Interparental ConflictL2P2NCT05261022
Love Together, Parent Together: A Protocol for a Pilot Study of an Intervention for Interparental Couples With Young Children
A study testing Love Together, Parent Together (L2P2) in people with Interparental Conflict and Marital Conflict, run by York University at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a population-level threat to social relationships that requires a population-level solution. Among those who are particularly vulnerable to heightened conflict are interparental couples with young children, whose relationships may have already been under pressure prior to the… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Interparental Conflict, Marital Conflict, Marital Relationship
- What is being tested?
- Love Together, Parent Together (L2P2)
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 240 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2022to Jan 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Both participants endorse being in a relationship
- Both partners reside in the same house
- There are one or more children under the age of 6 living at home
- Both participants are over age 18 years
- Both members of a couple agree to participate
Who cannot join
- No current plans or history of separation or divorce
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Love Together, Parent Together (L2P2): A Protocol for a Pilot RCT of a Brief Writing Intervention for Interparental Couples With Young Children Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a population-level threat to social relationships that requires a population-level solution. Among those who are particularly vulnerable to heightened conflict are interparental couples with young children, whose relationships may have already been under pressure prior to the pandemic. Reduced couples' satisfaction has been reported since the start of the pandemic, with over one-third of romantic partners reporting heightened conflict due to COVID-19. Couples are likely to stay in disharmonious relationships during times of socioeconomic upheaval, with the potential for relationship problems to persist over time. This may have serious implications for the mental health of parents, parent-child relationships, and children's emotional and behavioural problems (EBPs). Such a pattern is a societal concern given the known associations between couples' relationship quality and a number of critical indicators of population health, such as intimate partner violence, physical health and all-cause mortality, and economic instability, particularly for women. The current study protocol is for a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the Love Together Parent Together (L2P2) program-a brief, low-intensity, scalable relationship intervention for parents of young children. The two-arm (treatment vs. waitlist) pilot RCT will assess the feasibility goals: continued relationship-building with established recruitment partners and outreach to additional recruitment partners to increase enrolment rates; recruitment of a diverse sample in terms of sociocultural identity factors, pandemic-related stress, and relationship distress; acceptability of randomization; outcome assessment schedule completion (for treatment and control groups), retention and adherence to the program; and program acceptability. Additionally, the investigators will conduct a preliminary evaluation of treatment effects by examining group differences in couples-focused (i.e., couples' relationship, conflict-related negativity, interparental functioning) and family-focused outcomes (i.e., parent-child relations, parent mental health and child outcomes). A scalable couples-focused intervention is critically needed to circumvent the social consequences of the pandemic on young families.
- Conditions
- Interparental Conflict, Marital Conflict, Marital Relationship, Internet-Based Intervention, Family Conflict
- Being tested
- Love Together, Parent Together (L2P2)
- Keywords
- Online Intervention, Family Systems, Randomized Controlled Trial, Writing Intervention, Couples' relationships
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Love Together, Parent Together (L2P2)Behavioural
Also called L2P2
Love Together Parent Together (L2P2) is a brief, low-intensity relationship intervention intended to improve the interparental relationship for parents of young children.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Love Together, Parent Together Intervention | Experimental | Participants will take part in a 3-session writing intervention over the course of 12-week. They will complete a fact-based summary of a recent conflict and answer questions on conflict/conflict-related distress. Next, they will be asked to complete a 9-minute writing task where they reappraise the conflict they previously reported. First, they will watch an instructional video of how to engage in the writing task, by providing definitions and examples of potentially useful conflict reappraisal strategies. Writing prompts include: "… Think about this disagreement … from the perspective of a neutral third party who wants the best for all involved…"; "…what obstacles do you face in trying to take this perspective…?";"… How might you be most successful in taking this perspective … over the next 2 weeks?" Participants in the intervention group will receive emails to prompt use of the reappraisal strategy between writing sessions. Receives: Behavioral: Love Together, Parent Together (L2P2) |
| Wait-List Control Group | No intervention | Participants will take part in a waitlist control group. They will participate in the same number of assessment/sessions as the experimental group. In the sessions that correspond to the intervention (one session every 4 weeks over the course of 12 weeks as in the intervention group), the waitlist group will complete a basic writing task (identical to the intervention group, wherein they provide a fact-based summary of a recent conflict) and they will complete questions regarding conflict history and conflict-related distress. No other writing tasks will take place. Following the 3-month assessment, they will be offered the writing intervention. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Risk for Relationship Distress - Dyadic Adjustment Scale
The percentage of participants scoring in the 'clinical range' (<13) on the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Minimum score=1, maximum score=22. Lower scores correspond to worse outcomes.
