Factors Associated With Involvement in Marriage Preparation Programs

Abstract

Abstract: Little is known empirically about the characteristics of couples who do and do not participate in marriage preparation. This study assessed the individual, couple, family, and sociocultural context variables that distinguish couples who become involved in marriage preparation from those who do not, using a sample of 7,331 couples. The results showed that the individual characteristics of valuing marriage, being kind and considerate, and being mature, and the couple context factor of perceived relationship problems, predicted involvement. Implications for increasing attendance in marriage preparation interventions include maximizing efforts to reach the “likely‐to‐attend group,” as identified in our findings. With this base of support for the value of interventions, we can then look to the less‐likely‐to‐attend group, who will take more resources of time, energy, and money to get to attend.