Mechanisms of improvements and maintenance in online relationship programs for distressed low-income couples.

Abstract

Objective: Web-based relationship interventions have been shown to improve relationship functioning for low-income couples, with gains maintained up through 12 months (Doss et al., 2020; Roddy et al., 2020). However, little is known about mechanisms of improvements and maintenance for these programs. Method: A sample of 742 low-income couples (Mage = 33; 55% non-Hispanic White; 52% married; Mdn annual household income = $27,000) were randomly assigned to the OurRelationship (OR) program, the ePREP program, or a waitlist control group. Couples were repeatedly assessed over 6 months on two relationship outcomes (satisfaction and breakup potential) and five relationship mechanisms (positive and negative communication, relationship problem intensity and confidence, and emotional support) with self-report measures. Results: Intervention couples, compared with the control couples, experienced significantly greater improvements in all mechanisms by the end of the program (Mean |d| = 0.58). Those with greater improvements in mechanisms also reported greater improvements in both relationship outcomes. From post- to 4-months follow-up, only prepost improvements in negative communication significantly predicted maintenance of gains in satisfaction. In contrast, prepost improvements in all mechanisms significantly predicted maintenance of reductions in breakup potential, with the largest effect via improvements in emotional support. Conclusions: These results indicate that both programs improve targeted mechanisms during the intervention period and support the role of these constructs as mechanisms of improvements in broader relationship functioning. Moreover, findings on mechanisms of maintenance highlighted the importance of including an emphasis on communication and emotional support to better maintain program gains.

Examining quality time as a mediator of dyadic change in a randomized controlled trial of relationship education for low‐income couples

“…Additionally, it is possible that learning new skills, as well as hearing from other couples’ experiences may contribute to greater hope about the future of the couple relationship (e.g., Hawkins et al, 2017). Our results demonstrate the potential value of couples having dedicated time spent together to focus on their relationship, and these results add to the growing body of scholarship examining factors that contribute to positive couple outcomes (Barton et al, 2017; Cooper et al, 2021; Le et al, 2020).…”

“…Previous studies have been mixed about the influence of content mediators, such as changes in communication. Some studies found that changes in communication‐mediated changes in later relationship quality (Barton et al, 2017; Le et al, 2020), while another did not (Williamson et al, 2016). Another study found that participants’ reports of specific tool usage were also not related to improvements in overall relationship satisfaction (Carlson, Guttierrez, et al, 2014).…”

“…Findings from RE outcome studies consistently indicate positive effects for couples on domains such as communication (Barton et al, 2017;Le et al, 2020), couple conflict (Hsueh et al, 2012), parenting (Carlson, Barden, et al, 2014), and mental health (Carlson et al, 2017;Cooper et al, 2021;Roddy et al, 2020). The size of the program effects has varied from small to large for couples, and many of those effects were maintained at follow-up (Arnold & Beelmann, 2018;Carlson et al, 2021;Doss et al, 2020;Hawkins & Erickson, 2014;McGill et al, 2020).…”

“…Curriculum content, such as the influence of communication skill‐building on positive outcomes, has been a primary target for change mechanism studies. Le et al (2020) identified improvements in negative communication as a mediator of relationship satisfaction gains 4‐month post‐intervention for couples who participated in a randomized trial of the online OurRelationship program (see Doss et al, 2020 for more about OurRelationship ). Additionally, the tested mechanisms in the Le et al study (positive and negative communication, relationship problem intensity, confidence, and emotional support) predicted maintenance of reductions to break‐up potential.…”

Make up or break up? Charting the well-being of low-income help-seeking couples through the breakup process.

“…Also, being able to properly communicate about individual differences so that each partner feels understood, as ePREP teaches, could reduce individuals talking past their partner or reduce the number of vitriolic fights that may occur. Indeed, separate mediation studies in a sample from the same larger study seem to support these conclusions (Le et al, in press). However, it is also possible that other nonspecific changes—such as implicit messages sent by both partners agreeing to do the program—also contributed to these changes.…”