This study aims to pilot test an 8-week, self-administered dyadic (couples-based) positive psychology intervention for couples coping with stroke using a randomized, waitlist control design. Mood and well-being will be assessed pre- and post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. It is expected that both partners will demonstrate improvement in mood and well-being.
Stroke survivors and spousal caregivers face significant challenges, yet interventions to support couples after stroke are largely lacking. Depressive symptoms post-stroke occur in 30-50% of survivors and partner caregivers, and have significant consequences on function and quality of life. Further, mood and psychosocial well-being are reciprocal in couples, meaning if one partner is depressed, the other is more likely to be depressed. Sustaining well-being in both partners is important for continued engagement in rehabilitation and re-integration into the community, yet existing interventions are aimed at the individual rather than the couple. This study will address this gap by testing an innovative dyadic (couples-based) intervention using a new approach based on positive psychology that focuses on the strengths in the relationship in order to foster resilience in the couple. Using a randomized waitlist control design, this pilot study aims to determine whether an 8-week dyadic positive psychology-based intervention (PPI) can improve mood and subjective well-being as assessed by established outcome measures in 24 couples coping with stroke. The intervention consists of self-administered PPI activities, such as expressing gratitude and practicing acts of kindness, which participants complete individually and as a couple. Two potential pathways will be explored for the PPI: (a) enhanced quality of interactions as couples deal with daily life demands and (b) improvements in mood that are "contagious" among couples. If found effective, couples with greater well-being may be better emotionally equipped to cope with the sequelae of stroke by reducing stress and depressive symptoms, and increasing participation in meaningful activities and quality of life.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
68
Self-administered behavioral intervention in which participants complete at least 2 activities alone and 2 together each week for 8 weeks. Positive psychology activities include expressing gratitude, practicing acts of kindness, fostering relationships, working toward a goal, focusing on the positive, spirituality, and savoring.
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
PROMIS Depression-SF
An 8-item measure of depressive symptoms in which participants rate how they have felt over the past 7 days (e.g., "I felt worthless," "I felt unhappy") on a 5-point Likert scale from "never" to "always"). Higher scores are worse.
Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks (post-intervention)
NeuroQOL Positive Affect and Wellbeing-SF
A 9-item measure of wellbeing in which participants rate how they have felt "lately" (e.g., "my life had purpose," "I felt hopeful") on a 5-point Likert scale from "never" to "always". Higher scores are better
Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks (post-intervention)
NeuroQOL Positive Affect and Wellbeing-SF
A 9-item measure of wellbeing in which participants rate how they have felt "lately" (e.g., "my life had purpose," "I felt hopeful") on a 5-point Likert scale from "never" to "always". Higher scores are better
Time frame: Change from 8 weeks to 20 weeks (3-months post-intervention)
PROMIS Depression-SF
An 8-item measure of depressive symptoms in which participants rate how they have felt over the past 7 days (e.g., "I felt worthless," "I felt unhappy") on a 5-point Likert scale from "never" to "always"). Higher scores are worse.
Time frame: Change from 8 weeks to 20 weeks (3-months post-intervention)
Stroke Impact Scale
A 60-item stroke-specific quality of life measure in which participants rate how stroke has impacted them across 8 domains (e.g., strength of affected arm, communication, activities of daily living) on a 5-point Likert scale ("not difficult" to "cannot do at all"). Higher scores are better (indicate better quality of life)
Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks (post-intervention)
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Stroke Impact Scale
A 60-item stroke-specific quality of life measure in which participants rate how stroke has impacted them across 8 domains (e.g., strength of affected arm, communication, activities of daily living) on a 5-point Likert scale ("not difficult" to "cannot do at all"). Higher scores are better (indicate better quality of life)
Time frame: Change from 8 weeks (post-intervention) to 20 weeks (3-months post-intervention)
Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)
A measure of positive affect and negative affect; participants rate a list of 20 adjectives that describes them (e.g., "afraid" or "excited") on a 5-point Likert scale from "Not at all" to "Extremely". Scores are summed for two subscales (positive affect, negative affect), and higher scores indicate having more of either positive or negative affect
Time frame: Change from baseline to 8 weeks (post-intervention)
Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)
A measure of positive affect and negative affect; participants rate a list of 20 adjectives that describes them (e.g., "afraid" or "excited") on a 5-point Likert scale from "Not at all" to "Extremely". Scores are summed for two subscales (positive affect, negative affect), and higher scores indicate having more of either positive or negative affect
Time frame: Change from 8 weeks (post-intervention) to 20 weeks (3-months post-intervention)