Skip to main content

Coping-Oriented Couple Therapy

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
  • 188 Accesses

Introduction

Coping-oriented couple therapy (COCT; Bodenmann 2004) is a treatment model that emphasizes the role of stress communication and mutual support in couples. COCT posits that experiences of chronic minor stressors (i.e., inconveniences occurring on a day-to-day basis that may irritate partners over time) often trigger unpleasant behaviors in partners, which can then give rise to relationship tension. Thus, the goal of COCT is to help partners better understand their individual and joint stress reactions and learn to cope with daily stressors more effectively, which can significantly improve their relationship functioning and overall well-being.

Prominent Associated Figures

COCT was derived from Dr. Guy Bodenmann’s seminal work on couples’ stress and coping. Specifically, the systemic-transactional model of dyadic coping, which posits that romantic partners can engage in joint coping efforts to mitigate the deleterious effects of stress on their relationship (Bodenmann 1995, 2005...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

References

  • Baucom, D. H., Epstein, N., LaTaillade, J. J., & Kirby, J. S. (2008). Cognitive behavioral couple therapy. In A. S. Gurman & N. S. Jacobson (Eds.), Clinical handbook of couple therapy (4th ed., pp. 31–72). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bodenmann, G. (1995). A systemic-transactional conceptualization of stress and coping in couples. Swiss Journal of Psychology, 54, 34–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bodenmann, G. (2004). Verhaltenstherapie mit Paaren [Cognitive behavioral therapy with couples: Coping-oriented approach]. Bern: Huber.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bodenmann, G. (2005). Dyadic Coping and its significance for marital functioning. In T. A. Revenson, K. Kayser, & G. Bodenmann (Eds.), Couples coping with stress: Emerging perspectives on Dyadic Coping (pp. 33–49). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/11031-002.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bodenmann, G., & Randall, A. K. (2012). Common factors in the enhancement of dyadic coping. Behavior Therapy, 43, 88–98. doi:10.1016/j.beth.2011.04.003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bodenmann, G., Plancherel, B., Beach, S. R. H., Widmer, K., Gabriel, B., Meuwly, N., …, Schramm, E. (2008). Effects of coping-oriented couples therapy on depression: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76(6), 944–954. doi: 10.1037/a0013467.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falconier, M. K., Jackson, J., Hilpert, J., & Bodenmann, G. (2015). Dyadic coping and relationship satisfaction: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 42, 28–46. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2015.07.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, H. H. (1979). Personal relationships: Their structure and processes. Hillsdale: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Randall, A. K., & Bodenmann, G. (2009). The role of stress on close relationships and marital satisfaction. Clinical Psychology Review, 29(2), 105–115. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2008.10.004.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Randall, A. K., & Bodenmann, G. (2017). Stress and its associations with relationship satisfaction. Current Opinion in Psychology, 13, 96–106. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.05.010.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kevin K. H. Lau .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Section Editor information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer International Publishing AG

About this entry

Cite this entry

Lau, K.K.H., Tao, C., Randall, A.K., Bodenmann, G. (2016). Coping-Oriented Couple Therapy. In: Lebow, J., Chambers, A., Breunlin, D. (eds) Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_705-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15877-8_705-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-15877-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics