Marriage checkup in integrated primary care: A randomized controlled trial with active-duty military couples

Cigrang, J. A., Cordova, J. V., Gray, T. D., Fedynich, A. L., Maher, E., Diehl, A. N., & Hawrilenko, M. (2022). Marriage checkup in integrated primary care: A randomized controlled trial with active-duty military couples. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 90(5), 381–391. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000734

The Marriage Checkup (MC) is an evidence-based program designed to serve as a relationship health check. This study examined whether the MC was effective in a military primary health care setting (N = 244 Air Force couples randomly assigned to the MC or a control group). Using data from both partners across a 6-month period (i.e., baseline and 1- and 6-month follow-ups), this study examined whether the MC would improve couples’ relationship satisfaction, responsive attention (i.e., partners’ responses to bids for attention), partner compassion, intimate safety (i.e., the degree to which partners feel safe with each other), communication skills, depressive symptoms, and intentions of seeking marriage counseling. Overall, the effectiveness of the MC program in a military primary health setting was evidenced across various domains.

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