Relationship Quality and Depressed Affect Among a Diverse Sample of Relationally Unstable Relationship Education Participants

Abstract

The association between depression and marital satisfaction has been clearly documented. Theoretical approaches describe the direction of effects as depression leading to marital dissatisfaction (stress generation model) and, alternately, marital dissatisfaction leading to depression (marital discord model). Clinical research indicates that treating the relationship of unstable couples can result in improvements in relationship satisfaction and depression. However, many unstable couples may not attend therapy and choose rather to attend Couple and Relationship Education (CRE). Using 250 ethnically diverse couples in community CRE classes, the authors found that relationally unstable participants of CRE report improvements in depressed affect and relationship quality after program participation. Additionally, decreased depressed affect predicted increased relationship quality, not vice versa, and there were no differences by sex. The authors note the potential value of CRE for unstable couples and recommend that interventionists utilize an inclusive approach, devoting attention to the couple relationship as well as individual distress variables.

The Effectiveness of Couple and Individual Relationship Education: Distress as a Moderator

“…Results of this study suggest that RE provides some benefit for participants whether they attend individually or as a couple, with moderate effects. The findings are consistent with others (Bradford et al., ; Carlson, Fripp et al., ; Ditzen et al., ), indicating that RE has both relational and individual benefits for those who attend as a couple. However, the clinical significance of changes in relationship satisfaction and individual distress scores may vary by gender.…”

“…Historically, RE studies included nondistressed, middle‐income couples and individuals. More recent studies evaluated the benefits of RE with distressed couples (Amato, ; Bradford et al., ; Lundquist et al., ; Petch, Halford, Creedy, & Gamble, ; Quirk, Strokoff, Owen, France, & Bergen, ) and fragile families (Wilde & Doherty, ). Bradford, Hawkins, and Acker () noted the relatively high number of distressed participants attending RE, and that some programs appear successful with distressed populations.…”

If We Build It, They Will Come: Exploring Policy and Practice Implications of Public Support for Couple and Relationship Education for Lower Income and Relationally Distressed Couples

“…Indeed, a study by Bradford et al. () that includes moderately distressed participants found that effect sizes are higher than those found among general samples. Another example is the possibility of tailoring service format to the needs of couples; a format in which CRE is sandwiched between therapy sessions may be more effective for some distressed couples.…”

“…Distribution analyses for the two groups indicated that the relationally unstable couples were more likely to be low socioeconomic status and unmarried than their more stable counterparts. There were no differences by ethnicity (with each subsample comprising approximately half African American participants and half White participants) (Bradford et al., ).…”

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

“…Moreover, CRE leaders are trained (e.g., 3‐day certification) to deliver specific CRE program components, and many leaders are community members, with limited formal advanced clinical training (e.g., Markman & Halford, ; Ooms & Wilson, ; Owen et al., ; Stanley et al., ). Thus, by design, CRE programs were not intended to replace couple therapy; yet, there are conflicting studies highlighting whether CRE programs are beneficial for partners experiencing significant relationship distress (e.g., Blanchard et al., ; Bodenmann, Chavoz, Cina, & Widmer, ; Bodenmann & Shantinath, ; Bradford et al., ; Emmelkamp et al., ; Kaiser, Hahlweg, Fehm‐Wolfsdorf, & Groth, ; Schilling, Baucom, Burnett, Allen, & Ragland, ).…”