Keller Alina, Babl Anna, Berger Thomas, Schindler Ludwig
Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bamberg, Germany.
Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Internet Interv. 2020 Dec 29;23:100360. doi: 10.1016/j.invent.2020.100360. eCollection 2021 Mar.
Although relationship distress is strongly associated with mental health problems, poorer social functioning and lower quality of life, only a minority of distressed couples engage in effective couples therapy. Common barriers are the financial burden, fear of being stigmatized, long waitlists and logistical concerns, such as the difficulty in scheduling appointments. Therefore, more accessible help for relationship distress is needed, such as internet-based interventions.
This study evaluates the efficacy of the German web-based PaarBalance program, an 18-sessions online program for couples and individuals in an intimate relationship. Participants with relationship distress recruited via the internet had access to the unguided self-help program for twelve weeks. A total of 117 individuals ( = 60 participated as couples, = 57 participated without a partner) were randomly assigned to begin the intervention immediately or to a 12-week waitlist control group. The primary outcome was relationship satisfaction. Secondary outcomes included symptoms of depression and anxiety.
The intervention group showed significant improvement in relationship satisfaction (Cohen's =0.77) compared with the waitlist control group. Small to medium effect sizes in favor of the intervention group, but no statistically significant differences were found regarding depression ( = 0.43) and anxiety ( = 0.45).
PaarBalance seems to be an effective self-guided intervention to improve relationship satisfaction in people with relationship problems.
尽管关系困扰与心理健康问题、较差的社会功能和较低的生活质量密切相关，但只有少数处于困扰中的夫妻接受有效的夫妻治疗。常见障碍包括经济负担、害怕被污名化、漫长的等候名单以及后勤方面的担忧，比如安排预约困难。因此，需要为关系困扰提供更易获得的帮助，例如基于互联网的干预措施。
本研究评估了德国基于网络的PaarBalance项目的疗效，这是一个针对处于亲密关系中的夫妻和个人的18节在线课程。通过互联网招募的有关系困扰的参与者可以使用这个无指导的自助项目12周。总共117人（60人作为夫妻参与，57人无伴侣参与）被随机分配立即开始干预或进入12周的等候名单对照组。主要结果是关系满意度。次要结果包括抑郁和焦虑症状。
与等候名单对照组相比，干预组在关系满意度方面有显著改善（科恩d值=0.77）。有利于干预组的效应大小为小到中等，但在抑郁（d值=0.43）和焦虑（d值=0.45）方面未发现统计学上的显著差异。
PaarBalance似乎是一种有效的自我指导干预措施，可提高有关系问题者的关系满意度。
