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Premarital Education: An Assessment of Program Efficacy*

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a premarital educational program, with the secondary goal of determining if the structure (conjoint versus group) and the participants’ gender influenced program effectiveness. Data were collected from 29 heterosexual couples. Couples were placed in one of three conditions: (1) premarital education in a group format, (2) premarital education as an individual couple, or (3) the comparison group (no premarital education). The goal of the 8-week intervention was to improve couples’ readiness and preparation for marriage as measured by the PREP-M. The findings suggested that the educational program achieved its stated goal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CDFS Department, North Dakota State University, PO Box 5057, Fargo, ND, 58105

    Christine R. McGeorge

  2. North Dakota State University, Fargo

    Thomas Stone Carlson

Authors
  1. Christine R. McGeorge
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  2. Thomas Stone Carlson
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*The authors would like to acknowledge Aaron Mathney, Dr. Joe Turner, Dr. Kathy Rettig, Sarah DeJean, and Dena Wyum for their assistance with this project.

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McGeorge, C.R., Carlson, T.S. Premarital Education: An Assessment of Program Efficacy*. Contemp Fam Ther 28, 165–190 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-006-9701-8

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