Abstract
Objective: Within the United States, one third of married couples are distressed and almost half of first marriages (and more than half of unmarried cohabiting relationships) end in divorce/separation. Additionally, relationship distress has been linked to mental and physical health problems in partners and their children. Although couple therapy is effective in reducing relationship distress, it is utilized by less than one third of divorcing couples. Therefore, more accessible interventions for relationship distress are needed. Method: This study tests the efficacy of the OurRelationship program, an 8-hr online program adapted from an empirically based, in-person couple therapy. In the program, couples complete online activities and have 4 15-min calls with project staff. Nationwide, 300 heterosexual couples (N = 600 participants) participated; couples were generally representative of the US in terms of race, ethnicity, and education. Couples were randomly assigned to begin the program immediately or to a 2-month waitlist control group. Results: Compared to the waitlist group, intervention couples reported significant improvements in relationship satisfaction (Cohen's d = 0.69), relationship confidence (d = 0.47), and negative relationship quality (d = 0.57). Additionally, couples reported significant improvements in multiple domains of individual functioning, especially when individuals began the program with difficulties in that domain: depressive (d = 0.71) and anxious symptoms (d = 0.94), perceived health (d = 0.51), work functioning (d = 0.57), and quality of life (d = 0.44). Conclusions: In a nationally representative sample of couples, the OurRelationship program was effective in significantly improving both relationship and individual functioning, suggesting it can substantially increase the reach of current interventions through its low-cost, Web-based format. (PsycINFO Database Record
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology |
| DOIs | |
| State | Accepted/In press - Jan 25 2016 |
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Keywords
- Couple
- Internet
- Marriage
- Relationship distress
- Web-based intervention
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Clinical Psychology
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)
Cite this
A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Web-Based OurRelationship Program : Effects on Relationship and Individual Functioning. / Doss, Brian; Cicila, Larisa N.; Georgia, Emily J.; Roddy, McKenzie K.; Nowlan, Kathryn M.; Benson, Lisa A.; Christensen, Andrew.
In: Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 25.01.2016.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Web-Based OurRelationship Program
T2 - Effects on Relationship and Individual Functioning
AU - Doss, Brian
AU - Cicila, Larisa N.
AU - Georgia, Emily J.
AU - Roddy, McKenzie K.
AU - Nowlan, Kathryn M.
AU - Benson, Lisa A.
AU - Christensen, Andrew
PY - 2016/1/25
Y1 - 2016/1/25
N2 - Objective: Within the United States, one third of married couples are distressed and almost half of first marriages (and more than half of unmarried cohabiting relationships) end in divorce/separation. Additionally, relationship distress has been linked to mental and physical health problems in partners and their children. Although couple therapy is effective in reducing relationship distress, it is utilized by less than one third of divorcing couples. Therefore, more accessible interventions for relationship distress are needed. Method: This study tests the efficacy of the OurRelationship program, an 8-hr online program adapted from an empirically based, in-person couple therapy. In the program, couples complete online activities and have 4 15-min calls with project staff. Nationwide, 300 heterosexual couples (N = 600 participants) participated; couples were generally representative of the US in terms of race, ethnicity, and education. Couples were randomly assigned to begin the program immediately or to a 2-month waitlist control group. Results: Compared to the waitlist group, intervention couples reported significant improvements in relationship satisfaction (Cohen's d = 0.69), relationship confidence (d = 0.47), and negative relationship quality (d = 0.57). Additionally, couples reported significant improvements in multiple domains of individual functioning, especially when individuals began the program with difficulties in that domain: depressive (d = 0.71) and anxious symptoms (d = 0.94), perceived health (d = 0.51), work functioning (d = 0.57), and quality of life (d = 0.44). Conclusions: In a nationally representative sample of couples, the OurRelationship program was effective in significantly improving both relationship and individual functioning, suggesting it can substantially increase the reach of current interventions through its low-cost, Web-based format. (PsycINFO Database Record
AB - Objective: Within the United States, one third of married couples are distressed and almost half of first marriages (and more than half of unmarried cohabiting relationships) end in divorce/separation. Additionally, relationship distress has been linked to mental and physical health problems in partners and their children. Although couple therapy is effective in reducing relationship distress, it is utilized by less than one third of divorcing couples. Therefore, more accessible interventions for relationship distress are needed. Method: This study tests the efficacy of the OurRelationship program, an 8-hr online program adapted from an empirically based, in-person couple therapy. In the program, couples complete online activities and have 4 15-min calls with project staff. Nationwide, 300 heterosexual couples (N = 600 participants) participated; couples were generally representative of the US in terms of race, ethnicity, and education. Couples were randomly assigned to begin the program immediately or to a 2-month waitlist control group. Results: Compared to the waitlist group, intervention couples reported significant improvements in relationship satisfaction (Cohen's d = 0.69), relationship confidence (d = 0.47), and negative relationship quality (d = 0.57). Additionally, couples reported significant improvements in multiple domains of individual functioning, especially when individuals began the program with difficulties in that domain: depressive (d = 0.71) and anxious symptoms (d = 0.94), perceived health (d = 0.51), work functioning (d = 0.57), and quality of life (d = 0.44). Conclusions: In a nationally representative sample of couples, the OurRelationship program was effective in significantly improving both relationship and individual functioning, suggesting it can substantially increase the reach of current interventions through its low-cost, Web-based format. (PsycINFO Database Record
KW - Couple
KW - Internet
KW - Marriage
KW - Relationship distress
KW - Web-based intervention
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84955241731&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84955241731&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/ccp0000063
DO - 10.1037/ccp0000063
M3 - Article
JO - Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
JF - Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
SN - 0022-006X
ER -