Brief Summary
The proposed program will flexibly provide an array of relationship promotion activities incorporating case management and job placement/career advancement activities: marriage and relationship education; pre-marital education and marriage skills; marriage enhancement and marriage skills for married couples; and divorce reduction and relationship skills. In addition, our proposed local evaluation will examine factors that might account for the observed impacts of attending relationship education programs (i.e., higher levels of relationship satisfaction), including dosage of workshops, relationship commitment and longevity, and skill learning.
Brief Title
Montefiore Medical Center Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education Program
Detailed Description
The objective of the proposed evaluation is to delineate those factors and sub-groups that account for the observed impact of HMRE services on the quality of relationships. Specifically, we are interested in investigating the following factors:
1. Commitment: Are couples that are more committed to each other (measured in terms of marital status, duration of relationship, or relationship commitment scale scores) more motivated to attend a greater number of HMRE workshops? Do they actually learn more relationship skills, and report improvements in their relationship quality?
2. Hopefulness: How does hopefulness about the relationship impact outcomes?
3. Dosage: Is attendance at a greater number of workshops related to improvements in relationship satisfaction and relationship quality?
4. Couple characteristics: How are various demographic factors related to observed outcomes?
5. Skill acquisition: How much did couples actually learn during the course of the relationship workshop?
In order to explore these research questions, we will be conducting an evaluation that utilizes pre-and post-survey data and qualitative interview information from participants. This will be a descriptive study and not a random assignment design. Data collection will begin when couples who expressed interest in the program attend a preliminary interview with one of Montefiore's clinical staff on site. The program and study will be explained to the couple and they will be asked to consent to participate. Once consent is gathered, on-site staff will administer measures required by our funders through an online system called nForm, or Information, Family Outcomes, Reporting, and Management. This online system was developed by Mathematica Policy Research, an agency contracted by the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a Cross-Site evaluation of all grantees who received funding to provide relationship education services. Preliminary demographic information will be collected through surveys completed by participants online through secure web browsing at a Montefiore facility.
1. Commitment: Are couples that are more committed to each other (measured in terms of marital status, duration of relationship, or relationship commitment scale scores) more motivated to attend a greater number of HMRE workshops? Do they actually learn more relationship skills, and report improvements in their relationship quality?
2. Hopefulness: How does hopefulness about the relationship impact outcomes?
3. Dosage: Is attendance at a greater number of workshops related to improvements in relationship satisfaction and relationship quality?
4. Couple characteristics: How are various demographic factors related to observed outcomes?
5. Skill acquisition: How much did couples actually learn during the course of the relationship workshop?
In order to explore these research questions, we will be conducting an evaluation that utilizes pre-and post-survey data and qualitative interview information from participants. This will be a descriptive study and not a random assignment design. Data collection will begin when couples who expressed interest in the program attend a preliminary interview with one of Montefiore's clinical staff on site. The program and study will be explained to the couple and they will be asked to consent to participate. Once consent is gathered, on-site staff will administer measures required by our funders through an online system called nForm, or Information, Family Outcomes, Reporting, and Management. This online system was developed by Mathematica Policy Research, an agency contracted by the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct a Cross-Site evaluation of all grantees who received funding to provide relationship education services. Preliminary demographic information will be collected through surveys completed by participants online through secure web browsing at a Montefiore facility.
Categories
Completion Date
Completion Date Type
Actual
Conditions
Parenting
Family Relationships
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
* In a committed relationship
* 18 years or older
* expecting a child or are caring for a child in the home at least 50% of the time (biological, foster, adopted, kinship care, etc.)
Exclusion Criteria:
* Active intimate partner violence and increased risk of intimate partner violence
* In a committed relationship
* 18 years or older
* expecting a child or are caring for a child in the home at least 50% of the time (biological, foster, adopted, kinship care, etc.)
Exclusion Criteria:
* Active intimate partner violence and increased risk of intimate partner violence
Inclusion Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
* In a committed relationship
* 18 years or older
* expecting a child or are caring for a child in the home at least 50% of the time (biological, foster, adopted, kinship care, etc.)
* In a committed relationship
* 18 years or older
* expecting a child or are caring for a child in the home at least 50% of the time (biological, foster, adopted, kinship care, etc.)
Gender
All
Gender Based
false
Keywords
parenting
relationships
relationship education
couples
marriage
Healthy Volunteers
No
Last Update Post Date
Last Update Post Date Type
Actual
Last Update Submit Date
Minimum Age
18 Years
NCT Id
NCT03697421
Org Class
Other
Org Full Name
Montefiore Medical Center
Org Study Id
2015-5900
Overall Status
Completed
Primary Completion Date
Primary Completion Date Type
Actual
Official Title
Montefiore Medical Center Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education Program
Primary Outcomes
Outcome Description
Considered the gold standard, this measure detects differences in relationship satisfaction with great precision. It is a 32-item scale, total score range from 0 to 161. Higher scores indicate higher levels of relationship satisfaction. CSI-32 scores falling below 104.5 suggest notable relationship dissatisfaction.
