Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| Name | Class |
|---|---|
| Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. | OTHER |
| Department of Health and Human Services | FED |
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
The Alabama Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education Initiative (AHMREI), a large-scale partnership among Auburn University and 9 additional implementation partners at Family Resource Centers, implements multiple program activities that respond to family needs and integrate comprehensive services to promote healthy marriages and relationships, as authorized by the Claims Resolution Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-291). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of two selected couples education curricula- Elevate and Couples Connecting Mindfully. The programs are intended to improve the well-being of individuals, couples, and families in domains such as couple well-being, parenting skills, individual skills, and economic stability.
In 2015, Congress provided funding for grants to provide healthy marriage and relationship services to help interested couples enhance or improve adult and family relationships. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), oversees these grants and provides supports to assist grantees in meeting their goals and objectives. To learn about the implementation and effects of these programs, Dr. Francesca Adler-Baeder at Auburn University was awarded a contract to conduct a local impact evaluation study. The evaluation includes impact and process studies for couples education curricula.
Couples who are eligible for the programs and agree to be in the study are randomly assigned to either one of two program groups (Elevate or Couples Connecting Mindfully) or a no-program control group. Program group members are offered program services; control group members are not offered those services. The impact study will examine whether the programs improve outcomes for individuals in couples and the children of the participants in the program group compared to outcomes of those in the control group. Members of both program and control groups are surveyed five times over 2 years: before they are randomly assigned, immediately after the curricula have been implemented (approximately 8 weeks later), and 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years after baseline. All surveys are administered via an online survey system, Qualtrics. The survey covers a range of questions related to couple relationships and interactions, individual functioning, parent-child interactions, co-parenting quality, and economic stability. The process aspect of the study will examine multiple aspects of the implementation and operation of the programs. Specifically, program attendance or dose, participant characteristics, facilitator-participant relationship, attitudes towards the program, and mechanisms of change will be considered in the process evaluation. Information for the process evaluation is obtained through the respondents' online surveys and facilitator/educator surveys.
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Couples Connecting Mindfully Curriculum | Experimental | Receives the Couples Connecting Mindfully curriculum over a 6 week period. |
|
| ELEVATE Curriculum | Experimental | Receives the ELEVATE curriculum over a 6 week period. |
|
| Control | No Intervention | No programming is offered. |
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Couples Connecting Mindfully | Behavioral |
|
| |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Couple Satisfaction Index | Couple satisfaction was measured using an abbreviated version of the Couple Satisfaction Index utilized in previously published studies. The 3 items (rated from 1 [Not at all] to 6 [Completely]) are: "I have a warm and comfortable relationship with my partner," "How rewarding is your relationship with your partner?" and "In general, how satisfied are you with your relationship?" Mean composites were calculated, and the total scale ranges from 1 to 6. Higher scores indicate higher couple satisfaction. | 6 months |
| The Couple Relationship Skills Inventory | Couple relationship skills were measured using 32 items from the Couple Relationship Skills Inventory (CRSI). This measure was constructed to match the core relationship skills and predictors of couple quality emphasized in the HMRE programs provided. Items were taken from established and validated social science measures assessing commitment, intimate partner knowledge, friendship, caring behaviors, conflict management, and external support. Example items include, "I commit effort every day to making my relationship work," "I know my partner's current life stresses," "When things 'get heated' I suggest we take a break to calm down," and "I initiate physical affection with my partner." Items ranged from 1 (Very strongly disagree) to 7 (Very strongly agree). Composite sum scores were created at the individual level and the total scale ranges from 1-224 (i.e., 32*7 = 224). Higher scores indicate greater couple relationship skills. | 8 weeks |
