A Randomized Trial Comparing a Sex Education and Therapy Online Intervention Delivered With and Without Professional Guidance for the Treatment of Sexual Desire Discrepancy in Couples

University of British Columbia2 sites in 1 country216 target enrollmentStarted: January 1, 2026Last updated: January 5, 2026

Conditions

Interventions

Trial Snapshot

Phase: Not Applicable
Status: Recruiting
Sponsor: University of British Columbia
Enrollment: 216
Locations: 2
Primary Endpoint: A change in relational sexual distress

Study Overview Study Design Eligibility Criteria Arms & Interventions Outcomes Investigators Sites Records & Identifiers Similar Trials

Study Overview

Brief Summary

Sexual desire discrepancy (SDD) occurs when partners have different levels of sexual desire and are distressed by it. It is one of the most common reasons couples seek help, but no proven dyadic treatment currently exists. This study will test STEP, an online program designed to support couples with SDD. The investigators will compare two formats of STEP: one with therapist support and one self-guided, against a waitlist control group. The investigators will also assess how satisfied couples are and how they engage with the two online formats. This study will generate new data on how effective STEP is with and without guidance, and inform treatment guidelines.

Detailed Description

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week online intervention (STEP) designed to reduce distress related to SDD in couples. Two formats of the intervention will be tested: a therapist-guided version (STEP-T) and a self-guided version (STEP-NT). Couples will be randomly assigned to one of these formats or to a waitlist control group.

The study will assess whether both versions of STEP reduce SDD and associated distress, and whether improvements are maintained over a 6-month follow-up. The investigators will also examine participants' satisfaction with the program, engagement, and retention rates.

In addition, the investigators will explore the psychological factors (e.g., quality of sexual communication, emotional intimacy, interoceptive awareness, and self-compassion) that may explain how the intervention works, as well as whether its effectiveness varies based on relationship duration and participants' perceptions of the treatment's credibility.

Finally, the study will gather exploratory information about potential contributing factors to SDD and how couples experience desire-related challenges, using structured worksheets.

The investigators hypothesize that: a) Both STEP-T (therapist-guided) and STEP-NT (self-guided) will significantly reduce sexual desire discrepancy (SDD) and related distress, compared to a waitlist control group; b) Participants in both intervention groups will show improvements in sexual satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and sexual pleasure; c) These improvements will be maintained at 6-month follow-up; d) STEP-T will produce greater improvements than STEP-NT; e) Participants will report moderate to high satisfaction, consistent homework engagement, and retention rates above 70%, with higher engagement expected in the STEP-T group; f) Increases in interoceptive awareness, emotional intimacy, and sexual communication will predict improvements in SDD and distress. Improvements in self-compassion will predict reduced distress; g) Longer relationship duration and higher perceived treatment credibility will be associated with better outcomes.

Study Design

Study Type: Interventional
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Masking: None

Eligibility Criteria

Ages: 19 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
Sex: All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Inclusion Criteria

•Be a couple;
•Be in a romantic relationship for at least one year;
•Be 19 years of age or older;
•Experience perceived and/or actual SDD with personal and/or relational distress reported by at least one partner;
•Be fluent in English;
•Be willing to participate in 8 weekly online treatment sessions;
•For couples in long-distance relationships, be able to meet the partner in person and via video call to complete the couple's homework;
•Be willing to abstain from starting any new treatment for SDD for the duration of the study;
•Be willing to voluntarily complete questionnaires administered before, during, and after the treatment;
•Have access to an electronic device capable of running Zoom platform (if randomized to STEP-T);
•Have a stable internet connection.

Exclusion Criteria

•Cases where the discrepancy is attributable to at least one partner identifying as asexual (asexuality is not considered a sexual dysfunction; APA, 2013);
•Presence of untreated psychiatric conditions at the time of recruitment (e.g., depression) that would interfere with participating in the treatment and homework;
•Receive dyadic psychosexual treatment for SDD elsewhere during the study period.

Arms & Interventions

STEP-T

Active Comparator

Participants assigned to this arm will receive STEP guided by a therapist.

Intervention: STEP-T (Behavioral)

STEP-NT

Active Comparator

Participants assigned to this arm will receive STEP without therapist guidance.

Intervention: STEP-NT (Behavioral)

Waitlist

Other

Participants in this arm will not receive any treatment during the first 10 weeks. After 10 weeks, the participants in this arm are re-randomized to either STEP-T or STEP-NT.

Intervention: Waitlist (Other)