Online relationship education for help‐seeking low‐income couples: A Bayesian replication and extension of the OurRelationship and ePREP programs

Abstract

Low‐income couples are at increased risk for relationship instability and divorce. In response, online relationship education programs such as ePREP and OurRelationship have been developed to more easily reach this population. A previous trial indicated that these programs promote relationship functioning (Doss et al., 2020) and individual well‐being (Roddy et al., 2020a). However, given that these effects were notably larger than previous studies of in‐person relationship education and approached effect sizes observed in couple therapy, it is possible that the magnitude of these effects was somewhat spurious; therefore, these findings need replication. The current manuscript seeks to replicate these programs’ previous effects on relationship functioning and determine whether these effects are stable. Using a sample of 671 low‐income couples seeking relationship help (N = 1337 individuals) and Bayesian estimation, the current study replicated previous findings that the OurRelationship and ePREP programs offered with four coaching calls produced reliable improvements in relationship functioning relative to a 6‐month waitlist control group. There were no statistically reliable differences between the two active interventions. Bayesian analyses indicated that the effects of the two online programs were larger than the average effects of in‐person relationship education for low‐income couples reported in previous studies, roughly equivalent to efficacy studies of in‐person relationship education reported in previous studies, smaller than those that resulted from the OurRelationship program delivered to distressed couples without an income requirement and smaller than couple therapy.

Does coparenting improve during the OurRelationship program? Explorations within a low-income sample during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“…Thus, these results likely suggest that couples with varying levels of these factors experienced similar improvements in coparenting. This is consistent with past studies that showed that the OR program is equally beneficial for couples regardless of their sexual orientation, income, motivation, emotion regulation, relationship status, and military status (Georgia Salivar et al, 2020; Hatch, Knopp, et al, 2021; Hatch, Rothman, et al, 2021; Rothman et al, 2021; Salivar et al, 2018).…”

“…To further address this issue, Le et al (2021) evaluated the spillover effects of two online relationship-focused programs on partners’ coparenting in a low-income sample, namely, ePREP and OurRelationship (OR). Both programs have demonstrated notable impacts on various aspects of low-income couples’ romantic relationships in two independent low-income samples (Doss, Knopp, et al, 2020; Hatch, Knopp, et al, 2021). The OR program has also been shown to reduce coparenting conflict in a nationally representative sample (Doss, Knopp, et al, 2020).…”

Optimizing Coaching During Web-Based Relationship Education for Low-Income Couples: Protocol for Precision Medicine Research

“…When the 2 programs were compared, only one significant effect emerged; those in the OurRelationship program experienced greater decreases in communication conflict when compared with those in the ePREP program (Cohen d =−0.24) [ 17 ]. These findings were later reproduced in an independently collected sample [ 25 ].…”

Hearing the voices of Black Africans: Essential components for culturally relevant marriage enrichment programs in South Africa

“…Significantly, online programs reach more couples within the comfort of their environment (Doss et al, 2020), effectively reducing barriers associated with in‐person interventions, such as work obligations, childcare responsibilities, and transportation constraints (Stanley et al, 2020). Additionally, online platforms offer a solution for reaching low‐income couples and disadvantaged communities, often at a heightened risk for relationship instability and divorce (Doss et al, 2020; Hatch et al, 2022). The Global COVID‐19 pandemic compelled many couples to rely on virtual services (Stanley & Markman, 2020).…”