Two-Session Couples Class to Improve Relationship Health

Overview

This study will compare the effect of three different stress reduction intervention techniques compared to a non-intervention control group on the psychological and relationship functioning in 40 romantic couples. The current study will serve two purposes. Results will inform future efforts to develop effective brief stress reduction interventions for physically healthy couples and will inform future iterations of stress reduction-based intervention for cancer patients and their caregivers. The investigators hypothesize that couples in the three stress-reduction interventions will report greater relationship health and greater mindfulness after the intervention than couples in the non-intervention control group. The investigators also hypothesize that the stress-reduction groups will be most beneficial for individuals who report higher distress, indifferent relationship style, and insecure attachment at baseline.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four conditions, each of which involve participating in two 45-minute sessions (via Zoom) with a study interventionist. Sam Houston State University (SHSU) clinical psychology master's or doctoral students or graduates of the SHSU clinical psychology master's program will implement the mind-body intervention, under the supervision of Dr. Chelsea Ratcliff, who is a licensed psychologist. Dr. Ratcliff will provide weekly group supervision to all students implementing the treatment. Participation in this study will last a total of 6 weeks (+/- 1 week). The T1 survey will last approximately 45 minutes. Within 1 week of both partners completing baseline, eligible dyads will be scheduled for Session 1. For the intervention, all participants will be emailed a PDF of the appropriate workbook prior to Session 1. Participants will also be informed that they may pick up a hard copy (printed version). For participants in the stress-reduction groups, after each session the interventionist will send each participant an email with: 1) the audio recording of the appropriate guided stress-reduction activity (transcript provided in workbook), 2) a fillable PDF document with instructions regarding completing and documenting home-practice, and 3) a link to a Qualtrics survey that asks them to evaluate their experience in the session. The instructor will also inform participants that they may pick up hard copies of all session materials if it is convenient/preferable. For participants in the non-intervention control group, the interventionist will email each participant a link to a Qualtrics survey that asks them to evaluate their experience in the session. Session 2 will take place approximately 1 week after Session 1. After completing session 2, the interventionist will send a link to another Qualtrics survey that asks them to evaluate their experience in the session. Within 1 week of completing Session 2, both members of the dyad will be emailed the link to the second Qualtrics survey (T2), which will last approximately 30 minutes. Finally, within 1 month (+/- 1 week) of completing Session 2, both members of the dyad will be emailed the third Qualtrics survey (T3), which will last approximately 20 minutes.