How an Online Education Module Influences Attitudes toward Relationship Education: A Randomized Experiment

Abstract

Growing evidence suggests that many people do not see the differences between relationship education (RE) and couples therapy (CT). In fact, many lack information regarding the details and processes included in both RE and CT. If the differences are not understood, fewer people may be inclined to attend RE. RE has experienced various recruitment challenges over the years. The Theory of Planned Behavior illustrates how attitudes and intentionality are linked. If participants gain knowledge about a service, their attitudes about that service and intentions to participate change. For this study, an online module was created to provide information on the details and processes entailed in RE and CT, and the differences between RE and CT. A sample of 224 participants was randomly assigned to a treatment group (n = 112), who received a pretest, the module, and the posttest, or a control group (n = 112), who received the pretest and posttest only. Results showed that participation in the online module had significant effects on RE knowledge, attitudes, and intentions to participate.