Background: Within haptotherapy, a person is understood as developing in relational connectedness. From this perspective, changes that occur during haptotherapy may also become noticeable within the partner relationship. Empirical research into this experienced relational effect, however, is scarce. This study explores how partners of clients experience the relational effect of haptotherapy within their relationship. In addition, the newly developed Scale for Affective Relational Attunement (SARA) is explored psychometrically.
Method: A cross-sectional exploratory questionnaire study was conducted among 75 partners of clients who were receiving or had previously received haptotherapy. The online questionnaire consisted of 43 items, including 20 items comprising the SARA, which was developed to assess relational changes experienced by partners. The factor structure and internal consistency of the SARA were explored using exploratory factor analysis and calculation of Cronbach’s α. In addition, relational changes experienced by partners, partner involvement and experienced burden were assessed.
Results: The exploratory factor analysis yielded a three-factor structure: (1) affective attunement, (2) partner well-being and (3) perceived client well-being. The SARA showed high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .96). Partners reported predominantly positive changes in felt connection, communication and bodily attunement, as well as in their own well-being and perceived client well-being, including openness, calmness, self-confidence and emotional accessibility. Affective attunement was strongly associated with partner well-being and perceived client well-being. In addition, some partners reported feelings of insecurity and increased visibility of existing relational tensions.
Conclusion: Partners reported changes in relational attunement and in their own and perceived client well-being in association with participation in haptotherapy. Within the SARA, three related dimensions were distinguished, with affective attunement showing the strongest associations with partner well-being and perceived client well-being. The findings provide a basis for further investigation of the relational effect of haptotherapy from the partner’s perspective. At the same time, this effect may also be accompanied by insecurity and increased visibility of existing relational tensions. The SARA showed promising psychometric properties in this exploratory study, but validation in larger and independent samples is required.
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