Measured: Week 0-22
Risk for Relationship Distress - COVID-19 Family Stressors
The percentage of participants scoring 'high' (>29) on the COVID-19 Family Stressor Scale. Minimum score=16, maximum score=48. Higher scores correspond to worse outcomes.
Measured: Week 0
COVID Coping/Benefits
Background information. Minimum score=14, maximum score=42 . Higher scores correspond to better outcomes.
Measured: Week 0
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Background information. Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale. Minimum score=0, maximum score=14. Higher scores correspond to higher ACES count.
Measured: Week 0
Participants Enrolled Per Week
Number of participants enrolled per week, stratified by recruitment source.
Measured: Week 0
Participant Education
The percentage of participants with less than or equal to a College degree.
Measured: Week 0
Participant Income
The percentage of participants income that is less than or equal to the regional median.
Measured: Week 0
Racial Diversity
The percentage of participants who identify as part of a racialized group.
Measured: Week 0
Sexual Diversity
The percentage of participants who are gender and/or sexually diverse.
Measured: Week 0
Immigration Status
The percentage of participants who were born outside of Canada.
Measured: Week 0
Adherence
The percentage of participants who complete 2/3 intervention sessions.
Measured: Week 1-9
Acceptability
The percentage of participants reporting at least 'agree' on scales of attitude, burden, perceived effectiveness, and ethicality on the Implementation Acceptability Scale. Minimum score=7, maximum score=35. Higher scores correspond to higher acceptability.
Measured: Week 10
Uptake
The percentage of participants reporting some use of conflict reappraisal outside of intervention sessions (i.e., reporting a score of 3 or more on a scale of 1-7). Minimum score=1, maximum score=7. Higher scores correspond to better outcomes.
Measured: Week 5-22
Retention
The percentage of participants who complete their Randomly Allocated Assignment (defined as completing baseline, 2/3 writing sessions, post-intervention, and 1/2 follow-up surveys).
Measured: Week 22
Secondary outcomes (14)
Couples' Relationship Quality
Using the Perceived Relationship Quality Scale. Minimum score=18, maximum score=126. Higher scores correspond to better outcomes.
Measured: Week 0-22
Conflict Frequency
Using one item on a 7-point Likert scale: "Think about your experiences with your partner over the last four weeks. How often did you and your partner argue with each other?" Minimum score=1, maximum score=7. Higher scores correspond to worse outcomes.
Measured: Week 0-22
Conflict-Related Negativity
Using two items following a fact-based summary: "I was angry at my partner for his/her behaviour during this conflict," "My partner's behaviour during this conflict was highly upsetting to me." Minimum score=2, maximum score=14. Higher scores correspond to worse outcomes.
Measured: Week 1-9
Coparenting
The Brief Coparenting Relationship Scale. Minimum score=0, maximum score=84. Higher scores correspond to better outcomes.
Measured: Week 0-22
Brief Coparenting Assessment
Six items from the Brief Coparenting Relationship Scale (Feinberg et al., 2012). Minimum score = 0, maximum score = 36. Higher scores correspond to better outcomes.
