In-Person vs Online Relationship Education for Program Modality

Overseen By Braquel R Egginton, MS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Healthy Relationships California

Disqualifiers: Domestic violence, Drug use, Mental illness, others

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

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

Duration: 12 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial seeks to determine whether couples' relationship classes, specifically the R3 Academy for Couples, are more effective in-person or online. The program aims to boost satisfaction, manage conflict, and increase support, affection, and commitment between partners. Couples in California who live together and wish to participate with their partner are ideal candidates. The study will assess if online classes can provide the same benefits as in-person ones, particularly for couples who find attending physical classes challenging. As an unphased trial, it offers couples the opportunity to improve their relationship dynamics in a flexible setting.

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 this program modality is safe for participants?

Research shows that participants find the R3 Academy for Couples program easy to handle. Over 250,000 people have used the program to enhance communication and manage conflict in their relationships. No major negative effects have been reported from these programs, indicating that both the in-person and online versions of the R3 Academy are safe for participants. The program teaches practical skills, which minimizes the chance of negative outcomes. For those considering joining the trial, the safety evidence suggests it's a low-risk way to improve relationship skills. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how relationship education can be delivered in new, flexible ways. Unlike traditional programs that require in-person attendance, the R3 Academy for Couples is testing a livestream modality. This could make relationship education more accessible to couples who can't attend in person due to time constraints or geographical barriers. By comparing live and online delivery methods, the trial aims to find out if couples can achieve the same positive outcomes from the comfort of their own homes. This could lead to more personalized and convenient options for strengthening relationships.

What evidence suggests that the R3 Academy for Couples program is effective for improving relationship outcomes?

Research has shown that online relationship education programs, such as the R3 Academy for Couples, can significantly enhance relationship satisfaction. Couples who participate in these programs often report increased happiness after completing the sessions. The program provides practical tools and lessons based on research to help couples heal from past issues and manage difficult emotions. This approach strengthens relationships by focusing on key areas like communication, conflict management, and emotional support. The trial will compare the effectiveness of the R3 Academy delivered through different modalities. Participants will be assigned to either the Live Modality or the Livestream Modality. Overall, evidence suggests that the R3 Academy can effectively improve relationship quality, whether completed in-person or online. ^{1 2 4 5 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Patty Howell

Principal Investigator

Healthy Relationships California

Dyann Collins

Principal Investigator

Healthy Relationships California

Kevin Shafer, PhD

Principal Investigator

Brigham Young University

Jason Krafsky

Principal Investigator

Healthy Relationships California

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for couples over 18 living in California who want to improve their relationship. They must apply together and not have active drug use, domestic violence, untreated mental illness, anger issues, or pending legal action.

Exclusion Criteria

Undiagnosed or untreated mental illness

Anger management issues

Active drug use

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants attend the R3 Academy for Couples program, delivered in either live or livestream modalities, over 12 sessions totaling 24 hours

12 weeks

12 sessions (in-person or virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in relationship outcomes such as conflict management, commitment, affection, satisfaction, and support 4 months after program completion

4 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• R3 Academy for Couples

Trial Overview The study tests the R3 Academy's effectiveness on marital satisfaction and conflict management by comparing live classes with livestream ones. It aims to see if online formats can match the benefits of in-person learning.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Livestream Modality Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The livestream modality is considered the treatment group for the purpose of this quasi-experimental study.

Group II: Live Modality Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The live modality is considered the control group for the purpose of this quasi-experimental study.

R3 Academy for Couples is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as R3 Academy for Couples for:

• Marital/relationship satisfaction improvement
• Conflict management
• Support and affection enhancement
• Commitment strengthening

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Healthy Relationships California

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2

Recruited

770+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A study involving 1248 couples aimed to determine the optimal level of coach contact needed for effective web-based relationship education, highlighting the potential for tailored interventions to improve relationship satisfaction.

The research seeks to identify key predictors of adherence and relationship gains, which could help social service programs enhance the delivery of evidence-based relationship health interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Optimizing Coaching During Web-Based Relationship Education for Low-Income Couples: Protocol for Precision Medicine Research. Hatch, SG., Lobaina, D., Doss, BD.[2021]

Participants in the online weight management program (n = 398) experienced greater reductions in BMI, weight, and waist circumference compared to those in the in-person program (n = 1,313), indicating that online delivery can be highly effective for weight management.

