NCT06670794

Using Ecological Momentary Data to Inform a Web Intervention for Romantic Partners Concerned About Their Loved Ones' Drinking

• Status: Not Yet Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 160 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of Florida · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Aim 1. Couples (N=50 dyads) with a Concerned Partner (CP) and a Drinking Partner (DP) will independently complete baseline and follow-up surveys and a 21-day EMA with three daily reports on their communication and DP's drinking. Aim 2. Iteratively develop a four-session web based intervention and evaluate the WBI's feasibility and acceptability with 15 CPs. Aim 3. Perform a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing WBI to psychoeducation control in 110 couples.

Detailed description

Alcohol misuse negatively affects relationships and is significantly correlated with higher rates of relationship conflict, distress, and dissolution as well as other serious negative interpersonal consequences (e.g., domestic violence, sexual assaults). Encouragement from concerned partners (CPs) is a common motivator for those who misuse alcohol to pursue care and often the most helpful mechanism in supporting change. The goals of this proposal are to: Identify how specific CP behaviors influence their partner's alcohol craving, motives, drinking, and problems on a daily basis using dyadic ecological momentary assessment techniques (Aim 1); use the knowledge from EMA analysis to iteratively develop a CP-focused web-based intervention (WBI) that provides psychoeducation about communication patterns that influence DP drinking and by integrating personalized feedback about CPs' own communication behaviors that may be working against their goals (Aim 2); and pilot the WBI's efficacy on CP outcomes (depression, anxiety, social support), their partner's drinking behavior (alcohol consumption, motives, related consequences), and both partners' relationship distress and conflict (Aim 3). The investigators expect the WBI will yield significant improvements in all outcomes. This project is significant because intervening with CPs has strong potential to change relationship dynamics that may reduce problems and prevent future problems associated with alcohol misuse. It also develops a new prevention model that does not rely on the drinking partner attending a clinical facility to access care. The proposed study is innovative because it uses dyadic and ecological momentary assessment designs to test dynamic questions about interdependence in relationship interactions and alcohol use between partners and employs the generated knowledge to inform intervention adaptation. Teaching CPs to effectively communicate their concerns may be a necessary catalyst for decreasing their partner's alcohol use and preventing alcohol use disorders. The potential reach of this intervention is large such that it can be easily implemented over the web to those who may need help but would not otherwise seek care.

Conditions

• Experimental
• Control Condition

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Web-based intervention for concerned partners	The web-based intervention will comprise sessions focusing on community reinforcement and family therapy principles including: (1) self-care, (2) positive communication including ways to increase responsiveness to their partner (PPR; i.e., actively listening, showing understanding, expressing interest in what their partner is thinking and feeling, and trying to see where their partner is coming from), (3) understanding their partner's drinking reinforcers, and (4) supporting their partner if they want help and engaging in positive, healthy activities with their partner.
BEHAVIORAL	Psychoeducation control	This is a psychoeducation control condition.

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-05-01
• Primary completion: 2026-12-31
• Completion: 2026-12-31
• First posted: 2024-11-01
• Last updated: 2026-03-30