Positive Psychology Intervention for Patients Post-bariatric Surgery and Their Partners

Evaluation of Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of a Dyadic Positive Psychology Intervention for Patients Post-bariatric Surgery and Their Partners: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this waitlist-control design, pilot randomized controlled trial is to test feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a remotely-delivered dyadic positive psychology intervention for patients 2 years after bariatric surgery and their romantic partners (called ReConnect).

The main question it aims to answer is whether the intervention results in improvements in depressive symptoms for patients and partners. The additional questions it aims to answer are whether the intervention results in improvements in resilience, relationship satisfaction, eating and physical activity behaviors, and weight maintenance for those in the intervention versus waitlist control condition.

Participant couples randomly assigned to the intervention condition will engage in ReConnect for 8 weekly modules and associated positive psychology activities, some individually and some as a couple. Participant couples randomly assigned to the waitlist control condition will wait for 8 weeks to begin the 8 week intervention. All participants will fill out assessment measures at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Obesity, Morbid
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Reimagining Us in the Context of Bariatric Surgery (ReConnect)

Detailed Description

Bariatric surgery is the most effective intervention for severe obesity and associated co-morbidities. However, around 2 years after surgery, a substantial proportion of patients struggle with weight regain, psychological complications (e.g., disordered eating, depression), and relationship challenges. To achieve optimal long-term outcomes, a biopsychosocial focus and treatment approach is critical. Existing interventions primarily target weight, occur at the individual patient level, use a risk-based or problem-focused lens, and are inaccessible to the average patient. In contrast, this proposed research will test feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an intervention to improve psychosocial health, occurring at the dyadic (patient and partner) level, using a strengths-based or positive psychology lens, and remotely-delivered for accessibility. This multi-faceted approach is needed to address the high rate of psychiatric disorders and lack of social support among bariatric surgery patients that compromises long-term surgical outcomes. Patients in relationships report inconsistency in support provision from partners, lose less weight than those not in relationships, and are at elevated risk of divorce post-surgery. The investigator(s) research has demonstrated declines in relationship satisfaction from before to after surgery, and associations with elevated levels of binge eating, anxiety, and social stress 2 years after surgery. The investigator(s) has also documented the importance of adaptive coping, social support, and resilience for improved mental health and eating behaviors in this stigmatized population. In combination, existing research supports the need for dyadic-level and strengths-focused intervention to prevent exacerbation of psychological distress and difficulties in long-term weight management.

The investigator and research team have utilized pilot grant funding to adapt an evidence-based dyadic positive psychology intervention (dPPI) for post-bariatric surgery patients and their partners. This intervention was developed in a two-phase, mixed-methods study. The investigator first obtained feedback from 6 patients and partners in focus groups about relationship health following bariatric surgery and intervention needs. The investigators then asked these couples to pilot test 4 adapted intervention modules and obtained quantitative and qualitative feedback, which suggested high satisfaction with and benefit from the intervention modules. This study resulted in a finalized 8-module, remotely-delivered dPPI with content consisting of activities (expressing gratitude, practicing acts of kindness, fostering relationships, focusing on the positive, savoring, working toward goals, meaning finding/values, planning for the future) completed individually and as a couple. The dPPI is now ready for formal testing of feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy in a pilot randomized clinical trial (RCT).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 80
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Utah
    • Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84132
      • University of Utah

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult couples (18 years and older) consisting of one partner who had bariatric surgery (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy) at participating institution
• Between 1 to 3 years post bariatric surgery performed at participating institution and
• A cohabiting romantic partner who have been in the same relationship from before bariatric surgery to time of recruitment
• Both partners are willing and able to enroll in study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Couples in which both members have undergone bariatric surgery
• Current participation in another intervention study

• Lack of access to internet for remotely delivered intervention

  • Absence of depressive symptoms, relationship challenges, or difficulty coping with lifestyle changes at screening

