Recruitment and retention of diverse couples in relationship education with integrated economic services

Abstract

Compared to higher income couples, those with low incomes experience a host of challenges and disparities in their intimate relationships, including lower levels of relationship satisfaction, higher rates of breakup of cohabiting relationships, and higher rates of divorce. In recognition of these disparities, a number of interventions targeting couples with low incomes have been developed. These interventions historically focused primarily on improving relationship skills through relationship education, but in recent years a new approach that integrates economic‐focused interventions alongside relationship education has emerged. This integrated approach is intended to better address the challenges facing couples with low incomes, but the theory‐driven, top‐down approach to intervention development leaves open the question of whether couples with low incomes are interested in participating in a program that combines these two disparate components. The current study draws from a large randomized controlled trial of one such program (N = 879 couples) to provide descriptive information about the recruitment and retention of couples with low incomes in a study of relationship education with integrated economic services. Results indicate that it is possible to recruit a large, linguistically, and racially diverse sample of couples living with low income to participate in an integrated intervention, but the uptake of relationship‐focused services was higher than the uptake of economic‐focused services. Additionally, attrition over a 1‐year follow‐up data collection period was low but required labor‐intensive efforts to reach participants for the survey. We highlight successful strategies for the recruitment and retention of diverse couples and discuss implications for future intervention efforts.

A special section: Recruiting and retaining couples from underrepresented backgrounds in intervention research

“…As the authors lay out the theoretical model of emancipatory research and how it applies to research in couple relationship education, they also provide examples from their experiences delivering services to couples from diverse and multiply challenged backgrounds, which adds practical "meat" to the "bones" of theory. Williamson et al (2023) noted that economically marginalized couples experience more external strain on their relationships due to financial stressors and provided a strong rationale for why economic and financial programs should be embedded in couple relationship education programs designed for this population. However, they aptly note that no one has examined whether these programs are actually attractive to this group, and whether this addition would improve recruitment and retention.…”

“…If researchers involve community partners from the very beginning of the study, even as early as developing their research questions, they are more likely to design programs with recruitment and retention methods that will be attractive to the community that they are trying to serve. This could make these historically difficult aspects of research a lighter lift (Daire et al, 2023; Tseng et al, 2023; Whitton et al, 2023; Williamson et al, 2023). Compensate couples for their tim e. Typically, we think of including incentives for our research, but these articles provide a more respectful and collaborative approach in thinking of our couples as research partners.…”

“…In this way, couples provide valuable information for the development of the intervention. As involved members of the research process, couples should be compensated for their time as part of the project, not just incentivized as participants (Daire et al, 2023; Whitton et al, 2023; Williamson et al, 2023). If researchers are not building things people want or need, they will not come .…”

“…There is a maxim in advertising that you need to present material seven times in seven different ways for people to act on what you are offering. Along these lines, researchers cannot just passively recruit, they need to use more active community outreach methods as well (Daire et al, 2023; Tseng et al, 2023; Whitton et al, 2023; Williamson et al, 2023). However, each method might have different implications for success and retention in the program; for example, Williamson et al (2023) present intriguing data here suggesting that men may respond differently than women to certain strategies, which again argues that when recruiting couples having multiple strategies and multiple touchpoints is even more necessary. Create a welcoming and accessible service delivery environment .…”

“…Along these lines, researchers cannot just passively recruit, they need to use more active community outreach methods as well (Daire et al, 2023; Tseng et al, 2023; Whitton et al, 2023; Williamson et al, 2023). However, each method might have different implications for success and retention in the program; for example, Williamson et al (2023) present intriguing data here suggesting that men may respond differently than women to certain strategies, which again argues that when recruiting couples having multiple strategies and multiple touchpoints is even more necessary. Create a welcoming and accessible service delivery environment . Carefully think through what participants will experience in every physical aspect of the program, from recruitment materials and websites, as described above, to the physical location and decoration of where the services are delivered (e.g., Whitton et al, 2023).…”