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Helping Couples Connect during the COVID‐19 Pandemic: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of an Awareness, Courage, and Love Intervention
Author(s) -
Tsai Mavis,
Hardebeck Emerson,
Ramos Fabiana Pinheiro,
Turlove Hannah,
NordalJonsson Kaisa,
Vongdala Akoly,
Zhang Wen,
Kohlenberg Robert J.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
applied psychology: health and well‐being
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.276
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1758-0854
pISSN - 1758-0846
DOI - 10.1111/aphw.12241
Subject(s) - closeness , courage , psychological intervention , intervention (counseling) , randomized controlled trial , psychology , pandemic , clinical psychology , covid-19 , correlation , social psychology , medicine , psychiatry , mathematics , mathematical analysis , philosophy , geometry , theology , surgery , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Background A second pandemic of mental health problems due to COVID‐19 is predicted, suggesting a demand for interventions to mitigate its impacts. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an online psychological intervention based on the Awareness, Courage, and Love (ACL) model from Functional Analytic Psychotherapy to promote closeness between couples during the pandemic. Method Thirty‐one couples were randomised into either the intervention or control group for a 2‐hour online group session. The intervention was designed to increase closeness between couples, whereas control group members watched a movie. In both groups, participants responded to two instruments that assessed the couple's relationship. Generalised linear mixed modeling was used to compare the change scores over time between the groups, with random effects used to control for the correlation within a couple and the correlation within the individual. Results The intervention group’s closeness increased by 23 per cent while the control group’s closeness increased only 2 per cent. A week later, a significant difference between the two groups emerged on closeness. Conclusion Online ACL protocols requiring minimal training offer a promising intervention to quickly buffer against stress for large numbers of individuals during pandemic times.