Couple Relationship Education Research Articles

A randomized controlled trial of a couple relationship and coparenting program (Couple CARE for Parents) for high- and low-risk new parents.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of couple relationship education in assisting couples to sustain relationship functioning and parenting sensitivity, and whether benefits were moderated by risk of maladjustment in the transition to parenthood ("risk"). Two hundred fifty couples expecting their first child were assessed on risk and randomly assigned to either the Couple CARE for Parents (CCP), a couple relationship- and coparenting-focused education program (n = 125), or the Becoming a Parent Program (BAP), a mother-focused parenting program (n = 125). Couples completed assessments of their couple relationship during pregnancy, after intervention at 4 months postpartum, and at 16 and 28 months postpartum. Observed parenting and self-report parenting stress were assessed at 4 months postpartum, and parenting stress was assessed again at 16 and 28 months postpartum. Risk was associated with greater relationship and parenting adjustment problems. Relative to BAP, CCP women decreased their negative communication and showed a trend to report less parenting stress irrespective of risk level. High-risk women receiving CCP reported higher relationship satisfaction, and were less intrusive in their parenting, than high-risk women receiving BAP. There were no effects of CCP on sensitive parenting and parenting intrusiveness for women. High-risk men in CCP showed a trend for higher relationship satisfaction than high-risk BAP men, but there were no effects of CCP for men on any parenting outcomes. CCP is a potentially useful intervention, but benefits are primarily for high-risk women.

Keeping Couples Content: Assessing and Teaching Couple Relationship Education

Keeping Couples Content: Assessing and Teaching Couple Relationship Education

Processes of Change in Relationship Education for Lower-Income African American Couples

The current study examined 181 lower income unmarried African American couples who were expecting or had a child (3 months or younger). All couples received couple relationship education (PREP). We examined whether changes in communication quality and perceived social integration were related to changes in relationship satisfaction and dedication and whether these associations were consistent for men and women. The results demonstrated that men's and women's change in positive communication and social integration were related to higher ratings of their own dedication and relationship satisfaction. Men reported more relationship satisfaction when their partner's negative communication decreased and when their partner reported more social integration; however, there was no association between women's rating of relationship satisfaction and men's changes in negative communication or social integration.

Intimate Partner Violence in Couples Seeking Relationship Education for the Transition to Parenthood

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a prevalent and common problem yet is rarely screened for, or addressed in, couple relationship education (CRE). The current study examined the prevalence of IPV in 250 couples expecting their first child who were recruited into a study of CRE across the transition to parenthood. The couples were generally highly satisfied with their relationship, yet 32% reported at least one incident of IPV in the past 12 months, and 7% reported that at least one spouse had been injured by IPV. The majority of violence was of low severity (pushing, slapping, or shoving), and the most common pattern was of reciprocal aggression between the partners. Given that even low-severity IPV is associated with significant risk of inury and predicts risk of relationship separation, these high rates of IPV are concerning. CRE providers for expectant couples need to attend to prevention of IPV within their programs.

Successful daily home hemodialysis patient‐care partner dyads: Benefits outweigh burdens

Understanding and communicating the benefits vs. burdens of short daily home hemodialysis (SDHD) is presumed to be important to the success of recruiting patients and care partners and preventing dropout. We conducted an in-depth qualitative study of 13 patient and care partner couples (dyads) who completed at least 6 months of SDHD after at least 6 months of in-center hemodialysis to inform strategies for screening, training, and support to improve SDHD retention. In this exploratory descriptive study, all patients reported better well-being since starting SDHD. Considering the relationship and psychosocial factors, 4 profiles for dyadic coping emerged: (1) Thriving (n=5)--patients and care partners were flourishing; (2) Surviving (n=4)--strong couples were adjusting to challenges; (3) Martyrdom (n=3)--1 partner defers his/her needs and resentments to make SDHD work; and (4) Seeking another option (n=1)--patient unwilling to burden an anxious partner. Overall, patients who did more SDHD self-care, particularly self-cannulation, were more likely to thrive, regardless of dyad profile, and strong relationships tended to become stronger when faced with the challenge of SDHD. Training that was unhurried and valued care partners as well as patients, used a mix of learning strategies, and provided a home visit for the first home treatment was associated with Thriving dyads; training that was directive, inflexible, and focused on the patient at the expense of the partner was not. We recommend that centers screen dyads for relationship quality and integrate couple relationship education into SDHD training as required. Further, we recommend a large-scale, multi-center prospective study to test this model of how couple relationship and coping styles affect clinical outcomes and rates of continuation with SDHD.