| Individual Mental Health | Individual mental health was measured using the SF-12 Mental Component Summary score assessing anxiety, depression, sense of wellbeing, and social/emotional functioning. Per the measure's design, items were asked on differing scales (e.g., 1 to 3 or 1 to 5) with different anchor responses (e.g., all of the time to none of the time, or not at all to extremely). Example items include, "During the past month how much of the time have you accomplished less than you would like" or "During the past month how often have you felt downhearted and depressed?" The SF-12 Mental Component Summary score has shown scale reliability and validity in empirical studies. Scores range from 0 to 100 with a mean of 50 and SD of 10 in the general U.S. population. Higher scores indicate better individual mental health. |
Not provided
Not provided
Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Francesca Adler-Baeder, Ph.D. | Auburn University | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn University | Auburn | Alabama | 36849 | United States | ||
| Hope Place Family Resource Center |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18179329 | Background | Funk JL, Rogge RD. Testing the ruler with item response theory: increasing precision of measurement for relationship satisfaction with the Couples Satisfaction Index. J Fam Psychol. 2007 Dec;21(4):572-83. doi: 10.1037/0893-3200.21.4.572. | |
| 9817135 | Background | Gandek B, Ware JE, Aaronson NK, Apolone G, Bjorner JB, Brazier JE, Bullinger M, Kaasa S, Leplege A, Prieto L, Sullivan M. Cross-validation of item selection and scoring for the SF-12 Health Survey in nine countries: results from the IQOLA Project. International Quality of Life Assessment. J Clin Epidemiol. 1998 Nov;51(11):1171-8. doi: 10.1016/s0895-4356(98)00109-7. |
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| ID | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| FG000 | Couples Connecting Mindfully Curriculum | Receives the Couples Connecting Mindfully curriculum over a 6 week period. Couples Connecting Mindfully |
| FG001 | ELEVATE Curriculum | Receives the ELEVATE curriculum over a 6 week period. ELEVATE |
| Title | Milestones | Reasons Not Completed | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Study |
|
Not provided
Not provided
| Type | Includes Protocol | Includes SAP | Includes ICF | Document Label | Document Date | Document Uploaded Date | Document File Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prot_SAP | Yes | Yes | No | Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan | Feb 27, 2020 |
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| ELEVATE |
| Behavioral |
|
| 6 months |
| Brewton |
| Alabama |
| 36426 |
| United States |
| Parents and Children Together | Decatur | Alabama | 35602 | United States |
| The Family Success Center of Etowah County | Gadsden | Alabama | 35903 | United States |
| Family Guidance Center | Montgomery | Alabama | 36116 | United States |
| Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement | Sylacauga | Alabama | 35150 | United States |
| Tuscaloosa's ONE Place | Tuscaloosa | Alabama | 35404 | United States |
| Circle of Care Center for Families | Valley | Alabama | 36854 | United States |
| IMPACT Family Counseling | Vestavia Hills | Alabama | 35216 | United States |
| Alabama Cooperative Extension Syestem- Elmore County | Wetumpka | Alabama | 36092 | United States |
| 8628042 | Background | Ware J Jr, Kosinski M, Keller SD. A 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey: construction of scales and preliminary tests of reliability and validity. Med Care. 1996 Mar;34(3):220-33. doi: 10.1097/00005650-199603000-00003. |
| FG002 | Control | No programming is offered. |
| COMPLETED |
|
| NOT COMPLETED |
|
Not provided
| ID | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| BG000 | Couples Connecting Mindfully Curriculum | Receives the Couples Connecting Mindfully curriculum over a 6 week period. Couples Connecting Mindfully |
| BG001 | ELEVATE Curriculum | Receives the ELEVATE curriculum over a 6 week period. ELEVATE |
| BG002 | Control | No programming is offered. |
| BG003 | Total | Total of all reporting groups |
| Units | Counts |
|---|---|
| Participants |
|
| Title | Description | Population Description | Parameter Type | Dispersion Type | Unit of Measure | Calculate Percentage | Denominator Units Selected | Denominators | Classes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Continuous | Some participants did not fill out complete age information on the baseline survey, so we are missing this demographic data on a few participants for each group (ELEVATE, CCM, and Control) | Mean | Standard Deviation | Years |
| |||||||||
| Sex: Female, Male | Count of Participants | Participants |
| |||||||||||
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB) | Count of Participants | Participants |
| |||||||||||
| Race (NIH/OMB) | Count of Participants | Participants |
| |||||||||||
| Education Level | Count of Participants | Participants |
| |||||||||||
| Relationship Status | Count of Participants | Participants |
| |||||||||||
| Parent Status | Count of Participants | Participants |
|
