Demographic Predictors of Relationship and Marriage Education Participants' Pre- and Post-Program Relational and Individual Functioning

Keywords

couple education, marriage education, low-income couples, diverse couples

Abstract

Limited knowledge exists regarding differences in relationship and marriage education (RME) experiences based on social address. The current study examines pre- and post-program data from 1293 ethnically and economically diverse adults participating in RME programs. Investigations centered on whether race, income, marital status, and attendance status (i.e., attend with partner or singly) predicted baseline levels and change in a broad range of indicators of individual functioning, couple functioning, and confidence in one's relationship for men and women. Income was the strongest predictor of baseline levels; higher income was associated with higher entry levels in all three target areas. In addition, race predicted unique variance in individual functioning, and marital status and attendance status predicted unique variance in relational targets. Men and women demonstrated positive changes in all target areas following RME participation. Attending with a partner was the only predictor of change in target outcomes for women and was the strongest predictor of change in target outcomes for men. Lower income and being married also predicted greater change in relational functioning among men. Implications for providing RME with diverse audiences are discussed.

Original Publication Citation

Adler-Baeder, F., Bradford, A.B., Skuban, E., Lucier-Greer, M., Ketring, S., & Smith, T. (2010). Demographic Predictors of Relationship and Marriage Education Participants' Pre and Post Program Relational and Individual Functioning. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy and Education, 9 (2), 113-132.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2010-04-19

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/5360

Publisher

Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Assistant Professor

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