Project Relate

A randomized clinical trial of a digital single-session romantic competence intervention

Datos Bibliográficos

ID17560248
AutoresAtina Manvelian (0000-0002-5713-5083, Stony Brook University, autor de correspondencia), Ian Sotomayor (0000-0002-7438-1462, Stony Brook University), Isaac Ahuvia (0000-0003-4558-2123, Stony Brook University), Emily S Bibby (0000-0002-6398-1489, Stony Brook University), Joanne Davila (0000-0003-1250-5068, Stony Brook University), Jessica Schleider (Stony Brook University)
Año2026
Fecha de publicación2026-01-23
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaInternational Journal of Behavioral Development (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0165-0254 • E-ISSN: 1464-0651
EditorialSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/01650254251414337
OpenAlexW7125531247
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas26

Youth begin to make difficult decisions about romantic relationships in emerging adulthood; yet, most relationship education programs only target adults in existing relationships and are delivered in-person, creating dissemination barriers. Online single-session interventions (SSIs) can expand intervention access, teaching youth evidence-based relational skills early on. In the present study, we adapted an evidence-based romantic competence workshop into a digital SSI for emerging adults. A large, diverse sample of emerging adults ( N = 802) experiencing depressive symptoms was recruited via social media and randomly assigned to one of two conditions: the intervention condition, called “Project Relate,” focused on teaching youth relationship skills (e.g., insight, communication, or decision-making), and the information-only control group provided psychoeducation without skill-building. Youth were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 3 months later. Results indicated high intervention acceptability but no statistically significant differences between conditions. Across both conditions, youth reported improvements in depression, anxiety, relationship knowledge, relationship decision-making, hopelessness, and loneliness ( ds ranging from .19 to -1.68); youth also noted qualitative improvements in relationship skills across both conditions. Findings suggest that both information-only and skills-based digital SSIs may improve relational and psychological functioning for emerging adults. NCT05722574 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05722574 ); Project Relate: Romantic Relationship Competence SSI

Loneliness · Positive Youth Development · Psychoeducation · Psychological intervention · Randomized controlled trial · Relationship education · Romance · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Digital Mental Health Interventions · Sexual function and dysfunction studies