Concurrent randomized control trials of the 1-year efficacy of two couple relationship education programs: ELEVATE and Couples Connecting Mindfully
Research Report:
Research SummaryAPA Citation:
Adler-Baeder, F., McGill, J., Dede Yildirim, E., Gregson, K., Cooper, E., Burke, L., Finnegan, V., & Jackel, R. (2022). Concurrent randomized control trials of the 1-year efficacy of two couple relationship education programs: ELEVATE and Couples Connecting Mindfully. Family Process, 61(3), 986–1004. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12750
Abstract Created by REACH:
This randomized control trial tested the impact of two 6-session couple relationship education programs, ELEVATE and Couples Connecting Mindfully, over a 1-year period for a large and economically and racially diverse sample of civilian couples (N = 929). Both curricula offer information and training on research-based relationship skills including developing intimacy, showing appreciation and affection, and conflict management; Couples Connecting Mindfully also provides mindfulness training. Participants self-reported their relationship skills, relationship quality, family harmony, mental health, and sleep quality before their random assignment and 2 months, 6 months, and 1 year after baseline. Overall, both curricula resulted in positive effects across multiple outcomes up to 1 year after program completion.
Focus:
Couples
Programming
Other
Subject Affiliation:
Civilian
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Methodology:
Longitudinal Study
Quantitative Study
Authors:
Adler-Baeder, Francesca, McGill, Julianne, Dede Yildirim, Elif, Gregson, Kimberly, Cooper, Erin, Burke, Leah, Finnegan, Vanessa, Jackel, Roberta
Abstract:
A long-standing university-community partnership used a longitudinal randomized control trial to implement and evaluate two couple relationship education (CRE) curricula, ELEVATE and Couples Connecting Mindfully (CCM), among an economically and racially diverse population of adult couples. Married and non-married couples (n = 929 couples) completed baseline surveys and were randomly assigned to either one of the two program groups or to the control group by implementation site. Follow-up surveys were collected at 2 months, 6 months, and 1 year after baseline. Using an intent-to-treat approach, growth curve modeling comparisons of trajectories indicated program effects at 1 year post-baseline in key outcome areas. Both the ELEVATE and the CCM group reported significant gains in couple relationship skills, couple quality, and family harmony over time compared to the control group that experienced either no change or declines. Further, the ELEVATE group also demonstrated positive program effects on measures of mental health and sleep quality. An assessment of the central premise of CRE indicated that the immediate post-program improvements in couple relationship skills predicted later couple quality for both program groups. This study indicates that both ELEVATE and CCM can be considered evidence-based CRE programs for use with a broad population of couples.
Publication Type:
Article
REACH Publication
Keywords:
couple relationship, couple relationship education, evidence-based, mindfulness
REACH Publication Type:
Research Summary
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