NCT03335358

Testing a Positive Psychology-based Intervention for Couples Coping With Stroke

Pilot Testing a Positive Psychology-based Intervention for Couples Coping With Stroke: Promoting Resilience After Stroke in Dyads (RESToreD)

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 68 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Utah · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study aims to pilot test an 8-week, self-administered dyadic (couples-based) positive psychology intervention for couples coping with stroke using a randomized, waitlist control design. Mood and well-being will be assessed pre- and post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up. It is expected that both partners will demonstrate improvement in mood and well-being.

Detailed description

Stroke survivors and spousal caregivers face significant challenges, yet interventions to support couples after stroke are largely lacking. Depressive symptoms post-stroke occur in 30-50% of survivors and partner caregivers, and have significant consequences on function and quality of life. Further, mood and psychosocial well-being are reciprocal in couples, meaning if one partner is depressed, the other is more likely to be depressed. Sustaining well-being in both partners is important for continued engagement in rehabilitation and re-integration into the community, yet existing interventions are aimed at the individual rather than the couple. This study will address this gap by testing an innovative dyadic (couples-based) intervention using a new approach based on positive psychology that focuses on the strengths in the relationship in order to foster resilience in the couple. Using a randomized waitlist control design, this pilot study aims to determine whether an 8-week dyadic positive psychology-based intervention (PPI) can improve mood and subjective well-being as assessed by established outcome measures in 24 couples coping with stroke. The intervention consists of self-administered PPI activities, such as expressing gratitude and practicing acts of kindness, which participants complete individually and as a couple. Two potential pathways will be explored for the PPI: (a) enhanced quality of interactions as couples deal with daily life demands and (b) improvements in mood that are "contagious" among couples. If found effective, couples with greater well-being may be better emotionally equipped to cope with the sequelae of stroke by reducing stress and depressive symptoms, and increasing participation in meaningful activities and quality of life.

Conditions

• Stroke
• Depression
• Depressive Symptoms
• Post-stroke Depression

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Dyadic (couples-based) positive psychology intervention	Self-administered behavioral intervention in which participants complete at least 2 activities alone and 2 together each week for 8 weeks. Positive psychology activities include expressing gratitude, practicing acts of kindness, fostering relationships, working toward a goal, focusing on the positive, spirituality, and savoring.

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-04-14
• Primary completion: 2020-03-31
• Completion: 2020-03-31
• First posted: 2017-11-07
• Last updated: 2020-05-19

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States