The Effects of Relational Letter Writing in Couples Wellbeing: A Mixed-Method Approach
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 发起方
- 入组人数
- 68
- 主要终点
- Perceived Relational Change
研究概览
简要总结
The main objective of this research is to explore the relational letter writing technique as an intervention for improving couples' relational well-being. This is a two-arm superiority randomized clinical trial. Sixty-eight couples will be monitored before, during, and after the intervention. To observe the effect of the relational letter, scores of couples who are in the intervention arm and control arm will be compared (between groups) as well as pre-post scores (within-group). The content of the letter writing will be qualitatively analyzed to explore the reconstruction of their ethical values. Results from both methods will be integrated in order to get an in-depth perspective of the newly developed intervention. It is expected to increase the array of available techniques to help couples improve their individual and relational well-being.
详细描述
Relational letter writing is a recently developed therapeutic tool within the framework of Narrative Therapy that consists of two interviews and a letter writing task, in which a meta-conversation between the relationship itself, the couple members, and the therapists is fostered. Although this specific therapeutic technique can be used within the therapy process, in this study, it is used as a brief stand-alone narrative intervention.
The main objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy of the innovative Relational letter writing technique as a brief intervention for couples with mild to moderate levels of conflict. Also, the investigators want to explore changes in couples' narratives after experiencing the letter-writing procedure, and whether this technique can lead to reconstructing the relationship ethics and to greater relational awareness and well-being. The following objectives will be observed in this study:
- To explore the effects of Relational letter writing practice on couples' relational well-being
- To assess changes in individual psychological well-being after the Relational letter writing intervention
- To observe whether this technique can lead to reconstructing the relationship ethics and to greater relational awareness, and its relationship with the outcome
- To observe whether there is a difference between successful and unsuccessful cases in terms of the content of the letters.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Treatment
- 盲法
- None
盲法说明
Blinding of the participants will not be valid for the nature of the study and for therapists, on the other hand, they will be blinded to the hypothesis and research questions of the study.
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 —（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •Couples willing to participate in a relationship enhancing intervention
- •Couples should have been living together at least for 12 months
排除标准
- •Couples who are currently receiving any kind of psychotherapy
- •Participants presenting severe psychological disorders (Psychosis, substance abuse, major depression)
- •Presence of intimate partner violence or abuse
- •Participants presenting cognitive impairment or disability impeding them from writing or answering written information
- •High-conflicted couples as measured by the DAS (Scores below 70)
研究组 & 干预措施
Letter Writing Arm
Relational letter writing intervention
干预措施: Relational Letter Writing (Behavioral)
Control Arm
No intervention
结局指标
主要结局
Perceived Relational Change
时间窗: Perceived relational change will be administrated at post intervention, 2 weeks and 3 months after the intervention
Single item measure, 7-point likert scale measuring perceived change in their relationship as a result fo the intervention
Change in Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS)
时间窗: The change of relational wellbeing will be evaluated for a week before the intervention (baseline), after the first session of the interview, and with follow-ups (right after the intervention, 2 weeks, and 3 months after the intervention).
The change of relational well-being will be evaluated with DAS (Spanier 1976, 2001), which is developed to provide a global measure of relational satisfaction of each member, has 32 items with 5-point, 6-point, 7-point Likert scales as well as two dichotomous items. Scores range from 0 to 151, higher scores indicating more dyadic adjustment.
次要结局
- Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation - Outcome Measure Spanish version (CORE-OM)(Individual wellbeing will be evaluated for a week before the intervention (baseline), after the first session of the interview, and with follow-ups (right after the intervention, 2 weeks, and 3 months after the intervention).)
- Change in Global Measure of Relational Satisfaction (GMRS)(The change of relationship satisfaction will be evaluated a week before the intervention (baseline), after the first and second session of the interview, and with follow-ups (right after the intervention, 2 weeks, and 3 months after the intervention))
- Change in Outcome Rating Scale (ORS)(Chance of session to session progress will be evaluated a week before the intervention (baseline), after the first and second session of the interview, and with follow-ups (right after the intervention, 2 weeks, and 3 months after the intervention).)
研究者
Adrián Montesano
Assoc. Prof. Adrian Montesano
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya