The relationship sabotage scale: an evaluation of factor analyses and constructive validity

Background Some individuals are no longer entering romantic relationships, others move through relationships too quickly searching for “the one” and making quick assessments of their romantic partners, while others stay in their relationships but “check out” or do not work on their issues. These are conclusions from two studies: (1) an interview with psychologists who specialise in relationship therapy, and (2) an analysis of individuals’ lived experiences of relationships. The concept of relationship sabotage can explain these phenomena. However, presently, there is no instrument to conceptualise and empirically measure how people continue to employ self-defeating attitudes and behaviors in (and out) of relationships to impede success, or withdraw effort, and justify failure. Methods and Results A series of three studies (involving a total of 1365 English speaking individuals of diverse gender orientation, sexual orientation, and cultural background, with relationship sabotage experience) were conceptualized for the current project to fill the need for scale development and to build empirical evidence on the topic of self-sabotage in romantic relationships. The scale was developed over two studies using exploratory factor analysis and one-congeneric model analyses. The third study, using confirmatory factor analysis, confirmed the final structure for the Relationship Sabotage Scale (RSS), which contains 12 items and three factors: defensiveness, trust difficulty, and lack of relationship skills. Constructive validity analyses were also conducted. Conclusion The RSS is a brief scale that provides conclusive information about individual patterns in relationships. Findings using this scale can offer explanations regarding the reasons that individuals engage in destructive behaviours from one relationship to the next. Investigations should continue to test a model for sabotage in romantic relationships using the developed scale and other factors such as relationship diferences and insecure attachment. More specifically, this measure can be used to understand mediator constructs of relational outcomes within the attachment framework to explain relationship dissolution and work towards relationship maintenance.

Disability-Responsive Adaptations: Child–Parent–Relationship Therapy for Children With Disabilities

Children with disabilities have unique and often specialized needs. The parents of children with disabilities play an integral and sometimes challenging role in supporting, advocating, and caring for their children. This article introduces an evidence-based approach to work with parents of children with disabilities that focuses on strengthening the relationship between the parent and child through child–parent–relationship therapy (CPRT). Disability-responsive adaptations and recommendations are provided for CPRT, specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing children, children with physical disabilities, and children with autism spectrum disorder.

Individualized and Phase-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Early Onset Pure Dysthymic Syndrome in an Outpatient with Mixed Personality Features

Chronic forms of depression often share many features with personality dysfunction and can be difficult to treat using traditional psychotherapies. To help improve treatment outcomes, individualized psychotherapies based on the individual’s specific problems and preferences that target interpersonal issues and have a longer duration of treatment have been recommended. The current case study follows a man diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder (PDD) and mixed personality features over the course of treatment that used an individualized and phase-based approach. An individualized and extended form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that shared similarities with cognitive-behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy (CBASP) was implemented to address the potential influence of early adverse life events, dysfunctional ways of thinking about the self and others that leads to increased depressed mood, and the influence of interpersonal situations in and outside the therapeutic relationship. Therapy was conducted in three phases (1. Psychoeducation/introduction to CBT; 2. modified CBT for insomnia and behavioral activation; 3. cognitive restructuring) during 32 weekly sessions over a period of nearly 11 months. Standardized measures administered over the course of treatment indicated significant reductions in depressive symptoms and improvements in self-efficacy. Qualitative reports from the client indicated improved satisfaction and quality of life as well as improved quality of relationships.