The Effects of Relational Letter Writing

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

68 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-06-15

Study Completion Date

2023-05-31

Brief Summary

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The main objective of this research is to explore the relational letter writing technique as an intervention for improving couples' relational well-being. This is a two-arm superiority randomized clinical trial. Sixty-eight couples will be monitored before, during, and after the intervention. To observe the effect of the relational letter, scores of couples who are in the intervention arm and control arm will be compared (between groups) as well as pre-post scores (within-group). The content of the letter writing will be qualitatively analyzed to explore the reconstruction of their ethical values. Results from both methods will be integrated in order to get an in-depth perspective of the newly developed intervention. It is expected to increase the array of available techniques to help couples improve their individual and relational well-being.

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Detailed Description

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Relational letter writing is a recently developed therapeutic tool within the framework of Narrative Therapy that consists of two interviews and a letter writing task, in which a meta-conversation between the relationship itself, the couple members, and the therapists is fostered. Although this specific therapeutic technique can be used within the therapy process, in this study, it is used as a brief stand-alone narrative intervention.

The main objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy of the innovative Relational letter writing technique as a brief intervention for couples with mild to moderate levels of conflict. Also, the investigators want to explore changes in couples' narratives after experiencing the letter-writing procedure, and whether this technique can lead to reconstructing the relationship ethics and to greater relational awareness and well-being. The following objectives will be observed in this study:

* To explore the effects of Relational letter writing practice on couples' relational well-being
* To assess changes in individual psychological well-being after the Relational letter writing intervention
* To observe whether this technique can lead to reconstructing the relationship ethics and to greater relational awareness, and its relationship with the outcome
* To observe whether there is a difference between successful and unsuccessful cases in terms of the content of the letters.

Conditions

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Relational Problems Couples

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

This is a parallel, randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing two arms: intervention and wait-list control.

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Blinding of the participants will not be valid for the nature of the study and for therapists, on the other hand, they will be blinded to the hypothesis and research questions of the study.

Study Groups

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Letter Writing Arm

Relational letter writing intervention

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Relational Letter Writing

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

The intervention consists of two interviews and a between-session writing task. In the first session, couples will be interviewed regarding their relationship story and preferences. Between the two sessions, each couple member will write a letter from their relationship point of view. In the second interview, the task is reviewed and paths for relationship improvement are outlined.

Control Arm

No intervention

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Relational Letter Writing

The intervention consists of two interviews and a between-session writing task. In the first session, couples will be interviewed regarding their relationship story and preferences. Between the two sessions, each couple member will write a letter from their relationship point of view. In the second interview, the task is reviewed and paths for relationship improvement are outlined.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Couples willing to participate in a relationship enhancing intervention
* Couples should have been living together at least for 12 months

Exclusion Criteria

* Couples who are currently receiving any kind of psychotherapy
* Participants presenting severe psychological disorders (Psychosis, substance abuse, major depression)
* Presence of intimate partner violence or abuse
* Participants presenting cognitive impairment or disability impeding them from writing or answering written information
* High-conflicted couples as measured by the DAS (Scores below 70)

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes