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Tseng CF, Miller DL, Huerta P, PettyJohn ME, Yzaguirre MM, Agundez JC, Wittenborn AK. Recruitment strategies in couple intervention studies: A systematic review of recruitment methods and sample characteristics in the United States from 2015 to 2020. FAMILY PROCESS 2023; 62:880-898. [PMID: 37086013 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Including diverse participants in couple intervention studies is critical for developing an evidence base that informs best practices for all potential clients. Research has shown that subgroups of clients respond differently to different interventions and that interventions that have been adapted to fit the needs of a given population are more effective than non-adapted interventions. Unfortunately, couple intervention samples often exclude participants with marginalized identities and culturally adapted couple intervention research is limited. The lack of information about best practices for diverse client subgroups perpetuates mental and relational health disparities. We conducted a systematic review to examine recruitment strategies and sampling characteristics of diverse races/ethnicities, incomes, ages, and sexual identities. We reviewed articles published between January 2015 and December 2020. Articles were eligible for inclusion in our review if they implemented an intervention with couples in the United States. Of 4054 articles identified, 54 articles were eligible for our review. Findings suggest that couple intervention studies lack diversity across multiple identity domains (i.e., races/ethnicities, incomes, ages, and sexual identities). Further, descriptions of recruitment strategies are often vague, limiting opportunities to better understand methods used to recruit diverse samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Fang Tseng
- Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Debra L Miller
- Community Mental Health for Central Michigan, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, USA
| | - Patricia Huerta
- Human Development and Family Science, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Morgan E PettyJohn
- Center for Violence Prevention, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Melissa M Yzaguirre
- Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - J C Agundez
- Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Andrea K Wittenborn
- Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
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Mitchell EA, Roberson PNE, Amer Z, Garcia DJ, Cordova JV, Gordon KC. Couple variables predicting retention in a brief intervention and research. FAMILY PROCESS 2022; 61:1180-1194. [PMID: 35605638 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Therapy is an effective form of treatment for couple distress; yet, research shows that 20%-60% of couples terminate treatment prematurely. Predictors of couple retention in therapy and research are unclear, particularly for couples from marginalized populations, which has important implications for the quality and generalizability of research results, and the benefits derived from therapy are limited when participants are not retained. The purpose of this study (N = 1310) was to identify couple-level variables that predict (1) retention in a brief, two-session couple intervention (The Relationship Checkup) delivered as a home visitation program and (2) retention in research participation at 1- and 6-month follow-up. Hypotheses were tested using a two-level multi-level model. Couples are significantly less likely to be retained in the brief intervention if (1) at least one partner identifies as Asian, Pacific Islander, or Native American, (2) at least one partner identifies as Hispanic/Latinx, or (3) both partners report mental or emotional health as a concern in their relationship. Couples are significantly less likely to be retained in research if (1) at least one partner identifies as Asian, Pacific Islander, or Native American (1 month only), (2) at least one partner identifies as Hispanic/Latinx (1 and 6 months), (3) if either partner reports clinically significant relationship distress at baseline (1 and 6 months), or (4) if either partner reports relationship aggression at baseline (6 months only). These findings are discussed with relevance to clinicians and researchers to recruit and retain more diverse and marginalized participants in couple interventions and follow-up research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica A Mitchell
- College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Zahra Amer
- Psychology Department, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Darren J Garcia
- The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - James V Cordova
- Francis L. Hiatt Department of Psychology, Clark University, Worchester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kristina Coop Gordon
- College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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Carlson RG, Wheeler NJ, Barden SM, Romagnolo SM, Dillman Talyor D, Hipp CJ, Silverio N, Moran M. Using Intent-to-Attend to Predict Attendance in Community-Based Relationship Education. FAMILY PROCESS 2022; 61:130-145. [PMID: 33904591 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Government-supported relationship education has provided resources for inclusion of economically vulnerable and ethnically diverse participants; however, many grantees and programs struggled to retain couples in longitudinal studies, which has likely influenced study effects and threatened internal validity. In the present study, we assessed 1,056 couples' baseline relationship satisfaction and intent-to-attend their next scheduled visit while participating in a randomized controlled trial of relationship education and evaluated the predictive ability of their responses to remain in the six-month study. We conducted actor-partner interdependence models for couples, using a probit cross-lagged regression with a structural equation modeling framework, to test the dyadic influence of intent-to-attend on future couple attendance. We also examined the influence of higher or lower baseline relationship satisfaction between partners and group assignment (treatment or wait-list control) on attendance. Intent-to-attend scores were associated with attendance for couples at the one-month follow-up, and early attendance was the biggest predictor of later attendance. Additionally, baseline intent-to-attend scores predicted later intent-to-attend scores for all follow-up time points. However, we found no partner effects, and no effects for the influence of baseline relationship satisfaction or group assignment. We discuss practical suggestions for including intent-to-attend in future studies, relationship education programming, and general therapy practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan G Carlson
- Department of Educational Studies, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Naomi J Wheeler
- Department of Counseling and Special Education, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Sejal M Barden
- Marriage and Family Research Institute, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Shannon M Romagnolo
- School Counseling in the College of Education and Human Services, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Dalena Dillman Talyor
- Marriage and Family Research Institute, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Christopher J Hipp
- Department of Educational Studies, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Nicole Silverio
- Marriage and Family Research Institute, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
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Barton AW, Lavner JA, Beach SRH. Can Interventions that Strengthen Couples' Relationships Confer Additional Benefits for their Health? A Randomized Controlled Trial with African American Couples. PREVENTION SCIENCE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR PREVENTION RESEARCH 2020; 22:386-396. [PMID: 33009991 DOI: 10.1007/s11121-020-01175-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the effects of the Protecting Strong African American Families (ProSAAF) prevention program on adults' self-reported health outcomes 25 months after enrollment. ProSAAF is a couple-focused prevention program specifically designed to meet the needs of African-American families residing in the rural South. African-American couples (N = 346) with an early adolescent child participated in a randomized controlled trial of the program. Dyadic data analyses indicated significant direct effects on changes in couple functioning post-intervention as well as significant indirect effects of ProSAAF on changes in health through post-intervention improvements in couple functioning. These benefits were documented for men's and women's general health, depressive symptoms, and problematic sleep. There were no significant direct effects of ProSAAF participation on changes in health. Findings provide tempered optimism regarding the potential benefits of couple-focused programming for adults' physical, mental, and behavioral health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen W Barton
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2024 Christopher Hall, MC-081, 904 W. Nevada St., Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
| | - Justin A Lavner
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Steven R H Beach
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Center for Family Research, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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Lavner JA, Barton AW, Beach SRH. Direct and indirect effects of a couple-focused preventive intervention on children's outcomes: A randomized controlled trial with African American families. J Consult Clin Psychol 2020; 88:696-707. [PMID: 32700953 DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study examined the effects of the Protecting Strong African American Families (ProSAAF) prevention program on children's outcomes more than 2 years after enrollment, including direct effects of the intervention and indirect effects through couple functioning and parent-child relations. METHOD Three hundred forty-six African American couples with an early adolescent child participated; all families lived in rural, low-income communities in the southern United States. Families were randomly assigned to ProSAAF or control conditions and completed four waves of data collection. Couples reported couple functioning at baseline (Wave 1) and at 9-month follow-up (Wave 2), and parent-child relations at 17-month follow-up (Wave 