Efficacy of the Gottman Method in Enhancing Relationship Quality in Couples with and Without Children

DOI

10.2991/978-2-38476-615-4_18How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Gottman Method; Relationship Quality; Couples Therapy; Online Intervention; Offline Intervention; Parental Status; Marital Satisfaction; Conflict Management

Abstract

The Gottman Method is an evidence-based model of communication skill improvement and strengthening emotional ties, popularizing conflict as an acceptable resolution mechanism in recent years. Online and offline were the two forms of interventions used in this comparative research study undertaken to determine the effectiveness of the Gottman Method in enhancing relationship dynamics.

The study was divided into four groups. Participants and significant aspects such as emotional awareness, friendship building, shared meaning, conflict management, and trust building were considered, with emphasis placed on Gottman oriented intervention. Relationship quality improvement was assessed before and after the intervention using the standardized psychological test QMRS (Quality of Marital Relationship Scale).

Results reflected that relationship quality in all groups was significantly enhanced with intervention. Couples with children scored higher on conflict management and relationship stability compared to those without children, while emotional penetration and clarity of communication were relatively higher among childless couples. Both online and offline delivery methods were effective, though offline sessions yielded slightly higher results in terms of emotional involvement, whereas online sessions offered similar benefits with greater flexibility and accessibility.

The research also recommends enhancing therapeutic services through online platforms without compromising intervention quality.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Tanishka Pathak
AU  - Yogita Sharma
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/15
TI  - Efficacy of the Gottman Method in Enhancing Relationship Quality in Couples with and Without Children
BT  - Proceedings of the Anubhuti 4.0: Discourses in Indian Knowledge Systems – Pathways of Culture, Inclusion, and Sustainability (ICIKS 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 242
EP  - 253
SN  - 2352-5398
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-615-4_18
DO  - 10.2991/978-2-38476-615-4_18
ID  - Pathak2026
ER  -