Economic & Relationship Support for Marital Relationships

Overseen By Zeida Forrest

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Texas at Austin

Disqualifiers: Domestic violence, child maltreatment

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 13

Duration: 6 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if adding economic support services, such as financial planning and career coaching, to relationship education can improve relationship and financial outcomes for couples. Couples will receive either the relationship education alone or the education plus economic services. Researchers will compare the two groups over a year to identify the more effective approach. This trial suits couples in romantic relationships, provided they are not experiencing domestic violence or child maltreatment. As an unphased trial, it offers couples a unique opportunity to enhance both their relationship and financial well-being.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that these interventions are safe for couples?

Research has shown that career coaching is generally safe and well-received. Information from job coaching services indicates it helps people without causing harm. Family wellness programs, which teach healthy family relationships, also maintain a strong safety record. Studies have demonstrated that these programs improve well-being without major side effects. Financial planning services aim to boost economic stability and have been safely used in various community programs. These services focus on education and guidance, which do not involve physical risks. Overall, these treatments are considered safe for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these treatments because they focus on a holistic approach to strengthening marital relationships by addressing economic and personal development factors. Unlike traditional marriage counseling, which often centers on communication and conflict resolution, these treatments incorporate financial planning and career coaching. The "Treatment-Plus" arm offers added economic-focused services, including workshops and ongoing personalized support for financial and career growth, which could empower couples to tackle underlying stressors that impact their relationships. By enhancing relationship education with practical life skills, these interventions aim to provide a more comprehensive support system for couples.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving marital relationships?

This trial will compare two approaches to supporting marital relationships. Participants in the "Treatment-Plus" arm will receive an enhanced model that includes core Relationship Education programming, along with economic-focused services such as financial planning and career coaching. Research has shown that adding financial help to relationship education can be beneficial. Specifically, studies have found that programs combining career advice and money management with relationship education improve how couples get along and their financial stability. Participants often report better communication, fewer arguments, and a greater understanding of finances and job opportunities. Meanwhile, participants in the "Treatment-only" arm will receive core Relationship Education programming through Family Wellness workshops, which teach relationship skills and have been shown to increase couple satisfaction and reduce harmful behaviors. Together, these methods aim to strengthen both the relationship and financial aspects of participants' lives, offering more complete support. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for couples in a romantic relationship who want to improve their partnership. It's not suitable for those currently experiencing domestic violence or child maltreatment.

Inclusion Criteria

Couples involved in a romantic relationship

Exclusion Criteria

Current domestic violence or child maltreatment

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Initial assessment of couples' relationship and economic status

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants receive Relationship Education programming, with or without additional economic-focused services

6 weeks

6 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in relationship and economic outcomes

12 months

Assessments at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Career Coaching
• Family Wellness
• Financial Planning

Trial Overview The study compares traditional relationship education (RE) with RE plus added economic services like career coaching and financial planning. Couples are randomly placed into one of the two groups and followed up over a year.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Treatment-only Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants in the this group will receive core Relationship Education programming, which consists of six weekly 2.5-hour Family Wellness Workshops.

Group II: Treatment-Plus Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants in this group will receive an enhanced model that includes the core RE programming, and adds economic-focused services which include two 2.5-hour workshops (one on financial planning and one on career coaching), as well as individual financial planning and career coaching services ongoing for up to one year.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Texas at Austin

Lead Sponsor

Trials

387

Recruited

86,100+

Department of Health and Human Services

Collaborator

Trials

240

Recruited

944,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A new interdisciplinary program combining financial counseling and couples' therapy was developed to help financially distressed couples improve their financial management and communication skills, showing promising results in a pilot study with 18 couples.

After participating in the program, couples reported reduced financial strain, improved financial management skills, and increased relationship satisfaction, particularly among males, indicating the program's potential effectiveness in addressing financial stress in relationships.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Together - a couples' program to improve communication, coping, and financial management skills: development and initial pilot-testing. Falconier, MK.[2015]

The study involved 62 married women with children and found significant relationships between economic factors and stress-related variables, such as role satisfaction and fulfillment.