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Intervention Condition; Participants will receive 8 weeks of ReConnect followed by 8 weeks check-in surveys/follow-ups, as well as 3 assessments (baseline, 8 weeks, 16 weeks).	Behavioral: Reimagining Us in the Context of Bariatric Surgery (ReConnect); ReConnect is an intervention for bariatric surgery patients approximately 2 years after surgery and their romantic partners to participate in together with the goal of improving mental health and enhancing resilience. The intervention is entirely remotely-delivered via handouts sent by PDF and mail to participants instructing them through the 8 weekly modules, as well as associated videos. Each module features psychoeducational materials, instructions and guidance on positive psychology activities, choices of activities to complete both individually and as a couple, and additional resources relevant to that week's theme. The themes are: channeling strengths and focusing on the positive, clarifying values and finding meaning, goal setting, intimacy and fostering the relationship, open communication and gratitude, self-care and savoring the moment, fostering relationships and acts of kindness, and maintaining progress long-term.
Other: Waitlist Control Condition; Participants will receive 8 weeks of check-in surveys/follow-ups followed by 8 weeks of ReConnect, as well as 3 assessments (baseline, 8 weeks, 16 weeks).	Behavioral: Reimagining Us in the Context of Bariatric Surgery (ReConnect); ReConnect is an intervention for bariatric surgery patients approximately 2 years after surgery and their romantic partners to participate in together with the goal of improving mental health and enhancing resilience. The intervention is entirely remotely-delivered via handouts sent by PDF and mail to participants instructing them through the 8 weekly modules, as well as associated videos. Each module features psychoeducational materials, instructions and guidance on positive psychology activities, choices of activities to complete both individually and as a couple, and additional resources relevant to that week's theme. The themes are: channeling strengths and focusing on the positive, clarifying values and finding meaning, goal setting, intimacy and fostering the relationship, open communication and gratitude, self-care and savoring the moment, fostering relationships and acts of kindness, and maintaining progress long-term.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Depressive Symptoms	Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Measured Scale 0 - 27 (0 = minimum - 27 maximum), the higher the score the worse outcome.	Baseline
Depressive Symptoms	Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Measured Scale 0 - 27 (0 = minimum - 27 maximum), the higher the score the worse outcome.	Week # 8
Depressive Symptoms	Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Measured Scale 0 - 27 (0 = minimum - 27 maximum), the higher the score the worse outcome.	Week #16

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Resilience	Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) Measured Scale 0 -100 (0 = minimum - 100 = maximum), the higher the score the better outcome.	Baseline
Resilience	Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) Measured Scale 0 -100 (0 = minimum - 100 = maximum), the higher the score the better outcome.	Week # 8
Resilience	Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) Measured Scale 0 -100 (0 = minimum - 100 = maximum), the higher the score the better outcome.	Week # 16
Relationship Satisfaction	Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) Measured Scale 0-151 ((0 = minimum - 151 = maximum), the higher the score the better outcome. the minimum and maximum values, and whether higher scores mean a better or worse outcome.	Baseline
Relationship Satisfaction	Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) Measured Scale 0-151 ((0 = minimum - 151 = maximum), the higher the score the better outcome. the minimum and maximum values, and whether higher scores mean a better or worse outcome.	Week #8
Relationship Satisfaction	Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) Measured Scale 0-151 ((0 = minimum - 151 = maximum), the higher the score the better outcome. the minimum and maximum values, and whether higher scores mean a better or worse outcome.	Week #16
Physical Activity	Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire is an assessment change from initial baseline measure.	Baseline
Physical Activity	Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire is an assessment change from initial baseline measure.	Week #8
Physical Activity	Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire is an assessment change from initial baseline measure.	Week #16
Eating Behaviors	Short Healthy Eating Index Survey Measured Scale 0 -100 (0 = minimum - 100 = maximum), the higher the score the better outcome.	Baseline
Eating Behaviors	Short Healthy Eating Index Survey Measured Scale 0 -100 (0 = minimum - 100 = maximum), the higher the score the better outcome.	Week # 8
Eating Behaviors	Short Healthy Eating Index Survey Measured Scale 0 -100 (0 = minimum - 100 = maximum), the higher the score the better outcome.	Week # 16
Weight Maintenance	Percent Excess Weight Loss. Change will be assessed from initial reported weight.	Baseline
Weight Maintenance	Percent Excess Weight Loss. Change will be assessed from initial reported weight.	Week #8
Weight Maintenance	Percent Excess Weight Loss. Change will be assessed from initial reported weight.	Week #16

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Larissa McGarrity, Ph.D.
• Collaborators: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Larissa McGarrity, PhD, University of Utah Craig Neilsen H. Rehabilitation Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 12, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 19, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 11, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 21, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): July 24, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 26, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 21, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nutrition Disorders; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Overweight; Obesity; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Obesity, Morbid
• Other Study ID Numbers: IRB_00165737; 1K12TR004413 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No