Strengthening Relationships and Mental Health Through a Couples-Based Economic Empowerment Intervention

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Let us Grow Together: Economic Wellbeing for Families: Married couples in clusters assigned to the intervention receive a structured program of six community-based sessions. Each session lasts between 2.5 and 3 hours and includes participatory activities, discussions, and exercises. All six sessions would be conducted by the same two facilitators - one male and one female. The content integrates financial literacy (e.g., household budgeting, saving practices, joint financial planning) with gender-transformative training (e.g., equitable household roles, communication skills, conflict resolution, and fostering empathy between spouses). Sessions are delivered by trained facilitators in a group setting with fifteen couples, approximately every 2-4 weeks. Some sensitive content to address economic violence context would be done in a gender segregated manner separately to encourage reflections, ensure safety and reduce defensiveness. Between sessions, SMS reminders and tips are sent to participants' mobile phones to reinforce key messages and e

Study summary

This sub-study is part of a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT) titled Disentangling and Preventing Economic Violence against Women (ECOVI). It is conducted in rural and urban communities across Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan, India. The sub-study evaluates the impact of a couples-based financial literacy and gender-transformative intervention on relationship strength, empathy, and mental health among married couples. Using a two-arm cluster RCT design, 150 clusters (villages or community units) are randomized to intervention or control, with \~15 husband-wife pairs per cluster (approximately 2,250 couples in total). Outcomes are measured at baseline (pre-intervention) and endline (post-intervention) approximately six months after delivery of the intervention to assess changes in perceived relationship strength, empathy (using an adapted relationship strengths and empathy scale), and mental health (General Health Questionnaire-6, GHQ-6). The study will also explore whether improvements in relationship strength and empathy mediate the intervention's effect on mental health outcomes.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Mental Health Scale (General Health Questionnaire - 6) — T1 = baseline (prior to session 1); T2 = endline (~6 months after intervention, approx. 1.5 years after baseline))
  Change in General Health Questionnaire-6 scores (psychological distress). It is scored on a scale of 0-4, where higher score indicates higher psychological distress. Hypothesis: Greater distress reduction (or well-being increase) in the intervention group.
• Perceived Relationship Strength (PRS) — T1 = baseline (prior to session 1); T2 = endline (~6 months after intervention, approx. 1.5 years after baseline))
  Change in the composite Relationship Satisfaction Index (adapted for study); looking at trust, communication, mutual support, conflict resolution. The scale is scored on 1-5 scale, with higher score indicating higher perceived relationship score. Hypothesis: Greater improvement in the intervention group than in controls.
• Relational Empathy Scale (RE) — T1 = baseline (prior to session 1); T2 = endline (~6 months after intervention, approx. 1.5 years after baseline))
  Adapted standardized Interpersonal Reactivity Index for Couples (emotional support, perspective-taking). The scale is scored on 1-5 scale, with higher score indicating higher empathy in relationship score. Hypothesis: Larger empathy gains in the intervention group.

Trial sites (2)

More Technical University of Munich trials in India

Other trials for the same condition