It suggests that incorporating financial health education into stress management programs could help improve the well-being of married, employed women.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The relationship of economic factors and stress among employed, married women with children. Barnes, MD., Pase, M., VanLeeuwen, D.[2018]

Non-compliance in patients is often due to a lack of information and support from healthcare providers rather than intentional neglect, highlighting the need for better communication and education.

Effective self-management programs, particularly for conditions like type 1 diabetes and severe asthma, can significantly improve treatment outcomes when they provide evidence-based knowledge and empower patients, unlike generic programs that do not target specific diseases.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Does patient knowledge improve treatment outcome?]. Mühlhauser, I., Lenz, M.[2019]

The study analyzed data from 370 middle-aged married couples over 12 years, focusing on how economic strain during recessions affected marital quality and stability.

Findings suggest that positive perceptions of work-family conflict and marital support can help reduce the negative impacts of economic strain on marriages, highlighting the importance of these factors in maintaining relationship health during tough economic times.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Impact of Family Economic Strain On Work-Family Conflict, Marital Support, Marital Quality, and Marital Stability During the Middle Years. Ross, DB., Gale, J., Wickrama, KKAS., et al.[2021]

The study identified a two-component model for assessing and intervening with couples facing financial issues, highlighting the importance of addressing both financial conflicts and communication deficits in marital therapy.

Differences in responses between husbands and wives suggest that tailored interventions may be necessary to effectively support couples in financial distress, particularly in nonprofit counseling settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Differential assessment of financial and relationship distress: implications for couples therapy. Aniol, JC., Snyder, DK.[2019]

Health care facilities that include patient and family advisors see better outcomes, such as shorter hospital stays and higher patient satisfaction, indicating the effectiveness of their involvement.

Involving patient and family advisors promotes a holistic approach to treatment, ensuring that care aligns with patients' preferences and needs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Involving patient and family advisors in the patient and family-centered care model. Warren, N.[2012]

Effective patient and family education is crucial in the evolving healthcare landscape, as highlighted by the standards set by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

The enhancement of a cardiac education program involved creating new teaching tools to improve patient knowledge and empower them to make informed decisions about their care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Tilling the soil: nurturing the seeds of patient and family education. Gershenson, TA., Quon, H., Somerville, S., et al.[2019]

The medication education program, which combines group discussions and individual counseling in a partial hospital setting, effectively promotes medication compliance among patients.

Nurses play a crucial role in helping patients navigate healthcare information and decision-making, supporting them in understanding their relationships with healthcare providers and encouraging sound health practices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Medication education: increasing patient compliance. Heyduk, LJ.[2022]

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) allows US companies to offer health insurance incentives for employees who participate in health and wellness initiatives, potentially improving overall employee health.

Employers are financially motivated to address cardiovascular risk factors among their employees, but they must also evaluate the costs and return on investment (ROI) of implementing health and wellness programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Current trends in reducing cardiovascular risk factors in the United States: focus on worksite health and wellness. Cahalin, LP., Myers, J., Kaminsky, L., et al.[2014]

The study developed an educational intervention aimed at helping patients manage financial health related to their treatment, based on feedback from focus groups with patients and healthcare staff.

Participants emphasized the importance of early education on financial aspects of care, leading to a presentation that covers insurance, employment policies, and financial resources, which can be refined for specific patient groups.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Developing an Educational Intervention to Address Financial Hardship in Cancer Patients. Khera, N., Kumbamu, A., Langer, SL., et al.[2022]

An interdisciplinary stroke family support and education program effectively equips families with essential information about stroke and rehabilitation, helping them navigate the challenges associated with a stroke crisis.

The program not only provides educational resources but also offers emotional support, which is crucial for families adapting to the impact of stroke on their loved ones.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of a stroke family support and education program. Kernich, CA., Robb, G.[2019]

Wives of firefighters who participated in a worksite health promotion program showed significantly greater awareness and exposure to health information compared to those whose husbands did not participate, with 93% awareness versus 56%.

