What makes an intervention dyadic? Introducing the DYADIC meta-framework to Describe Your focAl Dyadic Intervention Components

Background Engaging in health behaviors often occurs within a social context. This recognition has led to a notable growth in intervention approaches designed explicitly to involve a “close other,” often referred to as dyadic interventions. Yet, there has been surprisingly little discussion of what makes an intervention dyadic. Methods To address this gap, we developed the DYADIC meta-framework (Describe Your focAl Dyadic Intervention Components) based on iterative discussions. Results The DYADIC meta-framework delineates 4 dimensions that capture distinct ways an intervention can be dyadic: Who is there? What is done? How does it work? What is the outcome? These features can combine in distinct configurations, such that an intervention may be dyadic in only 1 dimension or across all 4. For each dimension, we propose criteria to distinguish between individual and dyadic operationalizations. The DYADIC meta-framework for dyadic interventions broadens how researchers conceptualize an intervention as dyadic, identifies meaningful ways in which dyadic interventions can differ, and facilitates testing whether different dyadic features uniquely promote behavior change. Conclusions Together, these contributions lay the foundation for generating the evidence-based guidance to optimize dyadic intervention design. The framework is designed to be applicable across diverse dyad types (eg, romantic partners, family members, adolescent friends).