Psychoeducational Simulation Game for Adults in Stepfamilies (GSteps)

A Web-based Psychoeducational Simulation Game for Remarried Adults - Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Recent evidence has shown that intervention programs for remarried people are scarce.

Furthermore, from what is known, no specific intervention models (traditional or web-based) has yet been developed for remarried Portuguese population. This study evaluates the efficacy of a web-based Psychoeducational Simulation Game on marital adjustment on marital social skills, on remarriage beliefs, on parenting attitudes, and on the stepfamily functioning.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Internet-Based Intervention; Remarriage
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Psychoeducational Game

Detailed Description

This study will compare the efficacy of a Simulation Game Intervention versus control (no game) in remarried people that have (step)children. The participants will be randomized to the two groups. The Simulation Game contains three different modules to play: Module 1 - Conjugality (emotional divorce, financial issues, positive communication skills, conflict and stress management strategies, social support); Module 2 - Step-parenting (positive stepparent-stepchild relationships, development of relationships within stepfamily, step-parenting roles negotiation, stepfamily' unrealistic beliefs and develop share meaning); Module 3 - Co-parenting (positive co-parenting strategies and loyalty binds).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 112
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Carina Santos, MSc; Phone Number: 393 220400667; Email: carinasantos@fpce.up.pt
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Mariana Martins, PhD; Phone Number: 393 220400667; Email: mmartins@fpce.up.pt

Study Locations

• Portugal
  • Porto, Portugal, 4200-193
    • Recruiting
    • University of Porto, Faculty of Psychology and Educational and Education Sciences
    • Contact: Mariana V Martins, PhD; Phone Number: 393 226079700; Email: mmartins@fpce.up.pt

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Live in a Stepfamily
• Relationship length minimum of six months

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not having (step)children
• Not cohabiting with the spouse

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control; No intervention
Experimental: Intervention Group; A web-based Simulation Game concerning marital positive skills in remarriage, positive co-parenting strategies and positive stepparent-stepchild relationship skills.	Other: Psychoeducational Game; Psychoeducational Game

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in marital adjustment	This measure is a self-rating questionnaire to assesses the quality of the dyadic relationship with three subscales: Consensus, Satisfaction and Cohesion.	T0 - before the intervention; T1 - immediately after intervention; T2 - one month later
Change in marital social skills	This measure is a 32-item self-report measure that evaluates the frequency with which people present certain social skills in the context of their marital relationship.	T0 - before the intervention; T1 - immediately after intervention; T2 - one month later

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Step-parenting Attitudes and Beliefs	Seventeen items were used to rate the participants' step-parenting attitudes and beliefs addressed in the program content.	T0 - before the intervention; T1 - immediately after intervention; T2 - one month later
Change in Co-parenting Attitudes and Beliefs	Nine items were used to rate the participants' co-parenting attitudes and beliefs addressed in the program content.	T0 - before the intervention; T1 - immediately after intervention; T2 - one month later
Change in remarriage Beliefs	This measure is a self-rating questionnaire to assesses participants' unrealistic beliefs regarding remarriage and stepfamilies in general.	T0 - before the intervention; T1 - immediately after intervention; T2 - one month later
Change in stepfamily functioning	This measure is a self-report questionnaire to provide an evaluation of family functioning with 5 items and three dimensions: Family strengths, Family communication and Family difficulties.	T0 - before the intervention; T1 - immediately after intervention; T2 - one month later

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in participants knowledge	Twelve questions were specially elaborated for this study to assess the participants knowledge learned after the intervention.	T1 - immediately after intervention; T2 - one month later
Participants' Satisfaction with Intervention	Self-report questionnaire to provide an evaluation of satisfaction with intervention through two dimensions: Usability and Content.	T1 - immediately after intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidade do Porto
• Collaborators: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Carina Santos, MSc, Universidade do Porto

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 4, 2022
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): January 1, 2023
• Study Completion (Anticipated): April 1, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 24, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 15, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): March 16, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 18, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 17, 2022
• Last Verified: November 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: psychoeducation; web-based interventions; remarriage; stepfamily; step-parenting; clinic interventions
• Other Study ID Numbers: FPCEUP/RH4

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: Undecided

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No