While the wives did not show significant changes in their own health habits, their health behaviors were positively influenced by the changes made by the firefighters, indicating a potential ripple effect of health interventions within families.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of a worksite health promotion program on the wives of fire fighters. Zimmerman, RS., Gerace, TA., Smith, JC., et al.[2019]

In a study of 180,620 employees with type 2 diabetes in Sweden, manufacturing workers and machine operators had the highest mortality rates from cardiovascular disease (CVD), with rates of 1782 and 1329 per 100,000 person-years, respectively.

Targeted workplace interventions to address CVD risk factors like poor glycemic control, smoking, and obesity could significantly improve health outcomes for high-risk occupations such as manufacturing and cleaning, where mortality rates were two to three times higher than in lower-risk jobs like management and the arts.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mortality rates and cardiovascular disease burden in type 2 diabetes by occupation, results from all Swedish employees in 2002-2015. Carlsson, S., Andersson, T., Talbäck, M., et al.[2022]

The FRAME intervention, a 14-hour psychoeducation program for low-income parents, significantly reduced financial stress and improved coping skills, particularly in couples and women's groups, based on a study of 173 participants.

Participants who engaged in the FRAME intervention also experienced reductions in symptoms of depression, indicating that the skills learned in the program effectively translated into better mental health outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Preliminary efficacy of an intervention to reduce psychosocial stress and improve coping in low-income families. Wadsworth, ME., Santiago, CD., Einhorn, L., et al.[2011]

The study identified only two reliable and valid instruments specifically designed to measure self-care in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients: the Self-care Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) and the European Heart Failure Self-care Behavior Scale (EHFScBS).

Both instruments have undergone rigorous psychometric testing, demonstrating multiple aspects of validity and reliability, which are crucial for advancing research and clinical practices aimed at improving self-care in CHF patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Measuring self-care in chronic heart failure: a review of the psychometric properties of clinical instruments. Cameron, J., Worrall-Carter, L., Driscoll, A., et al.[2015]

Citations

1. acf.gov acf.gov/opre/report/healthy-marriage-and-relationship-education-integrated-economic-stability-services

Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education with ... This healthy marriage impact report addresses the following primary research question: What are the impacts of the Empowering Families ...

2. acf.gov acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/opre/Career%20STREAMS%20Impact%20Study%20Report_Final_2.pdf

Integrating Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education ... Everyone entered the program expecting to receive employment services and nearly all participants reported having had at least one romantic relationship in the ...

3. mathematica.org mathematica.org/publications/integrating-healthy-marriage-and-relationship-education-with-economic-stability-services-findings

Integrating Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education ... Career STREAMS featured a daily workshop for two weeks covering employment-related topics, relationship education, and financial literacy. Both ...

4. onlinelibrary.wiley.com onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/fare.12877

Impacts of healthy marriage and relationship education ... This study evaluated the effectiveness of Empowering Families, a healthy marriage and relationship education (HMRE) program for low-income couples with ...

5. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-couples-persons-4-2022-2adce

Economic & Relationship Support for Marital Relationships Trial Overview The study compares traditional relationship education (RE) with RE plus added economic services like career coaching and financial planning.

6. acf.gov acf.gov/opre/toolkit/employment-coaching-information-hub

Employment Coaching Study Information Hub Learn about way to use of employment coaching services. The hub describes employment coaching and evaluation findings.

7. ncda.org ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sd/news_article/401160/_self/CC_layout_details/true

The 2021 NCDA Harris Poll Results A new understanding of working America's career information and guidance experiences is now possible as a result of a national survey completed in 2021.

8. aspe.hhs.gov aspe.hhs.gov/reports/marriage-education-financial-literacy-asset-development-roundtable-meeting-summary-0

Marriage Education, Financial Literacy, and Asset ... The Roundtable brought together researchers and practitioners from the marriage education, financial literacy, and asset development fields to begin a dialogue.

9. childtrends.org childtrends.org/publications/history-and-implementation-of-the-federally-funded-healthy-marriage-and-relationship-education-hmre-grants

History and Implementation of the Federally Funded ... HMRE programs teach communication, conflict management, and healthy relationship skills. They emerged in the late 1980s/early 1990s and were ...