What does the 11-18% figure represent in Gottman’s research findings?

What does the 11-18% figure represent in Gottman’s research findings?

• A. The portion of treated couples who experience any improvement.
• B. The proportion of treated couples who maintain clinically significant gains.
• C. The share of couples who divorce after treatment.
• D. The percentage of couples who respond to anger management alone.

Answer: (B)

This figure focuses on how durable the treatment effects are. In Gottman’s research, only a small portion of treated couples—about 11 to 18 percent—keep gains that are clinically meaningful over time. In other words, they continue to function at a level that meets a defined threshold of real, sustained improvement after the therapy has ended. This isn’t about how many couples show any initial improvement, nor about divorce rates, nor about responses to anger management alone. It specifically reflects the proportion who maintain clinically significant improvements in the long term, highlighting the challenge of preserving change without ongoing maintenance or practice.

This figure focuses on how durable the treatment effects are. In Gottman’s research, only a small portion of treated couples—about 11 to 18 percent—keep gains that are clinically meaningful over time. In other words, they continue to function at a level that meets a defined threshold of real, sustained improvement after the therapy has ended. This isn’t about how many couples show any initial improvement, nor about divorce rates, nor about responses to anger management alone. It specifically reflects the proportion who maintain clinically significant improvements in the long term, highlighting the challenge of preserving change without ongoing maintenance or practice.