The Efficacy of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy and Behavioral Couples Therapy: A Meta-Analysis

Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
Maren RathgeberHeinz Holling

Abstract

Behavioral couple therapy (BCT) and emotionally focused couples therapy (EFCT) are well-established treatments to reduce couple distress. This meta-analysis summarizes the current state of knowledge on the efficacy of these two therapy methods by focusing on randomized controlled trials only. A literature search revealed 33 suitable primary studies (2,730 participants in total), all of them measuring relationship satisfaction. Robust-variance random-effects meta-analysis revealed medium effect sizes at post-test (overall: g = 0.60; BCT: g = 0.53; EFCT: g = 0.73) and small effect sizes of 6 months after treatment (overall: g = 0.44; BCT: g = 0.35; EFCT: g = 0.66), but these gains were not maintained after 12 months (BCT only: g = 0.06). Between the two therapy methods, no significant effect size differences could be found. Results have to be interpreted with caution due to potential publication bias.

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Citations

Oct 18, 2019·Journal of Marital and Family Therapy·Jared R Anderson
Feb 8, 2020·Annual Review of Clinical Psychology·Thomas N Bradbury, Guy Bodenmann
Apr 3, 2020·Journal of Marital and Family Therapy·Carissa D'Aniello, Stephen T Fife
Mar 19, 2021·Journal of Marital and Family Therapy·Robert AllanT Leanne Campbell
Apr 17, 2021·Family Process·Reut MachlufEran Bar-Kalifa
May 8, 2021·Journal of Marital and Family Therapy·Michele L Parker, Marissa A Mosley
Aug 3, 2021·Contemporary Family Therapy·Jasara N HoganBrian R W Baucom
Dec 7, 2021·Journal of Marital and Family Therapy·Brian D DossSusan M Johnson

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