Social influences predicting involvement in couple relationship education

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study explored the implementation climate of couple relationship education (CRE), specifically the positive role intimate partners, group members, and program facilitators have on one's beneficial involvement in programming.BackgroundFor CRE programs to be effective, participants need to be actively involved, yet little is known about social influences in the program encouraging participation in CRE. The perceived involvement of influential others was expected to moderate the relationship between intentions to participate and actual CRE involvement, with this involvement related to improvements in marital quality.MethodParticipants (584 men; Mage = 38.9 years and 627 women; Mage = 36.4 years) completed online surveys assessing study variables pre‐ and post‐CRE programming.ResultsPerceived intimate partner involvement contributed to better individual involvement and relationship quality for women with low intentions to participate in CRE, whereas both perceived partner and group involvement tended to have a protective effect for men's involvement.ConclusionThis study primarily demonstrates the importance of the perception of one's intimate partner's involvement in predicting individual involvement in CRE programs.ImplicationsDetermining predictors of program involvement assists with understanding the context of CRE effectiveness and skill acquisition for those intended to benefit.