Prevention of marital instability and distress. Results of an 11-year longitudinal follow-up study

Divorce and destructive couple conflict are major risk factors for many forms of dysfunction and psychopathology in the family. Couple relationship education has been offered in an attempt to reduce those risks and enhance couple outcomes. The current effectiveness study had two aims: to assess (a) the long-term effects of relationship education and (b) the ability of partners to remember the skills typically taught during the communication skills training. One hundred and one couples from two studies, in which the effectiveness of the EPL (Ein Partnerschaftliches Lernprogramm für Paare [A Learning Program for Married Couples]) was investigated, were followed-up 11 years after the training. In the first study, EPL-takers had a significantly lower divorce and separation rate (27.5%) than non-EPL-takers (52.6%). This finding was replicated in a second study, showing a 20% dissolution rate in EPL-takers. For those couples still together, the rate of happy relationships was 80% at the eleven-year follow-up – thus, there is optimism for longer married couples who are willing to focus on improving their relationships. Only about 55% of the partners could remember at least one speaker skill whereas 70% remembered at least one listening skill taught during EPL. Consequences for prevention programs in the couple domain are discussed.

Couple relationship education at home: Does skill training enhance relationship assessment and feedback?

To evaluate the effective components of couple relationship education, 59 newlywed couples were randomly assigned to one of two couple relationship programs (CRE): (1) RELATE, which involved receiving feedback on their relationship based on the on-line RELATE assessment; or (2) RELATE + Couple CARE, which was RELATE plus completing the 6 unit Couple CARE relationship skill training program. Relative to RELATE, RELATE + Couple CARE produced more improvement in couple communication, and high relationship satisfaction across the next 12 months in women. Men sustained high and similar relationship satisfaction in either condition. Skill training CRE has additional benefits for couples beyond assessment and feedback.

Promoting a Positive Transition to Parenthood: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Couple Relationship Education

The transition to parenthood is often associated with a decline in couple relationship adjustment. Couples (n = 71) expecting their first child were randomly assigned to either: (a) Becoming a Parent (BAP), a maternal parenting education program; or (b) Couple CARE for Parents (CCP), a couple relationship and parenting education program. Couples were assessed pre-intervention (last trimester of pregnancy), post-intervention (5 months postpartum), and follow-up (12 months postpartum). Relative to BAP, CCP reduced negative couple communication from pre- to post-intervention, and prevented erosion of relationship adjustment and self-regulation in women but not men from pre-intervention to follow-up. Mean parenting stress reflected positive adjustment to parenthood with no differences between BAP and CCP. CCP shows promise as a brief program that can enhance couple communication and women's adjustment to parenthood.

Predictors of Relationship Satisfaction Four Years after Completing Flexible Delivery Couple Relationship Education

The aim of the current study was to test predictors of sustained relationship satisfaction after couple relationship education (CRE). Sixty-six couples, who were stratified into high- and low-risk for future relationship problems groups, completed the Couple CARE program and were assessed on relationship self-regulation and negative couple communication after CRE. Relationship satisfaction was assessed across the next 4 years. Multilevel modeling of the trajectory of satisfaction showed there was a mean decline in satisfaction through the 4-year follow-up and that sustained high relationship satisfaction after CRE was predicted by high relationship self-regulation and low male negative communication but not by risk level or negative female communication.

Processes of Change in Self‐Directed Couple Relationship Education

Abstract: The current study examined the learning processes involved in professionally supported self‐directed couple relationship education (CRE). Fifty‐nine couples completed Couple CARE, a systematic, self‐directed CRE program designed in flexible delivery mode to be completed at home. Couples watched a DVD introducing key relationship ideas and skills and then completed a structured guidebook. The learning process was supported by telephone‐based coaching sessions from a professional relationship educator. Couples completed the learning tasks associated with the programe and successfully implemented a wide range of relationship self‐change, and most reported continuing implementation of program learning at 6 months follow‐up. These findings suggest that Couple CARE is readily accessible and results in effective skill acquisition for couples.

