Topic: Relationships, Intimate Partner Violence
Target Population: Couples, Adults
Sector: Community-Based
Military Sector: All Branches
This program is for adults who are in established romantic relationships, dating, or considering dating.
ePREP, an online relationship enhancement program, is an adaptation of the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP)* that is designed to strengthen couple relationships by teaching participants communication and problem-solving competencies for managing conflict and techniques for cultivating the positive aspects that are already present in the relationship.
*A separate fact sheet is available for this program.
Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effectiveness of ePREP have been conducted, and, collectively, these studies demonstrate positive treatment effects. Short-term results from one RCT conducted in couples of low income indicated improvements in individual (i.e., psychological distress, perceived stress, anger, alcohol use, perceived health, and insomnia) and relationship (i.e., satisfaction, conflict, emotional support, breakup potential, and positive communication) outcomes in the intervention group compared to a wait-list control group. These gains were maintained 12 months following program completion; however, a control group was lacking at this assessment point for comparison. Short-term results in a subsample of military couples from this RCT indicated improvements in relationship satisfaction, communication conflict, emotional support, and breakup potential in the intervention group compared to military couples in the wait-list control group. There were no differences between groups in intimate partner violence or individual functioning domains. In addition, when using a matched civilian sample, improvements in individual functioning were greater among the civilian sample compared to the military sample.
ePREP consists of the following seven modules:
After completing the modules, participants receive homework activities that are designed to help them practice the skills they have learned. The program is designed to be completed by couples or one partner. Couples can choose to work through the materials together or separately.
ePREP was developed in the mid-2000s, and, beyond the evaluation studies, it is unclear to what extent the program has been implemented.
There is no training for this program as this program is self-administered.
Considerations for implementing ePREP include understanding that a user's access to the program is valid for 6 months, having consistent and reliable access to a computer and the internet, and recognizing that some of the content and homework activities will involve topics and discussions that may be of a sensitive nature.
The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
If you are interested in implementing ePREP, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Program content can be completed in approximately 6 hours; however, after participants have purchased the package, they have access to program content for 6 months.
ePREP costs $34.95, and discounts are available for bulk purchases. Please visit https://lovetakeslearning.com/bulk.php or use details in the Contact section to learn more.
To move ePREP to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation should be performed demonstrating a consistent, positive pattern of effects for the program's targeted relational and mental health outcomes lasting at least one year from the beginning of the program or at least six months from program completion.
The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu
Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185 Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu
You may also contact PREP by mail 7600 East Orchard Road, Suite 300S, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, phone 1-800-366-0166, email info@prepinc.com, or visit https://lovetakeslearning.com/
https://lovetakeslearning.com/ and Braithwaite and Fincham (2009, 2014).
Braithwaite, S. R., & Fincham, F. D. (2007). ePREP: Computer based prevention of relationship dysfunction, depression and anxiety. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 26(5), 609-622. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2007.26.5.609
Braithwaite, S. R., & Fincham, F. D. (2009). A randomized clinical trial of a computer based preventive intervention: Replication and extension of ePREP. Journal of Family Psychology, 23(1), 32-38. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014061
Braithwaite, S. R., & Fincham, F. D. (2011). Computer-based dissemination: A randomized clinical trial of ePREP using the actor partner interdependence model. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 49(2), 126-131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2010.11.002
Braithwaite, S. R., & Fincham, F. D. (2014). Computer-based prevention of intimate partner violence in marriage. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 54(1), 12-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2013.12.006
Doss, B. D., Knopp, K., Roddy, M. K., Rothman, K., Hatch, S. G., & Rhoades, G. K. (2020). Online programs improve relationship functioning for distressed low-income couples: Results from a nationwide randomized controlled trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 88(4), 283-294. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000479
Georgia Salivar, E., Knopp, K., Roddy, M. K., Morland, L. A., & Doss, B. D. (2020). Effectiveness of online OurRelationship and ePREP programs for low-income military couples. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 88(10), 899-906. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000606
Roddy, M. K., Knopp, K., Georgia Salivar, E., & Doss, B. D. (2020). Maintenance of relationship and individual functioning gains following online relationship programs for low‐income couples. Family Process. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12541
Roddy, M. K., Rhoades, G. K., & Doss, B. D. (2020). Effects of ePREP and OurRelationship on low-income couples’ mental health and health behaviors: A randomized controlled trial. Prevention Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-020-01100-y
Le, Y., O'Reilly Treter, M., Roddy, M. K., & Doss, B. D. (2021). Coparenting and parenting outcomes of online relationship interventions for low-income couples. Journal of Family Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000850
Le, Y., Roddy, M. K., Hatch, S. G., & Doss, B. D. (2020). Mechanisms of improvements and maintenance in online relationship programs for distressed low-income couples. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 88(12), 1091-1104. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000616
McAllister, S., Duncan, S. F., & Hawkins, A. J. (2012). Examining the early evidence for self-directed marriage and relationship education: A meta-analytic study. Family Relations, 61(5), 742-755. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2012.00736.x
Megale, A., Peterson, E., & Friedlander, M. L. (2021). How effective is online couple relationship education? A systematic meta-content review. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-021-09585-7
Rothman, K., Roddy, M. K., & Doss, B. D. (2021). Moderating role of socioecological factors on web-based relationship interventions for lower income couples. Journal of Family Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000867
