Publication year
2017
Citation Title
Couples with intimate partner violence seeking relationship help: Associations and implications for self-help and online interventions.
Journal Name
Family Process
Page Numbers
1-15
DOI
10.1111/famp.12291
Summary
Online relationship education programs are helpful at increasing relationship satisfaction; however, the effect of such programs on couples with intimate partner violence (IPV) is unknown. This study had 2,797 individuals complete a questionnaire regarding IPV and personal factors (e.g., anxiety, depression). In addition, 300 couples in distress were randomly assigned to the OurRelationship intervention program or a control group. Results revealed that certain factors were associated with IPV, and couples with low-intensity IPV were equally likely to benefit from the intervention program as couples without IPV.
Key Findings
A higher level of anxiety and depression symptoms and a lower level of relationship satisfaction were associated with low-intensity IPV and more severe IPV (i.e., IPV that results in injury or fear).
Participants who experienced childhood sexual assault were more likely to experience severe IPV but not low-intensity IPV.
Couples with or without low-intensity IPV were equally likely to benefit from the intervention program.
Implications for Military Professionals
Help Service members and military spouses identify appropriate resources if they experience IPV
Attend training to understand the risk factors that may contribute to IPV in military families
Implications for Program Leaders
Provide relationship education workshops both online and in-person to accommodate the needs of military families
Offer support groups for Service members and their spouses who experience IPV
Implications for Policy Makers
Encourage the development of online relationship education programs, especially for military couples with IPV
Recommend education of professionals working with military families on common factors (e.g., anxiety, childhood sexual assault) associated with IPV
Methods
Participants were recruited through online advertising, online social media, television, and newspapers; participants who completed the screening questionnaire were enrolled in Study One, and those who also had access to the intervention were enrolled in Study Two and were randomly assigned to the intervention group (151 couples) or control group (149 couples).
All participants completed a questionnaire regarding intimate partner violence, childhood sexual assault, binge drinking, infidelity, anxiety, depression, and relationship satisfaction; couples in the intervention group also received a six-eight hours long intervention.
Data were analyzed to examine factors that were associated with intimate partner violence and the effect of the online intervention on relationship satisfaction.
Participants
In Study One, participants were 2,797 individuals (60% female); the average age of them was 34.9 years (SD = 10.0).
In Study Two, participants were 300 heterosexual couples; the average age of them was 37.4 years (SD = 9.5).
Most participants in Study One were White (65%), followed by Black (19%), Latino (13%), and other (3%); similarly, the majority of participants in Study Two were White (73%), followed by Black (15%), Latino (10%), and other (2%).
Limitations
Only heterosexual couples were included in the intervention, so caution must be taken to generalize the results to same-sex couples.
The study was based on self-report data; therefore, the results may be subject to social-desirability bias.
IPV was not assessed after the intervention; therefore, the effect of the intervention on IPV was unknown.
Avenues for Future Research
Recruit both heterosexual and same-sex couples so that the findings can be better generalized
Replicate the study with other online relationship programs to examine the effectiveness of such programs on couples with low-intensity IPV
Examine whether online relationship programs can be helpful for couples with severe IPV
Focus
Civilian
Target Population
Population Focus
Abstract
In-person conjoint treatments for relationship distress are effective at increasing relationship satisfaction, and newly developed online programs are showing promising results. However, couples reporting even low levels intimate partner violence (IPV) are traditionally
excluded from these interventions. To improve the availability of couple-based treatment for couples with IPV, the present study sought to determine whether associations with IPV found in community samples generalized to couples seeking help for their relationship and whether web-based interventions for relationship distressed worked equally well for couples with IPV. In the first aim, in a sample of 2,797 individuals who were seeking online help for their relationship, the levels and correlates of both low-intensity and clinically significant IPV largely matched what is found in community samples. In the second aim, in a sample of 300 couples who were randomly assigned to a web-based intervention or a waitlist control group, low-impact IPV did not moderate the effects of the intervention for relationship distress. Therefore, web-based interventions may be an effective (and easily accessible) intervention for relationship distress for couples with low-intensity IPV.
excluded from these interventions. To improve the availability of couple-based treatment for couples with IPV, the present study sought to determine whether associations with IPV found in community samples generalized to couples seeking help for their relationship and whether web-based interventions for relationship distressed worked equally well for couples with IPV. In the first aim, in a sample of 2,797 individuals who were seeking online help for their relationship, the levels and correlates of both low-intensity and clinically significant IPV largely matched what is found in community samples. In the second aim, in a sample of 300 couples who were randomly assigned to a web-based intervention or a waitlist control group, low-impact IPV did not moderate the effects of the intervention for relationship distress. Therefore, web-based interventions may be an effective (and easily accessible) intervention for relationship distress for couples with low-intensity IPV.
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