Abstract
The negative impacts of relationship distress on the couple, the family, and the individual are well-known. However, couples are often unable to access effective treatments to combat these effects—including many couples who might be at highest risk for relationship distress. Online self-help interventions decrease the barriers to treatment and provide couples with high quality, research-based programs they can do on their own. Using a combined multiple baseline and randomized design, the present study investigated the effectiveness of the Brief OurRelationship.com (Brief-OR) program with and without staff support in improving relationship distress and individual functioning. Results indicated the program produced significant gains in several areas of relationship functioning; however, these gains were smaller in magnitude than those observed in Full-OR. Furthermore, effects of Brief-OR were not sustained over follow-up. Comparisons between couples randomized to Brief-OR with and without contact with a staff coach indicated that coach contact significantly reduced program noncompletion and improved program effects. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 835-851 |
Number of pages | 17 |
Journal | Family Process |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2017 |
Keywords
- Couple Therapy
- Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy
- Online Intervention
- Paraprofessional Contact
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Social Sciences (miscellaneous)