title: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Coach Contact During a Brief Online Intervention for Distressed Couples.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL.
authors.forename: McKenzie K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Roddy
authors.affiliation: University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL.
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Nowlan
authors.affiliation: University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL.
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Doss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D019546:Couples Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D000071252:Mentoring / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Couple Therapy; IBCT; Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy; Online Intervention; Paraprofessional Contact; contacto paraprofesional; intervención en línea; terapia de pareja; 伴侣心理致力; 网上干预措施; 辅助专业联络