Automated & Coached Web-based Programs to Improve and Strengthen Romantic Relationships

University of Miami

Status: Completed

Conditions: Relationship, Marital

Treatments: Behavioral: ePREP Program; Behavioral: OurRelationship Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03568565

20160451-R

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 2,500 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 64 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Sequential Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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2,500 participants in 5 patient groups

ePREP Program

Experimental group

Description:

The ePREP program is based on the in-person Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program. The ePREP program consists of six sections of material. In each section, new information and skills are presented, videos demonstrate real couples practicing the skills, participants are encouraged to discuss the information in the context of their own relationship, and a multiple choice quiz reiterates and summarizes the section. In addition to the core educational materials, couples are asked to complete six additional online and offline homework assignments (one per week), each lasting approximately one hour. Participants who do not complete activities in a timely manner will be re-randomized to either continue without a coach or to receive a coach.

Treatment:

Behavioral: ePREP Program

ePREP Program plus Coach

Experimental group

Description:

The ePREP program is based on the in-person Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program. The ePREP program consists of six sections of material. In each section, new information and skills are presented, videos demonstrate real couples practicing the skills, participants are encouraged to discuss the information in the context of their own relationship, and a multiple choice quiz reiterates and summarizes the section. In addition to the core educational materials, couples are asked to complete six additional online and offline homework assignments (one per week), each lasting approximately one hour. Couples also have four, brief video or phone calls with a coach throughout the program.

Treatment:

Behavioral: ePREP Program

OurRelationship Program

Experimental group

Description:

The OurRelationship program is based on Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy and encourages couples to select, understand, and solve a relationship problem. Partners complete the majority of the web-based program on their own and come together for three key conversations with their partner.Participants who do not complete activities in a timely manner will be re-randomized to either continue without a coach or to receive a coach.

Treatment:

Behavioral: OurRelationship Program

OurRelationship Program plus Coach

Experimental group

Description:

The OurRelationship program is based on Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy and encourages couples to select, understand, and solve a relationship problem. Partners complete the majority of the web-based program on their own and come together for three key conversations with their partner. The first conversation between partners centers on discussing possible core relationship issues and jointly deciding on the problem(s) to focus on during the program. During the second conversation, both partners' previous written responses are displayed on the screen and conversation is encouraged. During the final conversation, couples share their strategies to decrease stress, improve patterns of communication, and engage in problem-solving exercises specific to their core issue(s). Couples also have four, brief video or phone calls with a coach throughout the program.

Treatment:

Behavioral: OurRelationship Program

Waitlist

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants are assessed at 1, 2, 4, and 6 months after randomization; however, no active intervention is given during the waitlist period.