OurRelationship-S: A Digital Relationship-Strengthening Program for Couples Experiencing Substance Misuse

Inclusion Criteria

To be eligible to participate, couples will need to be:

• in a romantic relationship and married, engaged, cohabiting, or dating exclusively for >6mo;
• Age 18+
• Both partners are willing to participate in the study
• Both partners are fluent readers of the English language and
• One or both members of the couple are currently in treatment or recovery services for substance use-related issues.

Exclusion Criteria

• Severe domestic violence: We will utilize exclusion criteria for domestic violence that we have used for the last seven years of OurRelationship services with low-income and military couples. These criteria were developed in consultation with CEO of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and several members of the Domestic Violence Hotline. Through these conversations, we concluded it would be appropriate if couples were excluded from OurRelationship services if either person reports in the past 6 months that their partner: 1) Choked me 2) Repeatedly punched me during a fight or beat me up 3) Threatened me with (or used) a gun or knife, or 4) Physically forced me to have sex when I didn't want to. Finally, couples will be excluded if either person reports in the past 6 months that: 5) he/she was "quite afraid", "very afraid", or "extremely afraid" that their partners would physically hurt them during an argument.
• Inadequate internet connection. To ensure that the program can function properly, participants will be required to have access to high-speed internet in their homes or on their smartphones (with regular wireless/hotspot or a minimum 4G cellular connection).
• Have already decided to end the relationship. Because the tested programs are designed to help couples improve their relationships (rather than deal with a separation or divorce), couples will be excluded if either partner endorses that they "will probably end my relationship even if it does get better" or that they "have already made the decision to end my relationship."