Relationship, Marital
Conditions
Brief summary
This study investigates the effectiveness of self-help, web-based programs to improve romantic relationships and related outcomes. Couples will be randomly assigned to complete the OurRelationship program, the ePREP program, the OurRelationship program with the addition of a coach, the ePREP program with the addition of a coach, or a wait-list control group and followed for six months.
Detailed description
Nationwide, lower-income (LI) couples (those with household incomes \<200% of the federal poverty level) - many of whom are also African American, Hispanic/Latino, or rural couples - face numerous challenges to their relationships. Chief amongst those challenges are: 1) higher risk of relationship problems and 2) lack of access to effective relationship services to prevent or intervene with relationship distress. Compared to higher-income couples, LI married and cohabiting couples are significantly more likely to divorce or separate and report lower relationship quality. Unfortunately, LI couples are least likely to receive interventions to prevent or solve relationship problems. To overcome these barriers, we propose to test the effectiveness of two effective web-based curricula - OurRelationship and PREP Online. A total of 1,246 LI couples will be recruited nationwide and randomly assigned to the ePREP program, the OurRelationship program, the ePREP program plus a coach, the OurRelationship program plus a coach, or a wait-list control group and followed for six months. Once randomly assigned to group, couples will be assessed at one month, two months, four months, and six months following randomization. After couples randomized to the wait-list control group finish their waiting period, they will be able to select the program they would like to complete (OurRelationship or ePREP) but will not complete research assessments during or following their participation in the program.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALePREP Program
see arm descriptions
BEHAVIORALOurRelationship Program
see arm descriptions
Sponsors
Children's Bureau - Administration for Children and Families
University of Miami
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
The model is a partial/limited SMART design. Couples are initially randomly assigned to one of five groups - a waitlist control, the ePREP program (with and without a coach) and the OurRelationship program (with and without a coach). Following initial randomization, couples initially assigned to complete either program without a coach and who are not completing activities in a timely manner will be re-randomized to either continue without a coach or received a coach.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 64 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. They are married, engaged, or have been cohabiting with their partner for at least six months 2. They are both located in the United States 3. Both partners are willing to participate in the study 4. Both partners are between the ages of 18 and 64 (inclusive) 5. Couples report a household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Exclusion criteria
1. Severe domestic violence 2. Inadequate internet connection 3. Previous participation in OR, PREP-O, in-person PREP, or its variants 4. Current participation in other relationship programs 5. Current participation in an evaluation funded by Administration for Children and Families
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Relationship Satisfaction | Baseline, 2 months after baseline, and 6 months after baseline | Four-item Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI) self-report measure. Range of scores 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating greater satisfaction. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Communication Conflict | Baseline, 2 months after baseline, and 6 months after baseline | 7-item scale; self-report of communication conflict. Range of scores 7 to 28, with higher scores indicating greater conflict. |
| Relationship break-up potential | Baseline, 2 months after baseline, and 6 months after baseline | 3-item self-report measure of likelihood of relationship ending in the near future. Range of scores 3 to 15, with higher scores indicating greater potential for the relationship to end. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed