Mindfulness and Romantic Relationship Quality

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The overarching aim of this proposal is to experimentally test whether a mindfulness intervention improves relationship quality. Romantic couples from the community will be randomly assigned to one of two arms: mindfulness vs. active control. Both interventions will be completed on a smart-phone for 14 days using identical intervention activities as our existing published research. After the 14-day period, couples will attend a lab visit and provide relationship quality data.

Detailed Description
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Romantic couples from the community will be randomly assigned to one of two arms: mindfulness vs. active control. Thus, both partners will either complete the mindfulness intervention (developed to increase attention towards and acceptance of current experiences) or a relaxation-based active treatment comparison intervention (developed to parallel the structure of the mindfulness intervention without the attention towards or acceptance of present experiences). Both interventions will be completed on a smart-phone for 14 days using identical intervention activities as our existing published research, which demonstrated that the mindfulness intervention reduced stress reactivity and improved daily well-being. After the 14-day period, couples will attend a lab visit and provide multi-method relationship quality data.

Official Title
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Mindfulness and Romantic Relationship Quality

Conditions
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The Focus of the Study is Romantic Relationship Quality

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Mindfulness intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Couples living together for at least 2 years Both partners must be fluent in English Both partners cannot already engage in regular systematic mind-body practice (>2 times per week). Both partners must have daily access to an internet-enabled smartphone to complete the intervention Exclusion Criteria: -

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: There are 2 arms to this intervention - mindfulness and active control.
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: MIndfulness<br>This arm was developed to increase attention towards and acceptance of current experiences. | Behavioral: Mindfulness intervention<br>* Participants will either complete a mindfulness intervention or active control for 2 weeks on their smartphone<br>|
| Active Comparator: Active Control<br>This arm is a relaxation-based active treatment comparison intervention, developed to parallel the structure of the mindfulness intervention without the attention towards or acceptance of present experiences. | Behavioral: Mindfulness intervention<br>* Participants will either complete a mindfulness intervention or active control for 2 weeks on their smartphone<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in Romantic Relationship Quality | Assessed with well validated sel-report questionnaire, the Couples Satisfaction Index | Before and after the 2 week intervention | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in Sleep quality | Assessed with well validated measure, the PROMIS sleep disturbance questionnaire | Before and after the 2 week intervention | 
| Changes in Depressive symptoms | Assessed with well validated measure, the PROMIS depressive symptoms questionnire | Before and after the 2 week intervention | 
| Changes in Blood pressure | Assessed with well validated measure, physiological assessment via a blood pressure machine | Before and after the 2 week intervention | 
| Changes in Life satisfaction | Assessed with well validated measure, the Life Satisfaction Scale | Before and after the 2 week intervention | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Romantic relationship quality, Mindfulness