Couple relationship education: A randomized controlled trial of professional contact and self-directed tools (original) (raw)
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Efficacy of the Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET) in Improving Relationship Quality
Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 2007
This study is a replication reporting on the effects of the Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET). While previous studies have examined the efficacy of this program mainly in distressed couples thus far and without controlling for the presence of children, the current study tries to evaluate the efficacy of the CCET in couples who have preadolescent children and who are experiencing some degree of stress in their daily life associated with the upbringing of their children. Although the CCET does not target specific child-rearing issues, but rather focuses on stress and coping, communication and problem solving in general, it is hypothesized that the program should be able to not only improve partners' communication and dyadic coping skills but also reduce tensions and disagreements that might arise between partners regarding matters related to their children. This study addresses this question based on an evaluation of 100 couples who were randomly assigned either to the CCET or to a control group that received no skills training. The results support previous findings on the efficacy of the CCET in general. Positive effects of the program were noted among both women and men immediately after the training, with stronger effects noted among the women. However, after 6 months and after 1 year following participation in the program, the effects faded out. Effects on parental disagreement related to children were weaker than expected.
The Efficacy of the Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET) in Improving Relationship Quality
Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 2007
This study is a replication reporting on the effects of the Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET). While previous studies have examined the efficacy of this program mainly in distressed couples thus far and without controlling for the presence of children, the current study tries to evaluate the efficacy of the CCET in couples who have preadolescent children and who are experiencing some degree of stress in their daily life associated with the upbringing of their children. Although the CCET does not target specific child-rearing issues, but rather focuses on stress and coping, communication and problem solving in general, it is hypothesized that the program should be able to not only improve partners' communication and dyadic coping skills but also reduce tensions and disagreements that might arise between partners regarding matters related to their children. This study addresses this question based on an evaluation of 100 couples who were randomly assigned either to the CCET or to a control group that received no skills training. The results support previous findings on the efficacy of the CCET in general. Positive effects of the program were noted among both women and men immediately after the training, with stronger effects noted among the women. However, after 6 months and after 1 year following participation in the program, the effects faded out. Effects on parental disagreement related to children were weaker than expected.
Family Relations, 2004
We describe a distress prevention training program for couples and three empirical studies that support its effectiveness. The program, Couples Coping Enhancement Training (CCET), is based both upon stress and coping theory and research on couples. In addition to traditional elements of couples programs (e.g., communication and problem-solving skills), the CCET also addresses individual and dyadic coping in promoting marital satisfaction and reducing marital distress. The CCET enjoys good consumer acceptance. Outcome results indicate that, in addition to acquiring relationship skills, participants experienced reduced martial distress and increased marital satisfaction, even among couples who have been in longstanding relationships where dissatisfaction exists.
Although prevention of relationship distress and dissolution has potential to strengthen the well-being of partners and any children they are raising, dissemination of prevention programs can be limited because couples face many barriers to in-person participation. An alternative strategy, providing couples with an instructional DVD, is tested in the present study, in which 330 Caucasian couples (N 660 participants; mean age: men 41.4 years, women 40.0 years) were randomly assigned to a DVD group without any further support, a DVD group with technical telephone coaching, or a wait-list control group. Couples completed questionnaires at pretest, posttest, and 3 and 6 months after completion of the intervention. Self-report measures of dyadic coping, communication quality, ineffective arguing, and relationship satisfaction were used to test whether the intervention groups improved in comparison with the control group. Women in both intervention groups increased in dyadic coping, reduced conflict behavior, and were more satisfied with their relationship 6 months after the intervention. Effects for men were mixed. Participants with poorer skills reported stronger improvement. Intimate relationships can, within limits, be positively influenced by a self-directed approach. Effective dissemination of principles underlying successful relationships can be facilitated through the use of emerging low-cost tools and technologies.