Outcome Measure
Change in Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI-32)
Outcome Time Frame
Change from Baseline CSI at 6 months
Outcome Description
This is a newly developed 5-item scale by a major relationship researcher (Alan Hawkins), which has reportedly good psychometric properties. It will allow us to hone in on the level of hopefulness and cynicism among our couples. This is a 5-item scale, scores determined by mean, ranging 1-7. Mean scores less than or equal to 5 suggest low hope.
Outcome Measure
Change in Relationship Hope Scale
Outcome Time Frame
Change from Baseline Relationship Hope at 6 months
Outcome Description
A 4-item measure of commitment developed by another major relationship research group (Scott Stanley and Howard Markman). This is a 4-item scale, with a total score range 1-20. Low commitment is indicated at a total score of 12 or below.
Outcome Measure
Change in Maybe I Do? Scale (Commitment)
Outcome Time Frame
Change from Baseline Commitment at 6 months
Outcome Description
Assesses the extent individuals perceive, understand, regulate, and harness emotions adaptively. This is a 33-item self-report inventory focusing on typical emotional intelligence. Scores can range from 33 to 165. Low EI is less than or equal to 115 for females and 108 for males; average EI is 116-145 for females and 109-131 for males; high EI is greater than or equal to 146 for females and 132 for male.
Outcome Measure
Change in Assessing Emotions Scale (Emotional Intelligence)
Outcome Time Frame
Change from Baseline Emotional Intelligence at 6 months
Outcome Description
Assesses whether the individual has/has learned the skills and knowledge taught through the program curriculum. There are two forms of this measure, A and B, each 14 items. Scores are percentages ranging from 0-100%. Higher scores represent a higher outcome.
Outcome Measure
Change Skills Assessment Measure (Skill Acquisition)
Outcome Time Frame
Change from Baseline Skills at immediately post intervention and at 6 months
Outcome Description
The Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Questionnaire is a 10-item self-report measure developed for the ACE study to identify childhood experiences of abuse and neglect. Scores range 0-10. Higher scores suggest worse outcomes.
Outcome Measure
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Survey
Outcome Time Frame
Halfway through intervention (Week 6 of 12 weeks, or Week 5 of 9 weeks)
Secondary Outcomes
Outcome Description
This is a survey developed by the Office of Family Assistance utilized by all grantees participating in the national study, that gathers demographic information regarding participants.
Outcome Time Frame
Baseline
Outcome Measure
Information, Family Outcomes, Reporting, and Management (nFORM) Applicant Characteristics
Outcome Description
This is a survey developed by the Office of Family Assistance utilized by all grantees participating in the national study that includes questions regarding relationship satisfaction, financial stability, and parenting.
Outcome Time Frame
At start of intervention (Week 1 of 12 or 9 weeks)
Outcome Measure
Information, Family Outcomes, Reporting, and Management (nFORM) Pre-Program Survey
Outcome Description
This is a survey developed by the Office of Family Assistance utilized by all grantees participating in the national study that includes questions regarding relationship satisfaction, financial stability, and parenting.
Outcome Time Frame
Immediately post intervention (Week 12 of 12 weeks or Week 9 of 9 weeks)
Outcome Measure
nformation, Family Outcomes, Reporting, and Management (nFORM) Post-Program Survey
Start Date
Start Date Type
Actual
Status Verified Date
First Post Date
First Post Date Type
Actual
First Submit Date
First Submit QC Date
Study Population
The population is 47% Hispanic and 44% African-American. The income level of the majority of the couples enrolled was at or below 200% of poverty level, and 36% received income from public assistance. The majority of couples we served (72%) had a high school degree or less, and nearly half (49%) of participants were unemployed at program enrollment with many more under-employed. Their average age was 36 years old, including 10% between the ages of 17 and 24. The average duration of marriage for couples in our program was 7 years; however, the range of relationship longevity was quite wide, spanning from newlywed couples married for a few months to couples married for over 30 years. All couples had at least one child under 18 years old living in the home (or were expecting a child), and we estimate that approximately two thirds of families in our program were comprised of at least one partner with a child from a previous relationship.
Std Ages
Adult
Older Adult
Maximum Age Number (converted to Years and rounded down)
999
Minimum Age Number (converted to Years and rounded down)
18
Investigators
Investigator Type
Principal Investigator
Investigator Name
Scott Wetzler
Investigator Email
swetzler@montefiore.org
Investigator Phone