RecruitingNot Applicable

Self-helpinterventions for Parenting Couples With Couple Distress.

Denmark700 participantsStarted 2024-04-09

Plain-language summary

Children whose parents experience high levels of couple distress are at greater risk for emotional, behavioral, and academic problems. This study tests two types of self-help for parenting couples: the OurRelationship program (OR), an online guided program, and couple-focused bibliotherapy (BT), a book-based self-help approach. The investigators will compare these interventions with a waitlist (WL) control group to see which is most effective at reducing communication conflict between partners. They will also examine whether the interventions improve child well-being when problems are present at the start of the study. A total of 350 parenting couples in Denmark will take part. Eligible couples have at least one child under 18 living at home and report high levels of conflict or relationship distress. Couples will be randomly assigned to OR, BT, or WL. Questionnaires will be completed online before the program, after the program (10 weeks later), and at 3- and 12-month follow-ups.

Who can participate

Age range18 Years

SexALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Meet at least one of the two following criteria: (1) Destructive conflict: one or both partners report being a victim or perpetrator of at least one act of physical or psychological aggression in the past three months (see exclusion criteria for intimate partner violence) OR (2) Couple distress: One partner scores ≤11 (1 SD below the Danish population mean), or both partners score ≤13 (0.5 SD below the Danish population mean) on the Couple Satisfaction Index-4 (CSI-4). * Both partners are at least 18 years old. * Cohabiting. * Have at least one child under 18 living at home. * Reside in a participating Danish municipality. * Completed the baseline survey. * Able to read and understand Danish. * Have internet access and a compatible device (computer, tablet, or smartphone). * Agree not to engage in couple therapy prior to the 3-month follow-up. Exclusion Criteria: * Current plans to divorce or separate. * Ongoing affair. * Moderate to severe suicidal ideation. * Recent incident of intimate partner violence resulting in physical injury or fear for the safety or well-being of oneself or one's children.

What they're measuring

Communication Conflict Scale

Timeframe: Pre-assessment (T1) to Post Intervention at Week 10 (T2)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07125118

SponsorUniversity of Aarhus

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-10-09

Contact for this trial

Tea Trillingsgaard, PH.D.

+45 87165843 teatri@psy.au.dk