ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes research on intrapersonal, interpersonal, and contextual risk factors for relationship dysfunction, and presents implications of this research for couple interventions. It provides a review of research clarifying the role of intimate relationships in the mental and physical health of individual partners, and includes a discussion of how this research can be applied to inform both couple and individual-based interventions for individual psychopathology and chronic illness. Research has demonstrated that numerous aspects of personality influence relationship adjustment. The majority of research on interpersonal processes in intimate relationships has been focused on conflict management. This research has involved investigations of various negative behaviors that arise in the context of conflict and problem-solving interactions including expressions of anger and contempt, criticism, maladaptive problem-solving behaviors, psychological and physical aggression, and poor conflict resolution strategies. Longitudinal research designs have been applied more frequently to clarify temporal relations between stress and relationship outcomes.