Although prevention of relationship distress and dissolution has potential to strengthen the well-being of partners and any children they are raising, dissemination of prevention programs can be limited because couples face many barriers to in-person participation. An alternative strategy, providing couples with an instructional DVD, is tested in the present study, in which 330 Caucasian couples (N ϭ 660 participants; mean age: men 41.4 years, women 40.0 years) were randomly assigned to a DVD group without any further support, a DVD group with technical telephone coaching, or a wait-list control group. Couples completed questionnaires at pretest, posttest, and 3 and 6 months after completion of the intervention. Self-report measures of dyadic coping, communication quality, ineffective arguing, and relationship satisfaction were used to test whether the intervention groups improved in comparison with the control group. Women in both intervention groups increased in dyadic coping, reduced conflict behavior, and were more satisfied with their relationship 6 months after the intervention. Effects for men were mixed. Participants with poorer skills reported stronger improvement. Intimate relationships can, within limits, be positively influenced by a self-directed approach. Effective dissemination of principles underlying successful relationships can be facilitated through the use of emerging low-cost tools and technologies.
Couple relationship education (RE) usually is conceived of as relationship enhancement for currently satisfied couples, with a goal of helping couples sustain satisfaction. However, RE also might be useful as a brief, accessible intervention for couples with low satisfaction. Two studies were conducted that tested whether couples with low relationship satisfaction show meaningful gains after RE. Study 1 was a three-condition randomized controlled trial in which 182 couples were randomly assigned to RELATE with Couple CARE (RCC), a flexible delivery education program for couples, or one of two control conditions. Couples with initially low satisfaction receiving RCC showed a moderate increase in relationship satisfaction (d = 0.50) relative to the control. In contrast, couples initially high in satisfaction showed little change and there was no difference between RCC and the control conditions. Study 2 was an uncontrolled trial of the Couple Coping Enhancement Training (CCET) administered to 119 couples. Couples receiving CCET that had initially low satisfaction showed a moderate increase in satisfaction (g = .44), whereas initially highly satisfied couples showed no change. Brief relationship education can assist somewhat distressed couples to enhance satisfaction, and has potential as a cost-effective way of enhancing the reach of couple interventions. Couple relationship education (RE) usually is conceived of as relationship enhancement for currently
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 2014
Although prevention of relationship distress and dissolution has potential to strengthen the well-being of partners and any children they are raising, dissemination of prevention programs can be limited because couples face many barriers to in-person participation. An alternative strategy, providing couples with an instructional DVD, is tested in the present study, in which 330 Caucasian couples (N ϭ 660 participants; mean age: men 41.4 years, women 40.0 years) were randomly assigned to a DVD group without any further support, a DVD group with technical telephone coaching, or a wait-list control group. Couples completed questionnaires at pretest, posttest, and 3 and 6 months after completion of the intervention. Self-report measures of dyadic coping, communication quality, ineffective arguing, and relationship satisfaction were used to test whether the intervention groups improved in comparison with the control group. Women in both intervention groups increased in dyadic coping, reduced conflict behavior, and were more satisfied with their relationship 6 months after the intervention. Effects for men were mixed. Participants with poorer skills reported stronger improvement. Intimate relationships can, within limits, be positively influenced by a self-directed approach. Effective dissemination of principles underlying successful relationships can be facilitated through the use of emerging low-cost tools and technologies.
Couple relationship education (RE) usually is conceived of as relationship enhancement for currently satisfied couples, with a goal of helping couples sustain satisfaction. However, RE also might be useful as a brief, accessible intervention for couples with low satisfaction. Two studies were conducted that tested whether couples with low relationship satisfaction show meaningful gains after RE. Study 1 was a three condition randomized controlled trial in which 182 couples were randomly assigned to RELATE with Couple CARE (RCC), a flexible delivery education program for couples, or one of two control conditions. Couples with initially low satisfaction receiving RCC showed a moderate increase in relationship satisfaction (d = 0.50) relative to the control. In contrast, couples initially high in satisfaction showed little change and there was no difference between RCC and the control conditions. Study 2 was an uncontrolled trial of the Couple Coping Enhancement Training (CCET) administered to 119 couples. Couples receiving CCET who had initially low satisfaction showed a moderate increase in satisfaction (g = .44), whereas initially highly satisfied couple showed no change. Brief relationship education can assist somewhat distressed couples to enhance satisfaction, and has potential as a cost effective way of enhancing reach of couple interventions.