Montefiore Medical Center Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education Program

NCT03697421 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2015-5900
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 1,029
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The proposed program will flexibly provide an array of relationship promotion activities incorporating case management and job placement/career advancement activities: marriage and relationship education; pre-marital education and marriage skills; marriage enhancement and marriage skills for married couples; and divorce reduction and relationship skills. In addition, our proposed local evaluation will examine factors that might account for the observed impacts of attending relationship education programs (i.e., higher levels of relationship satisfaction), including dosage of workshops, relationship commitment and longevity, and skill learning.

Conditions

Parenting; Family Relationships

Keywords

parenting; relationships; relationship education; couples; marriage

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Change in Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI-32)

  Considered the gold standard, this measure detects differences in relationship satisfaction with great precision. It is a 32-item scale, total score range from 0 to 161. Higher scores indicate higher levels of relationship satisfaction. CSI-32 scores falling below 104.5 suggest notable relationship dissatisfaction.

  Change from Baseline CSI at 6 months

• Change in Relationship Hope Scale

  This is a newly developed 5-item scale by a major relationship researcher (Alan Hawkins), which has reportedly good psychometric properties. It will allow us to hone in on the level of hopefulness and cynicism among our couples. This is a 5-item scale, scores determined by mean, ranging 1-7. Mean scores less than or equal to 5 suggest low hope.

  Change from Baseline Relationship Hope at 6 months

• Change in Maybe I Do? Scale (Commitment)

  A 4-item measure of commitment developed by another major relationship research group (Scott Stanley and Howard Markman). This is a 4-item scale, with a total score range 1-20. Low commitment is indicated at a total score of 12 or below.

  Change from Baseline Commitment at 6 months

• Change in Assessing Emotions Scale (Emotional Intelligence)

  Assesses the extent individuals perceive, understand, regulate, and harness emotions adaptively. This is a 33-item self-report inventory focusing on typical emotional intelligence. Scores can range from 33 to 165. Low EI is less than or equal to 115 for females and 108 for males; average EI is 116-145 for females and 109-131 for males; high EI is greater than or equal to 146 for females and 132 for male.

  Change from Baseline Emotional Intelligence at 6 months

• Change Skills Assessment Measure (Skill Acquisition)

  Assesses whether the individual has/has learned the skills and knowledge taught through the program curriculum. There are two forms of this measure, A and B, each 14 items. Scores are percentages ranging from 0-100%. Higher scores represent a higher outcome.

  Change from Baseline Skills at immediately post intervention and at 6 months

• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Survey

  The Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Questionnaire is a 10-item self-report measure developed for the ACE study to identify childhood experiences of abuse and neglect. Scores range 0-10. Higher scores suggest worse outcomes.

  Halfway through intervention (Week 6 of 12 weeks, or Week 5 of 9 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Information, Family Outcomes, Reporting, and Management (nFORM) Applicant Characteristics

  Baseline

• Information, Family Outcomes, Reporting, and Management (nFORM) Pre-Program Survey

  At start of intervention (Week 1 of 12 or 9 weeks)

• nformation, Family Outcomes, Reporting, and Management (nFORM) Post-Program Survey

  Immediately post intervention (Week 12 of 12 weeks or Week 9 of 9 weeks)

Study Arms (1)

Local Evaluation

The SHR program intends to serves couples who are over 18 years of age, are in a romantic relationship, and have at least one child (biological or adopted) under the age of 18 residing in the home or are expecting.

Other: Relationship Education; Other: Employment Services

Interventions

Relationship Education OTHER

We will provide the following 4 activities: 1) marriage and relationship education \[using a modified version of the empirically supported Loving Couples, Loving Children (LCLC); 2) pre-marital education and marriage skills; 3) marriage enhancement and marriage skills for married couples; and 4) divorce reduction and relationship skills. All couples will be expected to participate in 24 hours of core relationship education workshops (including parenting education). Since parental financial support represents a core element of family stability, relationship education workshops will address motivation for providing financial support through employment for all couples (employed and unemployed) as well as how to manage conflicts over money. All couples will be invited to supplemental workshops (with couples from other cohorts) on topics of specialized interest, including employment services and financial literacy (i.e. budgeting, debt, etc.).

Local Evaluation

Employment Services OTHER

For couples in need of job search, job retention, and career advancement services, we will provide employment services.

Local Evaluation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The population is 47% Hispanic and 44% African-American. The income level of the majority of the couples enrolled was at or below 200% of poverty level, and 36% received income from public assistance. The majority of couples we served (72%) had a high school degree or less, and nearly half (49%) of participants were unemployed at program enrollment with many more under-employed. Their average age was 36 years old, including 10% between the ages of 17 and 24. The average duration of marriage for couples in our program was 7 years; however, the range of relationship longevity was quite wide, spanning from newlywed couples married for a few months to couples married for over 30 years. All couples had at least one child under 18 years old living in the home (or were expecting a child), and we estimate that approximately two thirds of families in our program were comprised of at least one partner with a child from a previous relationship.

You may qualify if:

• In a committed relationship
• years or older
• expecting a child or are caring for a child in the home at least 50% of the time (biological, foster, adopted, kinship care, etc.)

You may not qualify if:

• Active intimate partner violence and increased risk of intimate partner violence

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Montefiore Medical Center: lead
• Children's Bureau - Administration for Children and Families: collaborator
• Metis Associates: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Montefiore Medical Center

The Bronx, New York, 10451, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Occupational Health Services

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Community Health Services; Health Services; Health Care Facilities Workforce and Services

Study Officials

• Scott Wetzler, PhD

  Montefiore Medical Center

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Program Director

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 2, 2018
• First Posted: October 5, 2018
• Study Start: July 1, 2016
• Primary Completion: September 30, 2020
• Study Completion: September 30, 2020
• Last Updated: December 9, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)