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Strengthening Relationships and Mental Health Through a Couples-Based Economic Empowerment Intervention
Sponsor: Technical University of Munich
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.
Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Couple-Based Economic Empowerment Intervention to Improve Relationship Quality and Mental Health in Three States of India
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
4500
Start Date
2025-07-29
Completion Date
2027-06
Last Updated
2025-09-24
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Interventions
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
Locations (2)
50 clusters across Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Vayam Organisation
Noida, India