The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if an online program treats stress in working couples. The main questions it aims to answer are:
* Does the 3-week online program lower stress for participants? * Does doing the program together work better than doing it alone? * Does the program lower conflict between work and home life? * Does the program improve job and family satisfaction? Researchers will compare four groups (both partners, only women, only men, and a waitlist) to see if doing the program together works best to lower stress.
Participants will:
* Fill out online surveys at the start, after 3 weeks, and 6 months later. * Use a 3-week online program to manage time and lower stress. * Read short texts and track their daily habits. * Talk and plan with their partner if placed in the joint group.
Cohabiting heterosexual couples
Both partners are adults aged 18 or older,
Both partners work at least 20 hours per week,
Both partners have lived together in the same household for at least 1 year,
Either partner lacks access to an internet-connected device,
Either partner has insufficient Polish language skills to complete the online program and surveys.
Parallel
Internet-delivered psychological intervention for work-family conflict
BehavioralAn unguided, 3-week internet-delivered intervention hosted on Google Classroom. It aims to help dual-earner couples manage time-based and strain-based work-family conflict. The program comprises two parallel strands combining psychoeducation, boundary management strategies, self-compassion, emotional awareness, implementation intentions, and behavioral experiments. In the dyadic condition, it also includes joint exercises involving mutual reflection and communication.
Perceived Stress
Perceived stress will be assessed using the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-4). The scale measures the extent to which participants perceive their lives as unpredictable, uncontrollable, and overloaded. Items are rated on a 5-point scale from 0 ("never") to 4 ("very often"). Positively worded items are reverse scored, and item scores are summed. Higher scores indicate greater perceived stress.
Work-to-Family Conflict (WFC)
Assessed using the multidimensional measure developed by Carlson et al. (2000). This specific outcome evaluates interference originating in the work domain and affecting family life. It measures time-based, strain-based, and behavior-based dimensions of conflict. Items are rated on a 5-point scale from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 5 ("strongly agree"). Higher scores indicate greater work-to-family conflict. Both composite scores and separate dimensional scores (time-based and strain-based) will be analyzed.
Family-to-Work Conflict (FWC)
Assessed using the multidimensional measure developed by Carlson et al. (2000). This specific outcome evaluates interference originating in the family domain and affecting work. It measures time-based, strain-based, and behavior-based dimensions of conflict. Items are rated on a 5-point scale from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 5 ("strongly agree"). Higher scores indicate greater family-to-work conflict. Both composite scores and separate dimensional scores (time-based and strain-based) will be analyzed.
Job Satisfaction
Assessed using the 3-item Satisfaction with Job Scale (Zalewska, 2003), which evaluates the cognitive appraisal of one's work life. Items are rated on a 7-point scale from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 7 ("strongly agree"). Higher scores indicate greater job satisfaction.
Family Satisfaction
Assessed using a 3-item scale adapted from the Satisfaction with Family Life Scale (Zabriskie \& Ward, 2013) to evaluate cognitive satisfaction with family life. Items are rated on a 7-point scale from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 7 ("strongly agree"). Higher scores indicate greater family satisfaction.
Self-Compassion
Assessed using the Polish adaptation of the Self-Compassion Scale Short Form (SCS-SF; 12 items). Evaluates self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness versus self-judgment, isolation, and over-identification. Items are rated on a 5-point scale from 1 ("almost never") to 5 ("almost always"). Higher scores indicate greater self-compassion.
Segmentation and Integration Strategies
Assessed using 6 items adapted from Kossek et al. (2012) measuring nonwork interrupting work behaviors and work interrupting nonwork behaviors. Items are rated on a 5-point scale from 1 ("strongly disagree") to 5 ("strongly agree"). Higher scores reflect specific boundary management styles.
Intervention Credibility and Outcome Expectancy
Assessed using the Credibility/Expectancy Questionnaire (CEQ; 6 items). Evaluates cognitive appraisal (credibility subscale) and beliefs about treatment outcome (expectancy subscale). Items 1-3 and 5 are rated on 9-point scales; items 4 and 6 are rated from 0% to 100%. Higher scores indicate higher credibility and expectancy.
User Experience
Assessed using the short version of the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ-S). Measures pragmatic aspects (clarity, efficiency) and hedonic aspects (stimulation, novelty) of the intervention platform.
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University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw
Lead sponsor
National Science Centre, Poland
Collaborator
This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options:
