Changes following Premarital Education for Couples with Differing Degrees of Future Marital Risk

Abstract

The present study explored changes in individuals' relationship cognitions and behaviors following premarital education for couples with different risk profiles. The sample consisted of 63 couples who completed the PREPARE program and were classified for future marital risk based on dyadic information. A significant interaction effect was found between risk and time, with individuals in relationships classified as high risk exhibiting greater change at 4 weeks postprogram compared to low-risk individuals. Perceived helpfulness of topics also varied by couple type. Findings provide support for adapting premarital education programs for high-risk couples and offer clinicians and educators specific insights for areas of emphasis when working with different types of couples.

How Does Couple and Relationship Education Affect Relationship Hope? An Intervention‐Process Study with Lower Income Couples

“…The CRE field has a modest record of examining pedagogical and programmatic processes that facilitate positive change in outcomes (Allgood & Higginbotham, ; Bradford, Adler‐Baeder, Ketring, & Smith, ; Carlson, Barden, Daire, & Swartz, ; Higginbotham & Myler, ; Owen, Antle, & Barbee, ; Owen, Rhoades, Stanley, & Markman, ; Quirk, Owen, Inch, France, & Bergen, ). Also, several studies have found that program effects are moderated by baseline levels of individual and dyadic risk and distress, with greater risk and distress generally predicting greater improvement in intervention outcomes (Allen, Rhoades, Stanley, Loew, & Markman, ; Amato, ; Barton, Futris, & Bradley, ; Bodenmann, Hilpert, Nussbeck, & Bradbury, ; Carlson, Rappleyea, Daire, Harris, & Liu, ; DuPree, Whiting, & Harris, ; Epstein et al, ; Halford et al, ; Halford, Sanders, & Behrens, ; Hawkins & Erickson, ; McGill et al, ; Quirk, Strokoff, Owen, France, & Bergen, ; Schilling, Baucom, Burnett, Allen, & Ragland, ; Williamson et al, ).…”

Relationship Education in Community Settings: Effectiveness with Distressed and Non‐Distressed Low‐Income Racial Minority Couples

“…Distressed couples are underrepresented in CRE programs (Halford, O'Donnell, Lizzio, & Wilson, 2006); yet, many distressed partners do participate in them (e.g., Barton, Futris, & Bradley, 2012;DeMaria, 2005). In fact, greater efforts are being made to assist these distressed couples via relationship education (Dion & Hawkins, 2008), especially given the economic advantage this modality commonly affords couples (i.e., relationship education is typically less expensive than couple therapy, and some programs provide other financial incentives and/or transportation and childcare).…”

Relationship Education for Stepcouples Reporting Relationship Instability—Evaluation of the Smart Steps: Embrace the Journey Curriculum

“…To date, less than a handful of studies of couple relationship education (CRE) have examined outcomes for relationally at-risk participant groups engaging in educational programs. For example, positive effects of educational interventions have been documented among those in contentious custody disputes (Owen & Rhoades, 2012), low-income situationally violent relationships (Bradley & Gottman, 2012;Bradley, Friend, & Gottman, 2011), and premarital couples at risk for marital dissolution (Barton, Futris, & Bradley, 2012). No studies to date, however, have focused on stepcouples who report relational instability.…”