Breakup Distress, Dyadic Adjustment
Conditions
Keywords
Psychodrama, Breakup Distress, Dyadic Adjustment, group psychotherapy
Brief summary
The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate whether a psychodrama group therapy intervention can reduce unresolved breakup distress and improve dyadic adjustment in adults currently involved in romantic relationships who have experienced a significant previous breakup. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Does participation in psychodrama group therapy reduce breakup distress compared with a waiting-list control condition? * Does participation in psychodrama group therapy improve dyadic adjustment and relationship functioning compared with a waiting-list control condition? The researchers will compare participants receiving the psychodrama group therapy intervention with participants in a waiting-list control condition to determine whether the intervention leads to greater improvements in breakup distress, dyadic adjustment, psychological functioning, relationship quality, and sexual satisfaction. Participants will: * complete assessments at baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks; * participate in a 15-session weekly psychodrama group therapy program (intervention group only); * complete questionnaires assessing breakup distress, dyadic adjustment, psychological outcomes, relationship quality, and sexual satisfaction.
Detailed description
Romantic relationship breakups are common life events that may have substantial emotional and relational consequences. While many individuals adapt successfully over time, some continue to experience unresolved breakup distress characterized by persistent emotional suffering, difficulties processing the loss, and challenges integrating the experience into their personal and relational lives. Emerging evidence suggests that unresolved distress following a previous romantic breakup may negatively affect the quality of subsequent romantic relationships, including communication, intimacy, trust, emotional regulation, and overall dyadic adjustment. Despite increasing recognition of the psychological and relational impact of romantic breakups, there is a limited evidence base regarding interventions specifically designed to address unresolved breakup distress. Furthermore, randomized controlled trials evaluating psychodrama interventions in this context remain scarce. Psychodrama is an experiential and action-oriented psychotherapy approach developed by Jacob Levy Moreno that uses dramatization, role-playing, role reversal, and other action methods to facilitate emotional expression, interpersonal insight, and behavioral change. Through the exploration of past and present relational experiences, psychodrama may help individuals process unresolved emotions associated with previous relationships, recognize maladaptive relational patterns, and develop more adaptive ways of relating in current relationships. The present study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a manualized psychodrama group therapy program for adults currently involved in romantic relationships who continue to experience unresolved distress related to a significant previous breakup. The intervention was developed based on psychodramatic theory and clinical practice and focuses on emotional processing of previous relationship losses, exploration of attachment and relational patterns, enhancement of emotional communication, strengthening of intimacy and trust, and promotion of healthier dyadic functioning in current romantic relationships. This study employs a randomized controlled design comparing a psychodrama group therapy intervention with a waiting-list control condition. The intervention consists of 15 weekly group sessions delivered in a closed-group format by trained psychodrama practitioners. Sessions follow the traditional psychodramatic structure of warm-up, dramatization, and sharing and progressively address themes including relational history, attachment experiences, breakup distress, grief processes, self-esteem, emotional communication, jealousy, emotional security, relational repair, intimacy, and relational role reconstruction. In addition to evaluating clinical outcomes, the study aims to contribute to the methodological development of psychodrama research by implementing a structured intervention protocol and examining both quantitative and qualitative indicators of therapeutic change. Findings from this trial may contribute to a better understanding of the role of psychodrama in addressing unresolved breakup distress and promoting healthier functioning in subsequent romantic relationships. The results may also inform the development of evidence-based interventions targeting the long-term emotional and relational consequences of romantic relationship dissolution.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALPsychodrama Group Therapy for Unresolved Breakup Distress and Dyadic Adjustment
A manualized psychodrama group therapy program delivered in 15 weekly sessions of approximately 90-120 minutes. The intervention is based on Morenian psychodrama principles and uses techniques such as role reversal, soliloquy, mirroring, sociometry, sculpting, and dramatization to facilitate emotional processing of previous romantic relationship losses and promote healthier functioning in current romantic relationships. The program is delivered in a closed-group format by trained psychodrama practitioners.
Sponsors
Universidade do Porto
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Masking description
Blinding is not feasible because of the nature of the psychodrama group therapy intervention. Participants and therapists are aware of treatment allocation. Data analysis will be conducted independently whenever possible.
Intervention model description
Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either a psychodrama group therapy intervention or a waiting-list control condition. The intervention group will receive a structured 15-session psychodrama group therapy program delivered weekly in a closed-group format. The waiting-list control group will not receive the study intervention during the study period but will be offered the opportunity to participate in the program after completion of follow-up assessments. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-intervention (16 weeks), and follow-up (42 weeks). The study is designed to compare changes over time between groups in order to evaluate the effectiveness of psychodrama group therapy relative to the absence of active treatment during the study period.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Age 18 years or older; * Currently involved in a romantic relationship for at least 6 months; * History of at least one significant previous romantic relationship breakup; * Presence of breakup distress related to a previous romantic breakup and/or difficulties in current dyadic adjustment; * Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Presence of severe mental disorder that may interfere with participation in group psychotherapy; * Severe active substance dependence; * Current severe relational violence; * Inability or unwillingness to provide written informed consent; * Any clinical condition that, in the opinion of the research team, may compromise safe participation in the intervention.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Breakup Distress | Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks | Assessment of breakup-related emotional distress using the Breakup Distress Scale (BDS). The BDS is a 16-item self-report measure assessing emotional distress associated with a previous romantic relationship breakup. Higher scores indicate greater breakup distress. |
| Change in Dyadic Adjustment | Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks | Assessment of relationship functioning using the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS). The RDAS is a 14-item self-report measure evaluating overall dyadic adjustment and the dimensions of consensus, satisfaction, and cohesion within the current romantic relationship. Higher scores indicate better dyadic adjustment. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Psychological Functioning | Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks | Assessment of psychological functioning using the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation - Outcome Measure (CORE-OM). The CORE-OM is a 34-item self-report measure assessing subjective well-being, psychological symptoms, social functioning, and risk-related behaviors. Higher scores indicate greater psychological distress and impairment. |
| Change in Perceived Relationship Quality | Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks | Assessment of perceived relationship quality using the Perceived Relationship Quality Components Inventory (PRQC). The PRQC is an 18-item self-report measure assessing satisfaction, commitment, intimacy, trust, passion, and love within the current romantic relationship. Higher scores indicate better perceived relationship quality. |
| Change in Sexual Satisfaction | Baseline, 16 weeks, and 42 weeks | Assessment of sexual satisfaction using the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction (GMSEX). The GMSEX is a 5-item self-report measure assessing overall satisfaction with the sexual relationship with the current partner. Higher scores indicate greater sexual satisfaction. |
Countries
Portugal
Contacts
CONTACTFilipe N Ribeiro, PhD Student
CONTACTMariana V Martins, PhD
STUDY_DIRECTORMariana V Martins, PhD
Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto
STUDY_CHAIRFilipa M Vieira, PhD
Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORFilipe N Ribeiro, PhD Student
Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences at the University of Porto
Outcome results
None listed