Completion of a Stand‐Alone Versus Coach‐Supported Trial of a Web‐Based Program for Distressed Relationships

• Published date: 01 October 2019
• Author: Brian D. Doss,McKenzie K. Roddy,Karen Rothman
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12378
• Date: 01 October 2019

K R, MK K. R,  B D. D University of Miami

Completion of a Stand-Alone Versus

Coach-Supported Trial of a Web-Based Program for

Distressed Relationships

Objective: To assess program completion of the

online OurRelationship program with varying

levels of paraprofessional support in an effort

to further examine the role of coach support in

self-help couple interventions.

Background: Although the OurRelationship

program for distressed couples has been found

to statistically improve relationship and indi-

vidual functioning, the program’s provision

of paraprofessional coach support limits its

dissemination and implementation.

Method: Using an interrupted time series

design, we compared completion rates of those

who enrolled in a trial of OurRelationship with

no coach support (n=529 couples) to comple-

tion rates of a previous trial of OurRelationship

in which couples were randomized to receive

either one (n=179 couples) or four (n=177

couples) calls with a coach.

Results: Individuals were statistically less

likely to complete the OurRelationship program

when they were not provided a coach than

they were when provided with either one or

four coach calls. Analyses of moderators of

completion rates revealed that a coach was

generally equally helpful across demographic

factors and measures of baseline relationship

Department of Psychology, University of Miami, P.O. Box

248185, Coral Gables, FL 33124-0751 (kbr35@miami.edu).

Key Words: couples, online intervention, program comple-

tion, relationship distress, supportive accountability.

and individual functioning; however, coaching

was especially helpful for Hispanic individuals

and those without elevated depressive symptoms

at baseline.

Conclusions: Even a single call with a coach

yields higher completion of an online program

for relationship distress.

Implications: The ndings highlight the grow-

ing need for tests of alternate types of program

support, such as automated support, in an effort

to reduce program costs and increase potential

for dissemination without negatively affecting

program completion rates.

Relationship difculties are among the lead-

ing causes of distress in individuals seeking

mental health treatment (Foran, Whisman, &

Beach, 2015) and are positively associated with

depressive symptoms, poor physical health,

and increased mortality, as well as increased

incidence of anxiety, mood, and substance use

disorders with medium to moderate effect sizes

(Robles, Slatcher, Trombello, & McGinn, 2014;

Schonbrun & Whisman, 2010). Furthermore,

relationship satisfaction is consistently related

to life satisfaction (r=.42 across 13 studies;

Heller, Watson, & Ilies, 2004) and bidirection-

ally affects cardiovascular health and immune

function, with effect sizes in the small range (Be,

Whisman, & Uebelacker, 2013; Robles et al.,

2014). Such impacts indicate that the prevalence

of relationship distress conveys important public

health concerns. Notably, meta-analyses have

Family Relations 68 (October 2019): 375–389 375

DOI:10.1111/fare.12378