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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests an online program called ePREP (Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program), designed to support and improve couple relationships. The program includes six self-directed online sessions, complete with homework and brief coaching calls. It suits couples in Illinois who are married, engaged, or have lived together for at least six months and wish to enhance their relationship through online activities. Couples experiencing severe forms of intimate partner violence are not eligible to participate. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity for couples to enhance their relationship through innovative online methods.

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.

What prior data suggests that the ePREP intervention is safe for couples?

Research has shown that the ePREP program, an online version of the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP), helps couples improve their relationships. Studies have found that PREP effectively provides couples with knowledge and skills to enhance marital happiness.

Regarding safety, ePREP is not a medical treatment or medication. It is an online relationship education program with self-guided sessions and brief coach calls. Since it focuses on communication and relationship skills, it poses no physical safety concerns like those associated with a new drug or medical procedure.

Participants in similar PREP programs have not reported negative effects from the program's content or delivery. Instead, they often find the tools and strategies helpful for improving their relationships. Therefore, ePREP is considered very safe for individuals to try. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike traditional relationship counseling that often involves in-person sessions with a therapist, ePREP is a unique online program designed to enhance marital relationships. This treatment stands out because it offers flexibility and accessibility, allowing couples to engage in six self-directed sessions at their own pace from the comfort of their home. Additionally, it includes brief coaching calls to reinforce learning, making it a comprehensive, yet convenient option for busy couples. Researchers are excited about ePREP because it has the potential to reach more people than conventional methods, potentially improving marital satisfaction on a larger scale.

What evidence suggests that the ePREP intervention is effective for improving marital relationships?

Research has shown that the ePREP program, which participants in this trial will engage with, helps improve marriages. One study found that couples who participated in PREP were happier with their relationships even 1.5 and 3 years later. Another study found that PREP provides couples with useful knowledge and skills to enhance their relationships. The online version, ePREP, has demonstrated similar positive results, helping couples manage and improve their interactions. These findings suggest that ePREP can be a helpful tool for couples seeking to strengthen their relationships. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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]

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]

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 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]

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]

Citations

1. researchgate.net researchgate.net/profile/Niloofar-Mikaeili-2/publication/378034032_The_Effectiveness_of_Prevention_and_Relationship_Enhancement_Program_PREP_on_Marital_Burnout_in_Married_Women/links/65c3b4ad79007454976a6f6c/The-Effectiveness-of-Prevention-and-Relationship-Enhancement-Program-PREP-on-Marital-Burnout-in-Married-Women.pdf

The-Effectiveness-of-Prevention-and-Relationship- ... Background: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the prevention and relationship enhancement program (PREP) on marital.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3518411/

Where's the Action? Understanding What Works and Why ... In this paper we review progress made in understanding mechanisms of change in relationship education, explore limitations of this body of research.

3. publish.kne-publishing.com publish.kne-publishing.com/index.php/JHS/article/download/9107/8681/

The Effectiveness of Prevention and Relationship ... Conclusion: We concluded that utilizing PREP can successfully help Iranian couples in their relationships providing them with more knowledge and skills.

4. acchealthdata.org acchealthdata.org/promisepractice/index/view?pid=856

Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) Study results include the following: In a long-term study, PREP couples showed greater relationship satisfaction at 1.5 years and 3 years after the intervention ...

5. acf.gov acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ofa/U_Miami_Impact_Report_0.pdf

Evaluation of OurRelationship and ePREP Online Couple ... OurRelationship and ePREP are two web-based programs that have different structure, content, and empirical basis, but show effectiveness in ...

6. kansashealthmatters.org kansashealthmatters.org/promisepractice/index/view?pid=856

Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) The goal of the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) is to modify or enhance those dimensions of couples' relationships that research and ...

7. scholarworks.waldenu.edu scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3525&context=dissertations/1000

Perceived Impact of Prevention and Relationship ... The PREP program is a counseling program used for couples seeking to implement tools in their relationships to foster marital satisfaction. I ...

8. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3097413/

Using Individual-oriented Relationship Education to ... There is research indicating that married couples who received the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP; Markman, Stanley, & Blumberg, 2010) ...

9. prepinc.com prepinc.com/

PREP Inc. - Prevention and Relationship Education Program ... PREP produces evidence-based resources for educators, programs, and therapists to support their work in helping others have healthy and happy relationships.