5 Verbs for Couples - Pilot Study

NCT07352670 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 23761
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 200
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

The current research is designed to implement and evaluate 5 Verbs for Couples, a new relationship education program that can be completed individually or by both partners together. Involvement will entail completing 3 surveys over a 2-month period. After completing the first survey, a subset of individuals will be randomly assigned to participate in a 3-session online program and answer questions about their experience in the program. The remaining individuals will receive access to the program approximately 2 months later, after completing the third survey.

Conditions

Relationships, Marital

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Relationship Satisfaction

  Couple satisfaction index

  Baseline, 1 month follow-up, 2-month follow-up

• Change in intervention-targeted behavior

  5 Verbs for Couples cognitive-behavioral indicators (new measure created for this study)

  Baseline, 1-month follow-up, 2-month follow-up

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Change in psychological distress

  Baseline, 1-month, 2-month follow-up

Study Arms (2)

Treatment

EXPERIMENTAL

5 verbs for couples participants

Behavioral: 5 Verbs for Couples

Control

NO INTERVENTION

No intervention. Waitlist control group

Interventions

5 Verbs for Couples BEHAVIORAL

The program consists of an overview and three accompanying sessions, each approximately 30-45 minutes in length. The new program developed by the project PI is organized around five verbs to help strengthen couple relationship. For each of the three sessions, content includes information on increasing gratitude between partners, building friendship and connection, addressing challenges and hardships, being a team, communication, and dedication. This psychoeducational program is largely informative in nature, with recommended thought and/or written exercises for individuals to complete regarding how program material applies to their relationship. Individuals are provided a link to access the program and then watch/click through session activities at a time and location of their choosing (similar to an online self-directed training or course).

Treatment

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• A resident of United States
• years of age or older
• Married, engaged, or living with your partner for at least 6 months
• Willing to participate in online relationship-focused programming

You may not qualify if:

• Severe form(s) of intimate partner violence are occurring in the relationship

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: lead

Related Links

• Related Info

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Family Characteristics

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Demography; Population Characteristics; Socioeconomic Factors; Epidemiologic Measurements; Public Health; Environment and Public Health

Central Study Contacts

Allen Bartno

CONTACT

217-244-2009; awbarton@illinois.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 9, 2026
• First Posted: January 20, 2026
• Study Start: April 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2028
• Last Updated: January 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share