A1 Journal article (refereed)
Electrodermal and respiratory synchrony in couple therapy in distinct therapeutic subsystems and reflection periods (2023)


Coutinho, J. F., Penttonen, M., Tourunen, A., Seikkula, J., Peräkylä, A., Tschacher, W., & Kykyri, V.-L. (2023). Electrodermal and respiratory synchrony in couple therapy in distinct therapeutic subsystems and reflection periods. Psychotherapy Research, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2023.2294886


JYU authors or editors


Publication details

All authors or editors: Coutinho, Joana F.; Penttonen, Markku; Tourunen, Anu; Seikkula, Jaakko; Peräkylä, Anssi; Tschacher, Wolfgang; Kykyri, Virpi-Liisa

Journal or series: Psychotherapy Research

ISSN: 1050-3307

eISSN: 1468-4381

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 30/12/2023

Volume: Early online

Publisher: Routledge

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2023.2294886

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/94227


Abstract

Objective: Synchrony in the multi-person context of systemic therapy is a complex and understudied phenomenon. We analyzed respiratory and electrodermal synchronies within a couple therapy system with two therapists to determine whether dyadic subsystems between each client and therapist synchronized differently. We also studied synchrony in reflection periods, in which the therapists discussed the therapy process with clients listening. Finally, we examined the association of synchronies with alliance and outcome.

Method: A sample of 22 therapy sessions in which electrodermal activity (EDA) and respiration were recorded were analyzed. Self-report measures of session alliance and outcome were obtained. Synchrony computation was based on windowed cross-correlation using surrogate synchrony and segment-wise shuffling of physiological time series.

Results: The results supported the presence of EDA synchrony for the client-therapist and therapist-therapist dyads but not client-client dyads across entire sessions. No significant synchronies were found for respiration behavior. A similar picture was found in reflection periods. Clients’ well-being as well as therapists’ alliance ratings were significant predictors of client-client EDA synchrony.

Conclusion: Our results point to the relational meaning of synchrony and its importance for understanding couple psychotherapy, particularly the reflection periods. Challenges involved in extending synchrony computation to multi-person settings were highlighted.


Keywords: psychotherapy; couples therapy; therapists; customers; intervention; interaction; synchronizing; respiration

Free keywords: couple therapy; physiological synchrony; respiration; electrodermal activity; surrogate synchrony (SUSY)


Contributing organizations


Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2023

JUFO rating: 2


Last updated on 2024-03-07 at 20:45