A Quasi‐Experimental Evaluation of the Premarital Assessment Program for Premarital Counselling

Abstract

The Premarital Assessment Program for premarital counselling (Buckner & Salts, 1985) was implemented to evaluate its potential for enhancing positive growth with premarital individuals. Twenty‐one engaged couples were assigned to one of three groups, an experimental group that received the Premarital Assessment Program (PAP), an experimental group that received segments of the Couples Communication Program combined with a modified Premarital Assessment Program (CCPAP), or to a control group that received no treatment. Prior to the treatment period all individuals were administered a pretest which contained demographic questions, the Marital Communication Inventory (MCI), and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). Following the treatment, all individuals were administered a post‐test containing the MCI, DAS, and an open‐ended question pertaining to their treatment experience. Both treatment groups showed improvement on the DAS total score and one of its subscales compared to the control group, although this change only reached statistical significance between the CCPAP group and the control groups. Further assessment is needed of the value of communication training in premarital counselling.