Abstract

The present study examined how different patterns of alliance development impact couples' relationship satisfaction, with a particular emphasis on split alliances. The retrospective sample of 1149 couples was taken from the IRB approved Marriage and Family Therapy Practice Research Network. Alliance was measured at each session with the Intersession Alliance Measure- Couples version (IAM-C). The outcome variable, relationship satisfaction, was measured before the first and last sessions of therapy with the Couple Relationship Scale (CRS). Split alliance was operationalized using standard deviation differences in partners' alliance scores, and couples were divided into three groups: 1) Never had a split alliance, 2) Had one or more split alliances but ended treatment intact, and 3) Had one or more split alliances and ended treatment with a split alliance. An Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) was used to examine the associations between alliance pattern and post-treatment relationship satisfaction. Results indicated that couples who experienced a split alliance that resolved by the end of treatment did not significantly differ from couples who never experienced a split alliance. On the other hand, couples who had a split alliance that was not resolved by the end of therapy reported significantly lower relationship satisfaction than those who never experienced a split alliance. These findings suggest that the presence of a split alliance is not inherently negative, and its effects depend largely on the therapist's response. The results support conceptualizing the alliance as a dynamic process, while highlighting the importance of alliance monitoring and repair over time.

Degree

MS

College and Department

Family, Home, and Social Sciences; Family Life

Rights

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2026-06-20

Document Type

Thesis

Keywords

therapeutic alliance, split alliance, couples therapy, rupture, repair

Language

english

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