Couples' Affect in Relationships Study

Couples' Affect in Relationships Study

The goal of this clinical trial is to find out whether learning about well-being impacts the thoughts and feelings of romantic couples. The main question it aims to answer is:

• Does gaining knowledge about well-being positively impact individuals and their romantic relationships?

Participants will complete online surveys about their thoughts and feelings.

This study will deliver a meditation-based mobile intervention (The Healthy Minds Program) to one member of a long-term romantic couple and will assess for relationship satisfaction/distress, well-being, and mindfulness in both the primary participant and their partner. The control group will receive a list of well-being-based psychoeducation resources.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Be either married, living together, OR in a dating relationship for at least 12 months
• Proficiency in English
• US citizen or permanent resident
• If non-monogamous, must be able to enroll in the study with a primary partner with whom they spend the majority of their time.
• Use of a smartphone (primary participant only)
• Phone able to receive SMS text messages
• Depression symptoms (≥ 5 on PHQ-9; primary participant only)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe physical or sexual relationship aggression during the past 6 months (any item endorsement on 5-item severe IPV screener)
• Endorsement of active suicidality
• History of psychosis or mania
• Prior use of the Healthy Minds Program app
• Prior significant experience with meditation
• Severe hearing impairment that would interfere with the use of an audio-based intervention (primary participant only)