ProsCan for Couples: Randomised controlled trial of a couples-based sexuality intervention for men with localised prostate cancer who receive radical prostatectomy

BackgroundProstate cancer is the most common male cancer in the Western world. The most substantial long term morbidity from this cancer is sexual dysfunction with consequent adverse changes in couple and intimate relationships. Research to date has not identified an effective way to improve sexual and psychosocial adjustment for both men with prostate cancer and their partners. As well, the efficacy and cost effectiveness of peer counselling as opposed to professional models of service delivery has not yet been empirically tested. This paper presents the design of a three arm randomised controlled trial (peer vs. nurse counselling vs. usual care) that will evaluate the efficacy of two couples-based sexuality interventions (ProsCan for Couples: Peer support vs. nurse counselling) on men's and women's sexual and psychosocial adjustment after surgical treatment for localised prostate cancer; in addition to cost-effectiveness.Methods/designSeventy couples per condition (210 couples in total) will be recruited after diagnosis and before treatment through urology private practices and hospital outpatient clinics and randomised to (1) usual care; (2) eight sessions of peer-delivered telephone support with DVD education; and (3) eight sessions of oncology nurse-delivered telephone counselling with DVD education. Two intervention sessions will be delivered before surgery and six over the six months post-surgery. The intervention will utilise a cognitive behavioural approach along with couple relationship education focussed on relationship enhancement and helping the couple to conjointly manage the stresses of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Participants will be assessed at baseline (before surgery) and 3, 6 and 12 months post-surgery. Outcome measures include: sexual adjustment; unmet sexuality supportive care needs; attitudes to sexual help seeking; psychological adjustment; benefit finding and quality of life.DiscussionThe study will provide recommendations about the efficacy of peer support vs. nurse counselling to facilitate better sexual and couple adjustment after prostate cancer as well as recommendations on whether the interventions represent efficient health service delivery.Trial RegistrationACTRN12608000358347

International Perspectives on Couple Relationship Education

This article introduces the special section on international perspectives on couple relationship education. We first describe the theory and research underlying the increased interest in relationship education, with a strong emphasis on social policy issues. We include a discussion of both the benefits and controversies resulting from governments being involved in promoting healthy relationships. We then provide an overview of the four articles included in the special section and show how they illustrate trends occurring in a diverse set of cultural and national contexts. We conclude by highlighting issues and future directions for the relationship education field.

Couples' Relationships: Questioning Assumptions, Beliefs, and Values

I want to express my deep appreciation to Howard J. Markman and Kim Halford for their excellent work as guest editors of the special section, Couple Relationship Education in an International Context.

Couple Relationship Education in Australia

In Australia, the strengthening of marriage through relationship education has received strong governmental policy support and some modest financial support. Couple relationship education services are offered by a variety of community-based, church-affiliated, and church-based providers. There is a strong emphasis on providing programs that are developed locally in response to perceived couple needs and government policies. Available evaluations show that most couples who attend education value the service, but relationship education providers need to do a better job reaching out to couples at high risk for future relationship problems, and more research is needed on the effects of education on long-term marital outcomes. There is significant scope for building on current initiatives to incorporate evidence-based approaches and to expand the program reach to more couples.

The future of couple relationship education: Suggestions on how it can make a difference*

Relationship education holds much promise for reducing the individual, family, and community costs of relationship distress and breakdown. To realize this, potential educators need to offer evidence‐based education that tailors content to the risk and resiliency profiles of the couples. Education needs to be offered at crucial developmental points in couple relationships, in an integrated manner with community development initiatives, to couples at high risk of future relationship problems and in a variety of delivery modes.

Best practice in couple relationship education.

Relationship education is widely available to couples and is intended to reduce the prevalence of relationship distress, divorce, and the associated personal and social costs. To realize the potential benefits of couple relationship education, it needs to be evidence-based, offered in ways that attract couples at high-risk for relationship problems, and focused on factors that put couples at high-risk for future relationship problems.