A Pilot Study of OurRelationship.dk, a Web-based Self-help-Program for Couples With High Levels of Conflict or Distress

NCT04588012 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 72253
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 182
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is twofold 1) to conduct a pilot test of methods for a larger scale RCT study evaluating the efficacy of OurRelationship offered to couples with high levels of conflict or distress and at least one child at the address, and 2) to test if the OurRelationship program meets predefined feasibility criteria when implemented in a real-world setting. If study results on these two aims are convincing, a full scale RCT of the intervention will be pursued.

Conditions

Relationship Distress; Marital Conflict; Family Relationship

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Relationship Satisfaction: Danish 4-item version of the Couple Satisfaction Index

  As measured by the Danish 4-item version of the Couple Satisfaction Index (CSI; Funk \& Rogge, 2007). A higher score indicate more relationship satisfaction.

  Pre-to-post (time frame spanning across 8 weeks)

• Intimacy

  "Psychological" intimacy was assessed by four items on 5-point scales. Items were: I felt close to, secure with, cared for, and understood (Debrot et al, 2013). A higher score indicate more intimacy between partners.

  Pre-to-post (time frame spanning across 8 weeks)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Depressive symptoms

  Pre-to-post (time frame spanning across 8 weeks)

• Relationship Confidence scale

  Pre-to-post (time frame spanning across 8 weeks)

• Positive and Negative Relationship Quality

  Pre-to-post (time frame spanning across 8 weeks)

Study Arms (2)

Online self-help the OurRelationship.dk program

EXPERIMENTAL

Couples in the intervention condition will receive the full OurRelationship program including the three modules, the Observe, the Understand, and the Respond module. The program takes 6-8 hours to complete the program after the randomization. The second coach call will take place after the Observe phase. The third coach call will take place after the Understand phase. The fourth coach call will take place after the Respond phase.

Behavioral: The online self-help Program OurRelationship developed by prof. Brian Doss and prof. Andrew Christensen.

Off line self-help the book "Pas på Parforholdet"

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Couples in the active control group receive two copies of the book "Pas på parforholdet, når kærligheden er kommet for at blive" \[Take care of your relationship when love is here to stay\] by Mattias Stølen Due (2016). This book includes general research based knowledge on maintaining a healthy relationship as well as questions and exercises for couples to do on their own. To support couples in an activate self-help approach, a sheet with guidelines on using the book will help couples plan their reading and couple conversations. Regular questionnaires will be sent to couples in the control group (matched timely to the questionnaires received by the intervention group). As such, the active control condition will mirror the benefit that couples are likely to get from using well-chosen, solid literature with the addition of any benefit that the research participation (filling in questionnaire) will generate.

Behavioral: The off line self-help course "Pas på Parforholdet".

Interventions

The online self-help Program OurRelationship developed by prof. Brian Doss and prof. Andrew Christensen. BEHAVIORAL

The OurRelationship program is developed by prof. Brian Doss and prof. Andrew Christensen.

Online self-help the OurRelationship.dk program

The off line self-help course "Pas på Parforholdet". BEHAVIORAL

The book "Pas på parforholdet" is written by Mattias Stølen Due.

Off line self-help the book "Pas på Parforholdet"

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Gender Eligibility Details: heterosexual couples are eligible for the study
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• To detail the criteria "high level of conflict or distress", one or both of the following criteria must be fulfilled:
• One or both partners report being victim or perpetrator of at least one act of physical or psychological aggression during the past year OR
• One partner score at least 1 standard deviation (SD) (indicating severe relationship distress) or both partners 0.5 SD below the Danish population mean on a measure for relationship satisfaction (Couple Satisfaction Index; Funk \& Rogge, 2007).
• In addition:
• both partners in the couple have to be 18 or above
• been living together for at least six months
• have at least one child below 18 years living at home
• be able to read and understand Danish
• have access to the Internet, a tablet, computer, or telephone
• willing to refrain from couple therapy (or other couple interventions) within the period of the project.

You may not qualify if:

• Plans on divorcing, breaking up or having an ongoing affair
• Moderate to severe levels of suicidal ideation (\>=7 on the Suicidal Behavioral Questionnaire-Revised, Osman et al., 2001)
• Victimization of intimate partner violence resulting in injury or fear within the last three months (using screener items developed by Beach, Whisman, Snyder, \& Heyman, 2013).
• Taking psychotropic drugs.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Aarhus: lead
• TrygFonden, Denmark: collaborator
• University of Miami: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Aarhus University

Aarhus, 8000, Denmark

Location

Study Officials

• Tea L. Trillingsgaard, Ph.D

  University of Aarhus

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 7, 2020
• First Posted: October 19, 2020
• Study Start: September 15, 2020
• Primary Completion: February 10, 2023
• Study Completion: February 10, 2023
• Last Updated: June 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

DK (1)