Measured: Week 1-9
Parent-Child Positivity
Using the 5-item parent-reported positivity subscale of the Parenting Practices Scale. Minimum score=5, maximum score=25. Higher scores correspond to better outcomes.
Measured: Week 0-22
Parent-Child Negativity
Using the 5-item parent-reported negativity subscale of the Parenting Practices Scale. Minimum score=5, maximum score=25. Higher scores correspond to worse outcomes.
Measured: Week 0-22
Parent Mental Health
Using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Minimum score=10, maximum score=50. Higher scores correspond to worse outcomes.
Measured: Week 0-22
Perceived Partner Responsiveness
Using the Perceived Partner Responsiveness-Insensitivity Scale (PRI-R)- Brief Version. Minimum score=8, maximum score=40. Higher scores correspond to better outcomes.
Measured: Week 0-22
Responsiveness Towards Partner
Using the Perceived Partner Responsiveness-Insensitivity Scale (PRI) - Brief with items flipped to reflect responsiveness towards partner. Minimum score=8, maximum score=40. Higher scores correspond to better outcomes.
Measured: Week 0-22
Family Functioning
Using the Family Assessment Device. Minimum score=12, maximum score=48. Higher scores correspond to worse outcomes.
Measured: Week 0-22
Child Emotional and Behavioural Problems
Scores will be standardized within each age group and used as a single outcome variable.
Using the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (Baby, Preschool and Standard versions). The Baby Pediatric Symptom Checklist: minimum score=0, maximum score=26. Higher scores correspond to worse outcomes.
The Preschool Pediatric Symptoms Checklist (PPSC-17): minimum score=0, maximum score=36. Higher scores correspond to worse outcomes.
The Pediatric Symptom Checklist-17: minimum score=0, maximum score=34. Higher scores correspond to worse outcomes.
Measured: Week 0-22
Child Effortful Control
Using the Effortful Control subscale (12 items) of the Infant Behaviour Questionnaire- Revised Very Short Form (3-12 months), Early Childhood Behavior Questionnaire-Revised Very Short Form (18-36 months) and Children's Behaviour Questionnaire-Revised Very Short Form (3-7 years). Minimum score=0 , maximum score=84. Higher scores correspond to better outcomes.
Measured: Week 0-22
Child Development
Using the 10-item Developmental Milestones scale from The Survey of Well-being of Young Children (i.e., the 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24, 30, 36, 48 and 60 month age-specific forms). Minimum score=0, maximum score =20. Higher scores correspond to better outcomes.
Measured: Week 0-22
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Mar 2022
- Study start1 Apr 2022
- Primary completionJan 2023 (estimated)
- Study completionJan 2023 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Interparental ConflictStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- The current study is a two-arm (intervention vs. waitlist) design with pre-, 1-week post-, and 1- and 3-month follow-up assessments. The first 120 interparental couples who meet eligibility criteria and consent will be included in the study. The entirety of the study will be conducted online (via mobile or computer). The writing assignments (intervention vs. inactive-control task) will commence approximately one week following baseline surveys, which will include three writing sessions over the course of 12 weeks (one session every 4 weeks). Following the 3 month follow-up, couples randomised to the waitlist control condition will be invited to participate in the writing program (i.e., three writing sessions over the course of 12 weeks).
