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Couples' Affect in Relationships Study for Depression

This study, called the Couples' Affect in Relationships Study, is looking into whether learning about well-being can help individuals and their romantic relationships, especially for those experiencing depression. It's testing two approaches: one group will use a meditation-based smartphone app called the HMP app, designed to improve psychological well-being. The other group will receive a list of resources that promote well-being. Researchers will measure changes in couples' satisfaction and depression symptoms over two years. You can join if you are 18 or older, in a committed relationship for at least 12 months, proficient in English, and a US citizen or permanent resident. The study is currently unclear about its recruitment status and aims to enroll 2000 participants.

Study design
This interventional study will deliver a meditation-based mobile intervention to one member of a long-term romantic couple, while the control group receives a list of well-being resources. It plans to enroll 2000 participants.
What's involved
Participants will complete online surveys about their thoughts and feelings at baseline, week 4, 3-month, 1-year, and 2-year follow-ups.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for two years after starting the study, with assessments at 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years.

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NCT06907654

Couples' Affect in Relationships Study

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalTreatment
University of Wisconsin, Madison
~2,000 participants
Updated 2026-08-06 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:well-being appList of well-being resources

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in Primary Participant-Rated Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI-16)
Measured over Baseline, Week 4, 3-Month Follow-Up, 1-Year Follow-Up, 2-Year Follow-Up
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Depression Disorders

Explore related trials

Depressive disorder

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Wisconsin1

Study leadership

  • Simon Goldberg, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Wisconsin, Madison

Who to contact

Lily Smith
[email protected]
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age ≥ 18 years
Be either married, living together, OR in a dating relationship for at least 12 months
Proficiency in English
US citizen or permanent resident
If non-monogamous, must be able to enroll in the study with a primary partner with whom they spend the majority of their time.
Use of a smartphone (primary participant only)
Phone able to receive SMS text messages
Depression symptoms (≥ 5 on PHQ-9; primary participant only)

Exclusion

Severe physical or sexual relationship aggression during the past 6 months (any item endorsement on 5-item severe IPV screener)
Endorsement of active suicidality
History of psychosis or mania
Prior use of the Healthy Minds Program app
Prior significant experience with meditation
Severe hearing impairment that would interfere with the use of an audio-based intervention (primary participant only)

What this trial measures

  • Change in Primary Participant-Rated Couples Satisfaction Index (CSI-16)Baseline, Week 4, 3-Month Follow-Up, 1-Year Follow-Up, 2-Year Follow-Up

    CSI-16 scores can range from 0 to 81. Higher scores indicate higher levels of relationship satisfaction. CSI-16 scores falling below 51.5 suggest notable relationship dissatisfaction.

  • Change in Second-Person PHQ-9 Rating of Primary ParticipantBaseline, Week 4, 3-Month Follow-Up, 1-Year Follow-Up, 2-Year Follow-Up

    Second-Person PHQ-9 as assessed by the partner participant. PHQ-9 is a 9 item survey about how often in the past 2 weeks their partner were bothered by specific problems. It is scored on a 4-point Likert scale, where 0=not at all and 4=nearly every day. Scores range from 0-36, where higher scores indicate more depressive symptoms.