Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Flexible Delivery Approaches to Couple Relationship Education: Predictors of Initial Engagement and Retention of Couples

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Child and Family Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, using a national recruitment strategy, we tested the different factors that influence retention in four different types of relationship education (RE), a self-directed book, assessment and feedback, and a six session Couple CARE program delivered by email or by phone. Of all the factors considered, required program effort, highly valuing marriage, religiosity, education, and step-family status were able to predict with seventy percent accuracy which couples would complete or not complete their RE experience. Program effort was substantially better at predicting retention than all other variables. Retention was high in the book and assessment conditions but was much lower in the two Couple CARE conditions where more effort and time was required. Initial engagement was higher in the email based Couple CARE condition but overall retention was higher in the phone based condition. Important implications for current and future RE efforts are proposed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bennet-Levy, J., Richards, D. A., Farrand, P., Christensen, H., Griffiths, K. M., Kavanagh, D. J., et al. (Eds.). (2010). Oxford guide to low intensity CBT interventions. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blair, J. M., & Cordova, J. V. (2009). Commitment as a predictor of participation in premarital education. The Family Journal, 17, 118–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Booth, A., Johnson, D. R., & Edwards, J. N. (1983). Measuring marital instability. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 45, 387–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braithwaite, S. R., & Fincham, F. D. (2009). A randomized clinical trial of a computer based preventive intervention: Replication and extension of ePREP. Journal of Family Psychology, 23(1), 32–38. doi:10.1037/a0014061.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Busby, D. M., Holman, T. B., & Niehuis, S. (2009). The association between partner- and self enhancement and relationship quality outcomes. Journal of Marriage and Family, 71, 449–464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Busby, D. M., Holman, T. B., & Taniguchi, N. (2001). RELATE: Relationship evaluation of the individual, family, cultural, and couple contexts. Family Relations, 50, 308–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Busby, D. M., Holman, T. B., & Walker, E. (2008). Pathways to relationship aggression between adult partners. Family Relations, 57, 72–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Busby, D. M., Ivey, D. C., Harris, S. M., & Ates, C. (2007). Self-directed, therapist-directed, and assessment-based interventions for premarital couples. Family Relations, 56, 279–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Busby, D. M., Willoughby, B. J., & Carroll, J. S. (2013). Sowing wild oats: Valuable experience or a field full of weeds? Personal Relationships. doi:10.1111/pere.12009.

    Google Scholar 

  • Casey, L., & Halford, W. K. (2010). Couples and the silicon chip: Applying technology to couple services. In K. Hahlweg, M. Grawe, & D. Baucom (Eds.), Enhancing couples: The shape of couple therapy to come (pp. 216–230). Gottingen: Hogrefe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, G. D. (1995). The five love languages: How to express heartfelt commitment to your mate. Chicago: Northfield Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Maria, R. M. (2005). Distressed couples and marriage education. Family Relations, 54, 242–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doss, B. D., Rhoades, G., Stanley, S., & Markman, H. J. (2009). Marital therapy, retreats, and books: The who, what, when, and why of relationship help-seeking. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 35, 18–29.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, S. F., Holman, T. B., & Yang, C. (2007). Factors associated with involvement in marriage preparation programs. Family Relations, 56, 270–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, S. F., Steed, A., & Needham, C. M. (2009). A comparison evaluation study of web-based and traditional marriage and relationship education. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 8, 162–180.

  • Eurostat (2011). Marriage and divorce statistics. http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Marriage_and_divorce_statistics. Retrieved November 12, 2012.

  • Halford, W. K. (2011). Marriage and relationship education: What works and how to provide it. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halford, W. K., & Bodenmann, G. (2013). Effects of relationship education on maintenance of couple relationship satisfaction. Clinical Psychology Review, 33, 512–525.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Halford, W. K., Markman, H. J., & Stanley, S. M. (2008). Strengthening couple relationships with education: Social policy and public health perspectives. Journal of Family Psychology, 22, 497–505.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Halford, W. K., O’Donnell, C., Lizzio, A. J., & Wilson, K. L. (2006). Do couples at high risk of relationship problems attend pre-marriage education? Journal of Family Psychology, 20, 160–163.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Halford, W. K., & Simons, M. (2005). Couple relationship education in Australia. Family Process, 44, 147–259.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Halford, W. K., Wilson, K., Watson, B., Verner, T., Larson, J., Busby, D., & Holman, T. (2010). Couple relationship education at home: Does skill training enhance relationship assessment and feedback? Journal of Family Psychology, 24, 188–196.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, A. J., Blanchard, V. L., Baldwin, S. A., & Fawcett, E. B. (2008). Does marriage and relationship education work? A meta-analytic study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76, 723–734.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huberty, C. J. (1984). Issues in the use and interpretation of discriminant analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 95(1), 156–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, R., Hof, L., & DeMaria, R. (1998). Marriage enrichment: Preparation, mentoring, and outreach. Philadelphia: Brunner/Mazel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kavanagh, D. J., & Bennet-Levy, J. (2010). Facilitating the widespread adoption of low intensity CBT interventions: Adapting interventions to different community contexts. In: J. Bennet-Levy, D. A. Richards, P., Farrand, H. Christensen, K. M. Griffiths, & D. J. Kavanagh et al. (Eds.) Oxford guide to low intensity CBT interventions (pp. 537). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

