for a significant portion of the variance for the Anxiety subscale of the Revised Adult Attachment Scale. None of the models significantly accounted for the variance on the measure of marital satisfaction.

Satisfaction With Christian Psychotherapy and Well-Being: Contributions of Hope, Personality, and Spirituality.

Christian psychotherapy is in high demand but in the few existing studies, outcomes from spiritually accommodated treatments typically do not outperform secular treatments on mental health outcomes. Likewise, it is unclear whether spiritual patient factors account for variance in satisfaction with treatment or patient well-being beyond what is explained by other patient factors. We conducted 2 studies on adults who attended Christian psychotherapy within the last 6 months to understand the relative contributions of patient factors to satisfaction with Christian psychotherapy and current well-being. We drew on hope theory as a primary general patient factor but considered personality traits given prior research. Second, we drew upon attachment theory framed as attachment to God (AG) as the primary patient spiritual factor but considered spiritual practices. In Study 1 (2 Christian universities; N = 75), hope accounted for most variance but Extraversion was also predictive. Spiritual factors, primarily AG, added incremental value. In Study 2, we sampled adults (Amazon’s Mechanical Turk [Amazon mTurk]) who saw different providers (clergy, 46; mental health, 57). Dispositional hope accounted for most of the variance in satisfaction with, and a willingness to return to, treatment as well as general and spiritual well-being. Spiritual factors (AG, practices) predicted additional variance for all criteria in the mental health sample but were only related to general well-being in the clergy sample. We concluded that when patients’ perspectives are considered, most of the variance in treatment satisfaction can be accounted for by hope but spiritual factors, primarily AG, add nuanced incremental value.

Seven Strategies for Treating Christians with Depression

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Christian Clients with Depression: A Practical, Tool-Based Primer by Michelle Pearce, West Conshohocken, PA: Templeton Press, 2016. 248 pp. ISBN 978-1-59947-491-5 (paperback),

Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) May be Valid in Men Ages 18 to 20

13.97; ISBN 978-1-59947-492-2 (e-book),

Does Gender Matter? Relationship of Gender, Spousal Support, Spirituality, and Dispositional Forgiveness to Pastoral Restoration

7.69. Michelle Pearce (Ph.D., Yale University) is an assistant professor and clinical psychologist at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Medicine. Her research interests include integrating religion/spirituality into the practice of psychotherapy. Most clinicians are familiar with the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which has been adapted for Christian clients (e.g., Jennings, Davis, Hook, & Worthington, 2013). Pearce offers clinicians a primer integrating CBT with Christian spirituality (CCBT) applied by using seven specific interventions, which she calls treatment tools. Following three introductory chapters, seven chapters explain the treatment tools. Pearce begins by explaining that faith is important to psychotherapy because a religious identity and worldview govern how clients view their life experiences, including the experience of depression. She supports her claim of importance through statistics about the prevalence of depression in the context of the substantial proportion of the U.S. population who identify as Christian. Chapter two introduces assessment. Pearce explains that she and her colleagues learned from experience that not all Christians desire CCBT. Drawing on the work of Kenneth Pargament (1997), she outlines key features of spirituality, which clinicians can include when taking a clients history. Next are suggestions for assessing depression, gaining informed consent, and assessing the possible role of faith in a clients presenting problem. Chapter three completes the set of introductory chapters with guidance on introducing the CCBT model to clients. The model includes physiology with the usual CBT triad (thoughts, feelings, behavior). Following the explanation of the CCBT model, Christian spirituality is introduced by referencing three elements--beliefs, practices, resources. Part II includes the seven chapters describing the treatment tools as is organized using the following repeated subsections: chapters begin with a case study, followed by a discussion of the contribution of a Christian approach, a scientific rationale for using the tool, and Christian elements related to the specific tool (e.g., Scripture). Details on how to use the tool in therapy include activities and a sample clinician-client dialogue. I will provide a brief parenthetical description of the seven tools so you can get a sense of what to expect. I use Pearces words for these interventions. 1. Renewing your mind: Planting truth (learning to memorize scripture and use prayer to create a positive mindset). 2. Changing your mind: Metanoia (using Christian truths to combat common maladaptive cognitions). 3. Finding God and the blessing in suffering: Redemptive refraining (look for God at work; strategies to reframe suffering). 4. Reaching out and connecting (the importance of social interaction; strategies to connect with supportive others in a faith community). 5. Letting go and letting God: Acceptance and forgiveness (assessment of hurts and resentment, a process of forgiveness and surrender to find intrapersonal freedom). 6. Saying thanks: Gratitude (the value of increasing the expression of gratitude, which can counter some dimensions of depression). 7. Giving back: Service (improve ones mental state through acts of love and kindness). Pearce concludes her text with a summary chapter and recommendations for preventing relapse such as finding ways for clients to practice their CCBT tools, developing hope, and engaging local support. Suggestions for modifying treatment and seeking clergy consultation are also included. Three appendices include: (a) a recommended role for clergy accompanied by a list of signs of depression, (b) a list of religiously integrated manuals and workbooks, and (c) client handouts (e. …