Relationship Education for Marital Relationships

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Disqualifiers: Severe intimate partner violence

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: Unknown

Duration: 8 weeks

500 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The current research is designed to implement and evaluate the ePREP relationship intervention with couples via the Cooperative Extension system.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

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

Is relationship education, including programs like ePREP, safe for participants?

The research on relationship education programs, such as ePREP, does not report any safety concerns for participants. These programs are designed to improve relationship satisfaction and communication, and there is no evidence suggesting they are unsafe for humans. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the ePREP treatment different from other treatments for improving marital relationships?

The ePREP treatment is unique because it is a structured, educational program designed to enhance couple relationships and prevent future distress by focusing on communication and relationship satisfaction. Unlike other treatments, it is specifically aimed at both high and low satisfaction couples, offering a brief intervention that can be accessed online, making it more accessible and convenient. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for couples living in Illinois who are married, engaged, or cohabiting for at least six months and willing to participate in online programs aimed at improving relationships. Couples with severe intimate partner violence issues cannot join.

Inclusion Criteria

Resident of Illinois

My partner and I are willing to join an online relationship program.

I have been with my partner for at least 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria

One or both partners reports severe forms of intimate partner violence occurring in the relationship

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in the ePREP program, consisting of 6 self-directed online sessions with accompanying homework and brief coach calls

8 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in partner support, relationship instability, and other measures

6 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• ePREP

Trial Overview The study is testing ePREP, an online program designed to strengthen couple relationships. It's being distributed through the Cooperative Extension system to see how well it works when widely implemented.

Participant Groups

Group I: ePREP condition Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The ePREP program is the online version of the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program. It consists of 6 self-directed online sessions and accompanying homework and brief coach calls.

ePREP is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as ePREP for:

• Relationship Education
• Couples Therapy Alternative

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Lead Sponsor

Trials

203

Recruited

40,600+

Findings from Research

Relationship education programs are designed to help couples reduce distress and the likelihood of divorce, which can have significant personal and social benefits.

For these programs to be effective, they must be evidence-based, attract couples who are at high risk for relationship issues, and address specific factors that contribute to these risks.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Best practice in couple relationship education. Halford, WK., Markman, HJ., Kline, GH., et al.[2019]

The ePREP preventive intervention significantly improved mental health and relationship outcomes in a randomized clinical trial with 77 college students, showing its effectiveness over a 10-month follow-up period.

Participants who received the ePREP intervention maintained these benefits even after experiencing relationship dissolution, highlighting the intervention's durability and flexibility in addressing relationship education challenges.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized clinical trial of a computer based preventive intervention: replication and extension of ePREP. Braithwaite, SR., Fincham, FD.[2022]

Couple relationship education (RE) has been shown to help maintain relationship satisfaction over time, with 14 out of 17 studies indicating positive effects in couples assessed at least one year after the program.

Couples facing modifiable risk factors see significant benefits from RE, while those with low risk factors or unmodifiable risks may not experience the same advantages, highlighting the need for tailored approaches in relationship education.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of relationship education on maintenance of couple relationship satisfaction. Halford, WK., Bodenmann, G.[2013]

Couples who participated in the EPL (Ein Partnerschaftliches Lernprogramm für Paare) relationship education program had significantly lower divorce rates (27.5%) compared to those who did not participate (52.6%) after 11 years, indicating the program's long-term effectiveness in promoting relationship stability.

Among couples who remained together, 80% reported being happy in their relationships at the follow-up, although only about 55% remembered at least one communication skill taught, suggesting that while the program is effective, retention of specific skills may vary.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prevention of marital instability and distress. Results of an 11-year longitudinal follow-up study. Hahlweg, K., Richter, D.[2019]

Couples experiencing relationship distress are increasingly attending Couple and Relationship Education (CRE) programs, raising questions about the effectiveness of these programs for this specific group.

The study found that the dosage and duration of participation in CRE programs significantly influence outcomes, suggesting that tailored approaches based on distress levels and time spent in the program are essential for improving effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

It's About Time! Examining Received Dosage and Program Duration as Predictors of Change Among Non-Distressed and Distressed Married Couple and Relationship Education Participants. Bradford, AB., Drean, L., Adler-Baeder, F., et al.[2019]

Relationship education programs like PREP can help prevent marital distress among newlyweds, but their effectiveness may vary based on individual couple dynamics.

The study found that women who showed extreme increases in positive communication and decreases in negative communication after the program were more likely to experience relationship distress in the following five years, suggesting a need to adapt these programs for better outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-term prediction of marital quality following a relationship education program: being positive in a constructive way. Baucom, DH., Hahlweg, K., Atkins, DC., et al.[2007]

The paper introduces an ecological model of couple relationships designed to improve the effectiveness of Couple Relationship Education (RE) programs.

It emphasizes the importance of understanding the mediators of RE effects and suggests future research to identify factors that could enhance the impact of RE on couples managing stress.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An ecological model of mediators of change in Couple Relationship Education. Halford, WK., Pepping, CA.[2019]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Best practice in couple relationship education. [2019]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized clinical trial of a computer based preventive intervention: replication and extension of ePREP. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of relationship education on maintenance of couple relationship satisfaction. [2013]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prevention of marital instability and distress. Results of an 11-year longitudinal follow-up study. [2019]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

It's About Time! Examining Received Dosage and Program Duration as Predictors of Change Among Non-Distressed and Distressed Married Couple and Relationship Education Participants. [2019]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-term prediction of marital quality following a relationship education program: being positive in a constructive way. [2007]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Four year effects of couple relationship education on low and high satisfaction couples: A randomized clinical trial. [2018]

8. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An ecological model of mediators of change in Couple Relationship Education. [2019]