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator
- Enrolment
- 240 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- York University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Toronto, McMaster University
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Heather Prime, York University
- Investigators
- Heather Prime, PhD, Principal investigator, York University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05261022
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- e2022-267
- Acronym
- L2P2
- Status last verified
- Jan 2023
- First submitted
- 18 Feb 2022
- Last updated
- 20 Jan 2023
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Jan 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Love Together, Parent Together (L2P2): A Protocol for a Pilot RCT of a Brief Writing Intervention for Interparental Couples With Young Children Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05261022
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- L2P2 / e2022-267
- Conditions
- Interparental Conflict, Marital Conflict, Marital Relationship, Internet-Based Intervention, Family Conflict
- Keywords
- Online Intervention, Family Systems, Randomized Controlled Trial, Writing Intervention, Couples' relationships
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Unknown status
- Enrolment
- 240 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- York UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- University of Toronto, McMaster University
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Jan 2023 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Jan 2023 (estimated)
- First posted
- 2 Mar 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a population-level threat to social relationships that requires a population-level solution. Among those who are particularly vulnerable to heightened conflict are interparental couples with young children, whose relationships may have already been under pressure prior to the pandemic. Reduced couples' satisfaction has been reported since the start of the pandemic, with over one-third of romantic partners reporting heightened conflict due to COVID-19. Couples are likely to stay in disharmonious relationships during times of socioeconomic upheaval, with the potential for relationship problems to persist over time. This may have serious implications for the mental health of parents, parent-child relationships, and children's emotional and behavioural problems (EBPs). Such a pattern is a societal concern given the known associations between couples' relationship quality and a number of critical indicators of population health, such as intimate partner violence, physical health and all-cause mortality, and economic instability, particularly for women. The current study protocol is for a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the Love Together Parent Together (L2P2) program-a brief, low-intensity, scalable relationship intervention for parents of young children. The two-arm (treatment vs. waitlist) pilot RCT will assess the feasibility goals: continued relationship-building with established recruitment partners and outreach to additional recruitment partners to increase enrolment rates; recruitment of a diverse sample in terms of sociocultural identity factors, pandemic-related stress, and relationship distress; acceptability of randomization; outcome assessment schedule completion (for treatment and control groups), retention and adherence to the program; and program acceptability. Additionally, the investigators will conduct a preliminary evaluation of treatment effects by examining group differences in couples-focused (i.e., couples' relationship, conflict-related negativity, interparental functioning) and family-focused outcomes (i.e., parent-child relations, parent mental health and child outcomes). A scalable couples-focused intervention is critically needed to circumvent the social consequences of the pandemic on young families.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- The current study is a two-arm (intervention vs. waitlist) design with pre-, 1-week post-, and 1- and 3-month follow-up assessments. The first 120 interparental couples who meet eligibility criteria and consent will be included in the study. The entirety of the study will be conducted online (via mobile or computer). The writing assignments (intervention vs. inactive-control task) will commence approximately one week following baseline surveys, which will include three writing sessions over the course of 12 weeks (one session every 4 weeks). Following the 3 month follow-up, couples randomised to the waitlist control condition will be invited to participate in the writing program (i.e., three writing sessions over the course of 12 weeks).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Love Together, Parent Together Intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Love Together, Parent Together (L2P2)Participants will take part in a 3-session writing intervention over the course of 12-week. They will complete a fact-based summary of a recent conflict and answer questions on conflict/conflict-related distress. Next, they will be asked to complete a 9-minute writing task where they reappraise the conflict they previously reported. First, they will watch an instructional video of how to engage in the writing task, by providing definitions and examples of potentially useful conflict reappraisal strategies. Writing prompts include: "… Think about this disagreement … from the perspective of a neutral third party who wants the best for all involved…"; "…what obstacles do you face in trying to take this perspective…?";"… How might you be most successful in taking this perspective … over the next 2 weeks?" Participants in the intervention group will receive emails to prompt use of the reappraisal strategy between writing sessions. |
| Wait-List Control Group | No intervention | –Participants will take part in a waitlist control group. They will participate in the same number of assessment/sessions as the experimental group. In the sessions that correspond to the intervention (one session every 4 weeks over the course of 12 weeks as in the intervention group), the waitlist group will complete a basic writing task (identical to the intervention group, wherein they provide a fact-based summary of a recent conflict) and they will complete questions regarding conflict history and conflict-related distress. No other writing tasks will take place. Following the 3-month assessment, they will be offered the writing intervention. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Both participants endorse being in a relationship
- Both partners reside in the same house
- There are one or more children under the age of 6 living at home
- Both participants are over age 18 years
- Both members of a couple agree to participate
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- No current plans or history of separation or divorce
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Love Together, Parent Together (L2P2)Also: L2P2Love Together Parent Together (L2P2) is a brief, low-intensity relationship intervention intended to improve the interparental relationship for parents of young children. | Behavioural | Love Together, Parent Together Intervention |
Primary outcome
Risk for Relationship Distress - Dyadic Adjustment Scale
Time frame: Week 0-22
The percentage of participants scoring in the 'clinical range' (<13) on the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Minimum score=1, maximum score=22. Lower scores correspond to worse outcomes.
