ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN SLEEP QUALITY, THERAPEUTIC ALLIANCE, AND INEFFECTIVE ARGUING AMONG COUPLES IN THERAPY

Abstract

Considering the far-reaching effects of short or poor-quality sleep on biopsychosocial functioning, little to no research has investigated the associations among sleep quality, therapeutic alliance and couple outcomes in couples in therapy. The purpose of this study was to carry out the first quantitative exploratory investigation into the associations between partner’s sleep and ineffective arguing using a sample of 56 couples in therapy. Analyses addressed three research questions: (1) Is one’s own relationship between sleep and ineffective arguing moderated by one’s own therapy alliance (actor-actor-actor; e.g., husband’s sleep  husband’s ineffective arguing, conditional upon his level of alliance; wife’s sleep  wife’s ineffective arguing, conditional upon her level of alliance)? (2) Is one’s own relationship between one’s sleep and ineffective arguing moderated by one’s partner’s therapy alliance (actor-partner-actor; e.g., husband’s sleep  husband’s ineffective arguing, conditional upon wife’s level of alliance; wife’s sleep  wife’s ineffective arguing, conditional upon husband’s level of alliance)? (3) Is the relationship between one’s sleep and one’s partner’s ineffective arguing moderated by one’s own therapy alliance (actor-actor-partner; e.g., husband’s sleep  wife’s ineffective arguing, conditional upon husband’s level of alliance; wife’s sleep  husband’s ineffective arguing, conditional upon wife’s level of alliance)? Results from six hierarchical multiple regressions indicated one significant model: Higher quality Wife Sleep on Lower Husband Ineffective Arguing at low levels of Wife Therapeutic Alliance. This paper includes a discussion of these results, along with recommendations and implications for therapy.