Department of Psychology, University of Miami.
Department of Psychology, University of Denver.
J Consult Clin Psychol. 2020 Apr;88(4):283-294. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000479.
Although low-income couples experience greater relationship challenges, they have limited access to effective relationship interventions. Furthermore, most previous efforts to improve low-income couples' relationships have yielded very small effects (Hawkins & Erickson, 2015). In an effort to overcome these limitations, this study investigated the effectiveness of 2 web-based interventions for low-income couples.
In total, 742 low-income couples ( = 1,484 individuals; mean [] age = 33; 55% White, non-Hispanic; 52% married; median [] annual household income = $27,000) were recruited nationally and randomized to the OurRelationship program, the ePREP program, or a waitlist control group. Couples were repeatedly assessed for 6 months using self-report measures of relationship satisfaction, communication conflict, intimate partner violence, emotional support, and breakup potential. Relationship status was assessed at 6-month follow-up.
Compared to the control group, intervention couples experienced significantly greater improvements in all 5 domains of relationship functioning ( || = 0.46) by the end of the program; these effects were maintained in the 4 months after treatment. However, neither program significantly reduced the frequency of breakups by the 6-month follow-up. Differences between couples in the two interventions were minimal ( Cohen's || = 0.11); however, couples in the OurRelationship program experienced significantly greater decreases in conflict ( = 0.24).
The results indicate that brief, web-based interventions can serve a central role in delivering effective services to low-income couples. Additionally, the general equivalence of the two interventions indicates that both communication-focused and problem-focused interventions can be successful in improving the relationship functioning of low-income couples. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
尽管低收入夫妇面临更大的关系挑战，但他们获得有效关系干预的机会有限。此外，大多数提高低收入夫妇关系的先前努力收效甚微（Hawkins & Erickson, 2015）。为了克服这些限制，本研究调查了两种基于网络的干预措施对低收入夫妇的有效性。
总共有 742 对低收入夫妇（n=1484 人；平均[]年龄=33 岁；55%为白人，非西班牙裔；52%已婚；中位数[]家庭年收入=27,000 美元）在全国范围内招募并随机分配到 OurRelationship 计划、ePREP 计划或候补对照组。使用关系满意度、沟通冲突、亲密伴侣暴力、情感支持和分手可能性的自我报告措施，对夫妇进行了 6 个月的重复评估。在 6 个月的随访中评估关系状况。
与对照组相比，干预组在项目结束时所有 5 个关系功能领域的改善都显著更大（||=0.46）；这些效果在治疗后 4 个月内得以维持。然而，两个项目都没有显著减少 6 个月随访时的分手频率。两个干预组之间的夫妇差异很小（Cohen's ||=0.11）；然而，OurRelationship 计划中的夫妇经历了显著更大的冲突减少（=0.24）。
结果表明，简短的基于网络的干预措施可以在为低收入夫妇提供有效服务方面发挥核心作用。此外，两种干预措施的一般等效性表明，以沟通为重点和以问题为重点的干预措施都可以成功改善低收入夫妇的关系功能。（PsycINFO 数据库记录（c）2020 APA，保留所有权利）。