3). Children reported their conduct problems, affiliation with deviant peers, substance use, sexual onset, depressive symptoms, and self-control at 25-month follow-up (Wave 4). RESULTS Path analyses indicated significant indirect effects of ProSAAF on children's outcomes through improvements in couple functioning and better parent-child relations. There were no significant direct effects of the intervention on children's outcomes or significant indirect effects through couple functioning alone. CONCLUSIONS This couple-focused prevention program has positive indirect effects on several child outcomes through the intervening processes of promoting improvements in couple functioning and better parent-child relations. These findings provide cautious optimism regarding the possible benefits of couple-focused programming on participants' children while suggesting ways in which future couple-focused interventions could yield stronger effects on these youth. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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Bulling LJ, Baucom KJW, Heyman RE, Smith Slep AM, Mitnick DM, Lorber MF. Predicting Program Retention in a Flexibly-Delivered Relationship Education Program for Low-Income, Unmarried Parents. JOURNAL OF FAMILY SOCIAL WORK 2019; 23:234-256. [PMID: 33536725 PMCID: PMC7853667 DOI: 10.1080/10522158.2019.1681337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Participation rates in couple relationship education (CRE) programs for low-income couples are typically low. We examined predictors of session attendance and early dropout (i.e., dropout after 1 session) among a sample of low-income, unmarried parents of a newborn (N = 467 couples) enrolled in an evidence-based CRE program. Predictors included demographics and socioeconomic status, as well as baseline indicators of relationship commitment, family and individual functioning, infant health, preventive health care utilization, and CRE coach perceptions of participant engagement and alliance in the first session of the program. Couples attended an average of 4.4 (SD = 2.5) of the 7 sessions, with nearly a quarter of couples dropping out after the first session. Attendance at fewer sessions was predicted by younger age. Early dropout was predicted by lower ratings of females' engagement and both partners' therapeutic alliance and, unexpectedly, by commitment. We discuss considerations for engaging low-income couples in CRE.
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Barton AW, Beach SRH, Wells AC, Ingels JB, Corso PS, Sperr MC, Anderson TN, Brody GH. The Protecting Strong African American Families Program: a Randomized Controlled Trial with Rural African American Couples. PREVENTION SCIENCE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR PREVENTION RESEARCH 2019; 19:904-913. [PMID: 29629507 DOI: 10.1007/s11121-018-0895-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
This study presents results from a randomized controlled trial of the Protecting Strong African American Families (ProSAAF) program, a family-centered intervention designed to promote strong couple, coparenting, and parent-child relationships in two-parent African American families. A total of 346 African American couples with an early adolescent child participated; all families lived in rural, low-income communities in the southern USA. Intent-to-treat growth curve analyses involving three waves and spanning 17 months indicated that ProSAAF participants, compared with control participants, reported greater improvements in relationship communication, confidence, satisfaction, partner support, coparenting, and parenting. More than 80% of the couples attended all six of the in-home, facilitator-led sessions; costs to implement the program averaged $1739 per family. The findings inform the ongoing debate surrounding prevention programs for low-income and ethnic minority couples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allen W Barton
- Center for Family Research, University of Georgia, 1095 College Station Road, Athens, GA, 30602-4527, USA.
| | - Steven R H Beach
- Center for Family Research, University of Georgia, 1095 College Station Road, Athens, GA, 30602-4527, USA
| | - Ashley C Wells
- Center for Family Research, University of Georgia, 1095 College Station Road, Athens, GA, 30602-4527, USA
| | - Justin B Ingels
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Phaedra S Corso
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Megan C Sperr
- Center for Family Research, University of Georgia, 1095 College Station Road, Athens, GA, 30602-4527, USA
| | - Tracy N Anderson
- Center for Family Research, University of Georgia, 1095 College Station Road, Athens, GA, 30602-4527, USA
| | - Gene H Brody
- Center for Family Research, University of Georgia, 1095 College Station Road, Athens, GA, 30602-4527, USA
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Piercy FP. Best Articles of 2016: A Reflection of Our Values. JOURNAL OF MARITAL AND FAMILY THERAPY 2017; 43:371-373. [PMID: 28692187 DOI: 10.1111/jmft.12253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Fred P Piercy
- Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Marriage and Family Therapy Doctoral Program, Department of Human Development, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24060
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