A survey of marriage and family therapists' attitudes regarding spousal disclosure of extramarital relationships

The purpose of this exploratory study was to better understand the attitudes of marriage and family therapists regarding spousal disclosure of extramarital relationships. Therapists were asked their attitudes toward affair disclosure under a variety of circumstances for clients. Specific circumstances of affairs were: potential for domestic violence; potential for divorce; whether there are minor children involved; historical verses current affairs; whether the involved partner is in treatment with a therapist in individual or couples' therapy; and whether the therapist would terminate therapy if the involved partner refused to disclose the affair. Also considered were whether therapists' attitudes concerning disclosure of extramarital affairs may be influenced by the therapist's: gender, highest academic degree achieved, years of clinical experience, specialization with couples' therapy, personal experience with extramarital affairs, and family of origin experience with extramarital affairs.; A survey titled “Therapists' Attitudes About Affair Disclosure” (TAAD) was constructed to query marriage and family therapists about their attitudes toward spousal disclosure of extramarital relationships. The survey's reliability was a Cronbach's alpha of .91. Surveys and demographic data forms were mailed nationally to 1000 randomly selected clinical members of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. A total of 332 surveys were returned for a return rate of 33%. The respondent to this survey was likely to specialize in couples' therapy (71%), and overwhelmingly have clinical experience working with clients regarding extramarital affairs (92%).; The findings of this study suggest the demographic qualities of therapists that are most likely to have a significant effect on the therapist's attitude toward affair disclosure are therapist gender and highest level of graduate degree achieved. Female therapists disagreed with disclosure more than male therapists; male therapists with doctoral degrees disagreed with disclosure more than male therapists with masters' degrees. In general circumstances, 65% of all therapists agreed with affair disclosure. In the circumstance of domestic violence, however, approximately 75% of all therapists disagreed with affair disclosure. Training implications for psychologists and marriage and family therapists are discussed.