While online participants showed significant improvements in physical metrics, in-person participants reported greater increases in confidence regarding physical activity, suggesting that while online programs are effective, they may not fully replicate the motivational benefits of face-to-face interaction.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Using synchronous distance-education technology to deliver a weight management intervention. Dunn, C., Whetstone, LM., Kolasa, KM., et al.[2014]

Couples who participated in the RELATE + Couple CARE program showed greater improvements in communication and relationship satisfaction over 12 months compared to those who only received the RELATE assessment.

While women benefited more from the additional Couple CARE training, men maintained similar levels of relationship satisfaction in both programs, indicating that skill training can enhance outcomes for couples.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Couple relationship education at home: does skill training enhance relationship assessment and feedback? Halford, WK., Wilson, K., Watson, B., et al.[2015]

A study involving 250 clinicians over three months found that both in-person and online training formats for HIV, HCV, and STD education were well-received, with positive evaluations on content and delivery.

Clinicians showed a significant preference for online training over in-person sessions, indicating a shift towards digital learning methods in medical education (p=0.01).

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Comparison of In-Person and Online Training in a Statewide Clinical Education Program for Dissemination of HIV, HCV and STD Clinical Evidence. Wang, D.[2023]

The blended online and in-person training approach for prospective resource parents resulted in significantly greater knowledge gains compared to the traditional classroom-only method, based on a study of 111 participants.

The blended approach also led to much lower dropout rates during training, indicating it may be a more effective and engaging method for prospective resource parents.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of Blended Preservice Training for Resource Parents. White, L., Delaney, R., Pacifici, C., et al.[2019]

In a study involving 447 couples participating in a relationship education course, it was found that the perception of a partner's need for change significantly impacted the effectiveness of the program, with greater perceived need leading to less positive change in knowledge, communication, and commitment.

The results suggest that aligning partners' perceptions of each other's need for change is crucial for successful outcomes in relationship education, highlighting the importance of addressing these perceptions in RE programming.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

"No, It's You:" Dyadic perceived need for change predicts relationship education outcomes. Crapo, JS., Bradford, K., Kopystynska, O., et al.[2023]

A meta-analysis of 12 studies showed that online relationship education programs significantly improve relationship satisfaction, communication skills, and relationship confidence, while also reducing negative relationship qualities.

At the individual level, these programs help decrease anxiety and depressive symptoms, and enhance overall health satisfaction and quality of life, with no significant differences based on gender or relationship distress levels.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Online relationship education programs improve individual and relationship functioning: A meta-analytic review. Spencer, CM., Anderson, JR.[2021]

Online relationship education programs have been shown to be effective alternatives to traditional marriage education, with studies involving over 2,000 couples demonstrating improvements in relationship satisfaction, communication, and reduced conflict.

The review highlighted two evidence-based programs, ePREP and OurRelationship, which showed significant positive outcomes in both relational and individual functioning, suggesting that online interventions can be a valuable resource for distressed couples.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

How Effective is Online Couple Relationship Education? A Systematic Meta-Content Review. Megale, A., Peterson, E., Friedlander, ML.[2022]

Citations

1. ctv.veeva.com ctv.veeva.com/study/evaluation-exploring-how-course-modality-influences-the-effectiveness-of-the-r3-academy-for-couples

Evaluation Exploring How Course Modality Influences the ... The R3 Academy is an evidence-based couple relationship education curriculum that helps couples strengthen their relationships with their child, ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-program-modality-8-2022-ba5e9

In-Person vs Online Relationship Education for Program Modality What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment R3 Academy for Couples? Research shows that online relationship education programs can significantly ...

3. r3academy.org r3academy.org/couples/

R3 Academy for Couples - R3Academy This 12-session workshop gives all couples the practical tools and research-based teaching to overcome past hurts and difficult emotions.

4. acf.gov acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ofa/Healthy_Rel_Calif_Impact_Report.pdf

Impact Evaluation of Phone Services Added to the R3 ... This study considers the effects of the R3 Academy and added phone services in the. Responsible Fatherhood program provided by Healthy ...

5. r3academy.org r3academy.org/whyr3academy4couples/

Why Should I Consider the R3 Academy for Couples Research shows that couples who attend high-quality Relationship Education (RE) programs are happier after completing the program, ...

6. r3academy.org r3academy.org/

R3 Academy - R3Academy This workshop focuses on the fundamental communication, conflict management, and relationship skills that help couples create a healthy and life-giving couple ...