Effects of a brief web-based interpersonal conflict cognitive reappraisal expressive-writing intervention on changes in romantic conflict during COVID-19 quarantine.

Abstract

Romantic conflict is known to have escalated during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic. This research investigates whether a single-session online writing intervention results in changes in romantic conflict among American adults cohabitating during COVID-19 quarantine (May 2020). Participants (N = 716, 50% female;mean age = 51.8 years) completed a baseline assessment which was followed by a brief (5–8 min) writing task in Qualtrics. Participants were randomized to one of five conditions, where they were asked to write about (a) a conflict with their romantic partner using cognitive reappraisal;(b) a conflict with their romantic partner expressing their deepest thoughts and feelings;(c) a conflict with someone other than their partner using cognitive reappraisal;(d) a conflict with someone other than their partner and a conflict with their partner expressing their deepest thoughts and feelings;or (e) mundane tasks like laundry, house cleaning, or lawn care. In the reappraisal conditions, participants were asked to use this perspective with the target person in the upcoming weeks. Two weeks later, participants were invited to complete a follow-up survey identical to baseline, where they were asked about conflict with their partner during the follow-up period. Results indicated that participants in the romantic partner cognitive reappraisal condition reported fewer disagreements, fewer relationship aggression events, and lower levels of conflict relentlessness with their partner relative to at least one of the control conditions. Results demonstrate preliminary support for a brief, cost-effective, and accessible tool that can help couples mitigate downstream effects of negative interactions during this stressful time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) © 2021 American Psychological Association