| Type | Title | Description | Population Description | Reporting Status | Anticipated Posting Date | Parameter Type | Dispersion Type | Unit of Measure | Calculate Percentage | Time Frame | Units Analyzed | Denominator Units Selected | Arm/Group Information | Denominators | Classes | Analyses | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | Couple Satisfaction Index | Couple satisfaction was measured using an abbreviated version of the Couple Satisfaction Index utilized in previously published studies. The 3 items (rated from 1 [Not at all] to 6 [Completely]) are: "I have a warm and comfortable relationship with my partner," "How rewarding is your relationship with your partner?" and "In general, how satisfied are you with your relationship?" Mean composites were calculated, and the total scale ranges from 1 to 6. Higher scores indicate higher couple satisfaction. | 406 ELEVATE respondents, 432 CCM respondents, and 426 Control respondents completed baseline, immediate follow-up, and 6-month follow-up surveys and completed all of the CSI items. | Posted | Mean | Standard Deviation | score on a scale | 6 months |
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primary | The Couple Relationship Skills Inventory | Couple relationship skills were measured using 32 items from the Couple Relationship Skills Inventory (CRSI). This measure was constructed to match the core relationship skills and predictors of couple quality emphasized in the HMRE programs provided. Items were taken from established and validated social science measures assessing commitment, intimate partner knowledge, friendship, caring behaviors, conflict management, and external support. Example items include, "I commit effort every day to making my relationship work," "I know my partner's current life stresses," "When things 'get heated' I suggest we take a break to calm down," and "I initiate physical affection with my partner." Items ranged from 1 (Very strongly disagree) to 7 (Very strongly agree). Composite sum scores were created at the individual level and the total scale ranges from 1-224 (i.e., 32*7 = 224). Higher scores indicate greater couple relationship skills. | 497 ELEVATE respondents, 520 CCM respondents, and 521 Control respondents completed both baseline & immediate follow-up surveys, as well as 80% of the CRSI items. | Posted | Mean | Standard Deviation | score on a scale | 8 weeks |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primary | Individual Mental Health | Individual mental health was measured using the SF-12 Mental Component Summary score assessing anxiety, depression, sense of wellbeing, and social/emotional functioning. Per the measure's design, items were asked on differing scales (e.g., 1 to 3 or 1 to 5) with different anchor responses (e.g., all of the time to none of the time, or not at all to extremely). Example items include, "During the past month how much of the time have you accomplished less than you would like" or "During the past month how often have you felt downhearted and depressed?" The SF-12 Mental Component Summary score has shown scale reliability and validity in empirical studies. Scores range from 0 to 100 with a mean of 50 and SD of 10 in the general U.S. population. Higher scores indicate better individual mental health. | 389 ELEVATE participants, 423 CCM participants, and 416 control respondents completed baseline, immediate post-program, and 6-month follow-up surveys, as well as 100% of the items of the SF-12 measure. | Posted | Mean | Standard Deviation | score on a scale | 6 months |
|
All-Cause Mortality, Serious, and Other (Not Including Serious) Adverse Events were not monitored/assessed.
All-Cause Mortality, Serious, and Other (Not Including Serious) Adverse Events were not monitored/assessed because the program in the current study is educational in nature and there were no risk of adverse events or mortality.
Not provided
| ID | Title | Description | Deaths (Affected) | Deaths (At Risk) | Serious Events (Affected) | Serious Events (At Risk) | Other Events (Affected) | Other Events (At Risk) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EG000 | Couples Connecting Mindfully Curriculum | Receives the Couples Connecting Mindfully curriculum over a 6 week period. Couples Connecting Mindfully | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| EG001 | ELEVATE Curriculum | Receives the ELEVATE curriculum over a 6 week period. ELEVATE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| EG002 | Control | No programming is offered. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Not provided
Not provided
Measures were limited to self-report, which represent the participant's subjective perspective of skills and individual/relationship functioning.
Not provided
Not provided
| Title | Organization | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francesca Adler-Baeder | Auburn University | 334-844-4151 | adlerfr@auburn.edu |
| Aug 18, 2021 |
| Prot_SAP_000.pdf |
| ICF | No | No | Yes | Informed Consent Form | Aug 7, 2017 | Aug 18, 2021 | ICF_001.pdf |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Mixed Models Analysis |
Utilized multi-level modeling to account for nested data (individuals within couples), and accounted for time within individual. |
| .101 |
The a priori threshold for statistical significance was .05. |
| Mean Difference (Net) |
| .020 |
| 2-Sided |
| Superiority |
| OG002 | Control | No programming is offered. |
|
|
|
| Control |
No programming is offered. |
|
|
|