Relationship Help-Seeking: A Review of the Efficacy and Reach

Stewart, J. Wade; Bradford, Kay; Higginbotham, Brian J.; Skogrand, Linda

doi:10.1080/01494929.2016.1157559

Cited by 33 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 80 publications

(82 reference statements)

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“…In stand‐alone and automated designs, there is variability in the delivery method (e.g., website vs. smart phone app) and extent of personalization or complexity of feedback (Muñoz et al, ). For example, self‐guided relationship education websites such as http://twoofus.org and http://coupleconnection.net provide couples with information and advice on commonly reported relationship issues without any personalized content (Stewart, Bradford, Higginbotham, & Skogrand, ). Furthermore, a text‐based program, Love Every Day, funded by the Department of Defense via Military OneSource, prompts couples once daily for 21 days to answer questions about their relationship to promote emotional closeness (U.S. Department of Defense, ).…”

Section: Role Of Coach Support In Web‐based Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Completion of a Stand‐Alone Versus Coach‐Supported Trial of a Web‐Based Program for Distressed Relationships

2019

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Objective To assess program completion of the online OurRelationship program with varying levels of paraprofessional support in an effort to further examine the role of coach support in self‐help couple interventions. Background Although the OurRelationship program for distressed couples has been found to statistically improve relationship and individual functioning, the program's provision of paraprofessional coach support limits its dissemination and implementation. Method Using an interrupted time series design, we compared completion rates of those who enrolled in a trial of OurRelationship with no coach support (n = 529 couples) to completion rates of a previous trial of OurRelationship in which couples were randomized to receive either one (n = 179 couples) or four (n = 177 couples) calls with a coach. Results Individuals were statistically less likely to complete the OurRelationship program when they were not provided a coach than they were when provided with either one or four coach calls. Analyses of moderators of completion rates revealed that a coach was generally equally helpful across demographic factors and measures of baseline relationship and individual functioning; however, coaching was especially helpful for Hispanic individuals and those without elevated depressive symptoms at baseline. Conclusions Even a single call with a coach yields higher completion of an online program for relationship distress. Implications The findings highlight the growing need for tests of alternate types of program support, such as automated support, in an effort to reduce program costs and increase potential for dissemination without negatively affecting program completion rates.

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Section: Role Of Coach Support In Web‐based Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Completion of a Stand‐Alone Versus Coach‐Supported Trial of a Web‐Based Program for Distressed Relationships

2019

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“…The level of desire to seek services may also vary by individual factors and types of presenting problems. First, several studies have found significant gender differences such that women are more likely to seek couple therapy compared to their male partners (Doss, Atkins, & Christensen, 2003;Stewart, Bradford, Higginbotham, & Skogrand, 2016). In addition, there is mixed evidence for the possibility that types of presenting problems partners endorse differ by gender.…”

Section: Reasons For Seeking Couple Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

Why do couples seek relationship help online? Description and comparison to in‐person interventions

Roddy

Rothman

Cicila

et al. 2018

J Marital Family Therapy

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Couples are increasingly utilizing newly developed online adaptations of couple therapy; however, different presenting problems could drive couples to seek either online or in-person services. This study compared the presenting problems of 151 couples seeking an online couple intervention for relationship distress (OurRelationship) with responses from 147 couples seeking in-person couple therapy. Presenting problems were generally consistent across gender and whether or not the respondent was the initial help-seeker. Online and in-person samples frequently endorsed difficulties with communication and emotional intimacy; however, they differentially endorsed trust, time together, and child/parenting difficulties. Therefore, while basing online interventions on existing couple therapies is generally supported, efforts should be made to tailor online services to meet the unique needs of this population.

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“…For example, couple relationship problems are reported as the most common presenting concern among those seeking assistance from professional counsellors (Kulka, Veroff, & Douvan, 1979), and one of the top three presenting problems in those attending Employee Assistance Programs (Shumway, Wampler, Dersch, & Arredondo, 2004). The pervasiveness of relationship help-seeking is reflected in the millions of websites and thousands of self-help books that are used by millions of people (Stewart, Bradford, Higginbotham, & Skogrand, 2016).…”

Section: Significance Of Couple Relationships and Couple Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is likely that many more people would like professional help with their relationship problems, except that clients often perceive a lack of expertise among helping professionals about relationship issues (Stewart et al, 2016). Individuals in distressed relationships are greatly overrepresented among those seeking mental health services, yet they usually do not report marital distress as a primary complaint (Lin, Goering, Offord, Campbell, & Boyle, 1996), possibly because they do not perceive mental health professionals as able to address relationship issues.…”

Section: Significance Of Couple Relationships and Couple Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

What Every Therapist Needs to Know About Couple Therapy

Halford

Pepping

2019

Behav. change

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This invited paper is a review of the significance of couple relationships to the practice of all therapists. The article begins with a summary of the evidence on the centrality of committed couple relationships to the lives and wellbeing of adults, and the association of the quality of the parents’ couple relationship on the wellbeing of children. We argue that the well-established reciprocal association between individual problems and couple relationship problems means that all therapists need to pay attention to how a couple relationship might be influencing a client's functioning, even if the relationship is not the presenting problem. There is an outline the evolution of current approaches to behavioural couple therapy, and the current state of the art and science of couple therapy. We present an analysis of the evidence for couple therapy as a treatment for relationship distress, as well as couple-based treatments for individual problems. This is followed by a description of the distinctive challenges in working with couples and how to address those challenges, and recommendations about how to address the needs of diverse couple relationships. Finally, we propose some core therapist competencies needed to work effectively with couples.

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Relationship Help-Seeking: A Review of the Efficacy and Reach

Cited by 33 publications

References 80 publications

Completion of a Stand‐Alone Versus Coach‐Supported Trial of a Web‐Based Program for Distressed Relationships

Completion of a Stand‐Alone Versus Coach‐Supported Trial of a Web‐Based Program for Distressed Relationships

Why do couples seek relationship help online? Description and comparison to in‐person interventions

What Every Therapist Needs to Know About Couple Therapy

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