Risk for Relationship Distress - COVID-19 Family Stressors
Time frame: Week 0
The percentage of participants scoring 'high' (>29) on the COVID-19 Family Stressor Scale. Minimum score=16, maximum score=48. Higher scores correspond to worse outcomes.
COVID Coping/Benefits
Time frame: Week 0
Background information. Minimum score=14, maximum score=42 . Higher scores correspond to better outcomes.
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Time frame: Week 0
Background information. Adverse Childhood Experiences Scale. Minimum score=0, maximum score=14. Higher scores correspond to higher ACES count.
Participants Enrolled Per Week
Time frame: Week 0
Number of participants enrolled per week, stratified by recruitment source.
Participant Education
Time frame: Week 0
The percentage of participants with less than or equal to a College degree.
Participant Income
Time frame: Week 0
The percentage of participants income that is less than or equal to the regional median.
Racial Diversity
Time frame: Week 0
The percentage of participants who identify as part of a racialized group.
Sexual Diversity
Time frame: Week 0
The percentage of participants who are gender and/or sexually diverse.
Immigration Status
Time frame: Week 0
The percentage of participants who were born outside of Canada.
Adherence
Time frame: Week 1-9
The percentage of participants who complete 2/3 intervention sessions.
Acceptability
Time frame: Week 10
The percentage of participants reporting at least 'agree' on scales of attitude, burden, perceived effectiveness, and ethicality on the Implementation Acceptability Scale. Minimum score=7, maximum score=35. Higher scores correspond to higher acceptability.
Uptake
Time frame: Week 5-22
The percentage of participants reporting some use of conflict reappraisal outside of intervention sessions (i.e., reporting a score of 3 or more on a scale of 1-7). Minimum score=1, maximum score=7. Higher scores correspond to better outcomes.
Retention
Time frame: Week 22
The percentage of participants who complete their Randomly Allocated Assignment (defined as completing baseline, 2/3 writing sessions, post-intervention, and 1/2 follow-up surveys).
14 secondary outcomes
Couples' Relationship Quality
Time frame: Week 0-22
Conflict Frequency
Time frame: Week 0-22
Conflict-Related Negativity
Time frame: Week 1-9
Coparenting
Time frame: Week 0-22
Brief Coparenting Assessment
Time frame: Week 1-9
Parent-Child Positivity
Time frame: Week 0-22
Parent-Child Negativity
Time frame: Week 0-22
Parent Mental Health
Time frame: Week 0-22
Perceived Partner Responsiveness
Time frame: Week 0-22
Responsiveness Towards Partner
Time frame: Week 0-22
Family Functioning
Time frame: Week 0-22
Child Emotional and Behavioural Problems
Time frame: Week 0-22
Child Effortful Control
Time frame: Week 0-22
Child Development
Time frame: Week 0-22
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Jan 2023.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Pilot Study of an Interparental Conflict Intervention for Separating or Divorcing Parents
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The New Beginnings Podcast: Brief Audio Intervention for Parents From Divorced and Separated Families
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Heather Prime, PhD principal investigator
York University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Love Together, Parent Together (L2P2) in people with Interparental Conflict and Marital Conflict, run by York University at 1 site in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Jan 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Risk for Relationship Distress - Dyadic Adjustment Scale (time frame: Week 0-22). The study lists 14 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Jan 2023.