Current Research Projects
Dr. Gottman has pursued three related lines of research. The research groups include: 1) marriage and couples, 2) gay and lesbian couples and 3) parenting.
Marriage and Couples
 Creating Healthy Relationships Research Project is currently seeking couples to participate in their study. Couples who might be eligible to participate must meet the following criteria:
- Have been in a relationship for at least one year
- Currently live together
- Low income household
- Have at least one child in the home under the age of 12
To find out if you qualify for the study or to refer couples to the research project, please contact the Relationship Research Institute at (888) 6COUPLE or (888) 626-8753. Emails can be sent to couples@gottmanresearch.com.
This study is an evaluation of a 22-week psycho-educational intervention designed by Drs. John and Julie Gottman intended to help couples increase intimacy, manage stress, and improve overall relationship satisfaction. Participating couples are randomly assigned to either the 22 week group or a control group.
The intervention consists of 6 to 8 couples meeting weekly for 2 hours and is led by a male and female facilitator team. During these weekly 2 hour sessions, couples are provided with research-based information and an opportunity to learn and practice skills to improve their relationship. Financial compensation and child care is provided for participating couples.
This program is offered in a variety of locations such as Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, West Seattle and Burien.
Funding for Creating Healthy Relationships Research Project is made possible through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families and is also supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Kirlin Foundation.
Parenting
Bringing Baby Home Research Project Marital conflict often increases when a baby arrives. After the baby is born, anywhere from 40 to 70% of couples experience declines in marital satisfaction. The Couples Becoming Parents Project at the University of Washington seeks to address these problems. Conducted at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, the project is testing several interventions for helping families when “baby makes three.”
Transition from childhood to adolescence. 200 Puget Sound families are needed for free study exploring relationships, communication in children's transition to adolescence.
“This study looks at how parenting influences children’s emotional development or what researchers call emotional IQ,” said Sybil Carrère, PhD, who is the principal investigator of the Family Health Project. “Puberty is a time when we see a lot of emotional turmoil and mental health problems in children. We see increases in depression among girls and increases in physical aggression and conduct disorders among boys.” John Gottman is co-PI of the study.
Couples Relapse Prevention Project At the University of Washington, Kim Ryan and John Gottman designed a “relapse prevention program” to see how they could help couples maintain the improvements to their relationship that they had gained in a couples workshop. To learn more on the Couples Relapse Prevention Project, click on the link above.
Gay and Lesbian Couples
Twelve-year study of gay and lesbian couples A twelve-year study of gay and lesbian couples has been the research basis for therapy and couples education programs to help capitalize on the strengths of gay and lesbian partners. Click here to read about study results.
Questions?
Please contact the Relationship Research Institute at 206-832-0300. | 
