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A Randomized Controlled Trial of Coach Contact During a Brief Online Intervention for Distressed Couples
Author(s) -
Roddy McKenzie K.,
Nowlan Kathryn M.,
Doss Brian D.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
family process
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.011
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1545-5300
pISSN - 0014-7370
DOI - 10.1111/famp.12262
Subject(s) - randomized controlled trial , psychology , psychological intervention , distress , intervention (counseling) , clinical psychology , medicine , psychiatry , surgery
The negative impacts of relationship distress on the couple, the family, and the individual are well‐known. However, couples are often unable to access effective treatments to combat these effects—including many couples who might be at highest risk for relationship distress. Online self‐help interventions decrease the barriers to treatment and provide couples with high quality, research‐based programs they can do on their own. Using a combined multiple baseline and randomized design, the present study investigated the effectiveness of the Brief OurRelationship.com (Brief‐ OR ) program with and without staff support in improving relationship distress and individual functioning. Results indicated the program produced significant gains in several areas of relationship functioning; however, these gains were smaller in magnitude than those observed in Full‐ OR . Furthermore, effects of Brief‐ OR were not sustained over follow‐up. Comparisons between couples randomized to Brief‐ OR with and without contact with a staff coach indicated that coach contact significantly reduced program noncompletion and improved program effects. Limitations and future directions are discussed.