Multiplicity Within and Between: Addressing Multiple Roles Through Role Profiles in Couples

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to test the validity of a personality assessment, Role Profiles, by exploring the relationship between role balance and individual well-being and the relationship between couples’ role profiles similarity and their marital satisfaction. Twenty couples were recruited and completed the assessments. This study partially supported Role Profiles’ validity and the findings were consistent with previous studies: individuals with higher role confusion were more likely to report lower self-esteem, and couples who shared many identical roles in their roles profiles were more likely to report higher marital satisfaction. The utility of Role Profiles as a clinical assessment in couples therapy is discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Couples therapy
• creativity in counseling
• expressive arts
• intervention
• marital satisfaction
• personality assessment
• role profiles

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hee-Sun Cheon

Hee-Sun Cheon is with the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy of Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, Washington.

Therese Yrani

Therese Yrani is in Private Practice in San Francisco, California.