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

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.

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