Promoting the couple bond: Research findings and a model of intervention

The present contribution is divided into three parts: First, I present the theoretical framework that guided the research on the family relationships we conducted within the Family Studies and Research University Centre of the Catholic University of Milan. Second, I give a brief overview of some of the research findings that in the past several years we obtained on the topic of couple functioning. Finally, I summarize how our theory and research informed the model of interventions we have designed and implemented with and for families for about a decade. The underlying idea is the need for theory, research, and intervention all to be connected when dealing with promoting family ties and competences (e.g., Bradbury, Karney, Iafrate, & Donato, 2009). I focus especially on the couple relationship, because of my specific research interests, but many of the things I present in this contribution, especially parts 1 and 3, apply to family relationships in general.