  • Kazdin, A. E., & Blaze, S. L. (2011). Rebooting psychotherapy research and practice to reduce the burden of mental illness. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 6(10), 21–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, C. L. M. (2005). Mental illness and/or mental health? Investigating axioms of the complete state model of mental health. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 73(3), 539–548.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larson, J. H., & Halford, W. K. (2011). One size does not fit all: Customizing couple education. In J. Wetchler (Ed.), Handbook of clinical issues in couple therapy (pp. 293–309). Philadelphia: Taylor and Francis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larson, J. H., Newell, K., Topham, G., & Nichols, S. (2002). A review of three comprehensive premarital assessment questionnaires. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 28, 233–239.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larson, J. H., Vatter, R. S., Galbraith, R. C., Holman, T. B., & Stahmann, R. F. (2007). The relationship evaluation (RELATE) with therapist assisted interpretation: Short-term effects on premarital relationships. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 33, 364–374.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Markman, H. J., & Rhoades, G. K. (2012). Relationship education research: Current status and future directions. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 38, 169–200.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McAllister, S., Duncan, S. F., & Busby, D. M. (2013). Exploratory analysis of factors associated with participation in self-directed and traditional marriage and relationship education. Marriage and Family Review, 49, 563–584.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2012). Motivational Interviewing (3rd ed.). NY: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) (2009). Tools for ethical thinking and practice in FLE. Minneapolis.

  • Petch, J., Halford, W. K., Creedy, D. K., & Gamble, J. (2012). A randomized controlled trial of a couple relationship and co-parenting program (Couple CARE for Parents) for high- and low-risk new parents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 80, 662–673.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reger, R. A., & Gahm, G. A. (2009). A meta-analysis of the effects of internet- and computer-based cognitive-behavioral treatments for anxiety. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65(1), 53–75.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Richards, D., & Richardson, T. (2012). Computer-based psychological treatments for depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 32, 329–342.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, L. C., Morris, M. L. (1998). An evaluation of marketing factors in marriage enrichment program promotion. Family Relations, 47, 37–44.

  • Silliman, B., & Schumm, W. R. (1995). Client interests in premarital counselling: A further analysis. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 21(1), 43–56.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silliman, B., & Schumm, W. R. (2004). Adolescents’ perceptions of marriage and premarital education. Family Relations, 53(5), 513–520.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stanley, S. M., Amato, P. R., Johnson, C. A., & Markman, H. J. (2006). Premarital education, marital quality, and marital stability: Findings from a large, random household survey. Journal of Family Psychology, 20, 117–126.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Straus, M. A. (1979). Measuring intrafamily conflict and violence: The conflict tactics (CT) scales. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 41, 75–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, K. T. (2001). Understanding the relationship between religiosity and marriage: An investigation of the immediate and longitudinal effects of religiosity on newlywed couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 15, 610–626.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, K. T., & Bradbury, T. N. (1997). Are premarital prevention programs reaching couples at risk for marital dysfunction? Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 65, 24–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, K. T., Pasch, L. A., Cornelius, T., & Cirigliano, E. (2004). Predicting participation in premarital prevention programs: The health belief model and social norms. Family Process, 43, 175–193.

  • Taylor, C., Jobson, K. O., Winzelberg, A., & Abascal, L. (2002). The use of the internet to provide evidence-based integrated treatment programs for mental health. Psychiatric Annals, 32, 671–677.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weston, R., Qu, L., & Hayes, A. (2012). From form to function: Contemporary choices, changes, and challenges. In P. Noller & G. C. Karantzas (Eds.), The Wiley-Blackwell handbook of couples and family relationships (pp. 11–24). West Sussex: Willey-Blackwell Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood, R. G., McConnell, S. D., Moore, Q., Clarkwest, A., & Hsueh, J. (2012). The effects of building strong families: A healthy marriage and relationship skills education program for unmarried parents. Journal of Policy Analysis and management, 31(2), 228–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by a Grant from the Utah State Marriage Commission.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA

    Dean M. Busby, Jeffry H. Larson & Thomas B. Holman

  2. University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    W. Kim Halford

Authors
  1. Dean M. Busby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jeffry H. Larson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Thomas B. Holman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. W. Kim Halford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dean M. Busby.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Busby, D.M., Larson, J.H., Holman, T.B. et al. Flexible Delivery Approaches to Couple Relationship Education: Predictors of Initial Engagement and Retention of Couples. J Child Fam Stud 24, 3018–3029 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-014-0105-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-014-0105-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation