Study participants overall did not report high levels of negative feelings toward their spouses at the end of lab sessions. Few differences between violence and nonviolent but martially distressed (NVD) spouses were statistically significant, suggesting that violent spouses were not at greater risk than NVD spouses for negative feelings following study participants. Relative to violence and NVD couples, happy couples reported more positive and fewer negative feelings; NVD wives were the most likely to report negative emotions in sessions involving a marital problem discussion. While conducting scientifically sound research is necessary to understand relationship problems and intimate partner violence (IPV), there is concern that laboratory research involving individuals or couples experiencing IPV may increase risk of further violence among study participants. This study compared impact of participating in laboratory research assessments on couples experiencing partner violence and nonviolent couples. The study examined data from two studies of IPV. Across both studies, participants included 192 heterosexual couples. Tables and references