Associations Between Participant Ratings of PREP for Strong Bonds and Marital Outcomes 1 Year Postintervention

Abstract

After completing a relationship education program, collecting participant evaluations of the program is common practice. These are generally used as an index of “consumer satisfaction” with the program, with implications for feasibility and quality. Rarely have these ratings been used as predictors of changes in marital quality, although such feedback may be the only data providers collect or have immediate access to when considering the success of their efforts. To better understand the utility of such ratings to predict outcomes, we evaluated links between participant ratings and changes in self-reported marital satisfaction and communication scores one year later for a sample of 191 Army couples who had participated in a relationship education program delivered by Army chaplains (PREP for Strong Bonds). Overall ratings of general satisfaction with the program and the leader did not predict changes in marital outcomes one year later, whereas higher ratings of how much was learned, program helpfulness, increased similarity in outlook regarding Army life, and helpfulness of communication skills training predicted greater change in communication skills one year later. Higher ratings of items reflecting intent to invest more time in the relationship, and increased confidence in constructive communication and working as a team with the spouse predicted greater increases in both marital satisfaction and communication skills one year later. The constructs of intention and confidence (akin to perceived behavioral control) suggest that the Theory of Planned Behavior may be particularly useful when considering which Army couples will show ongoing benefit after relationship education.

Relationship maintenance among military couples

“…Curriculum topics include communication skills, coping strategies, and ways to enhance intimacy. All four programs show efficacy for fostering relationship maintenance skills and preserving relationship well-being among military couples (Allen et al, 2017; Bakhurst, McGuire, et al, 2017; Lester et al, 2016; Nichols et al, 2013).…”

“…Some programs seek to foster relationship maintenance processes as a primary goal; others seek to alleviate a health problem but include secondary content designed to promote relationship maintenance in the face of adversity. An example of the former category is PREP for Strong Bonds (Prevention and Relationship Education Program) adapted for use by the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps (Allen et al, 2017). PREP for Strong Bonds is a psychoeducational workshop that covers topics such as relationship maintenance during deployment, communication, affect management, quality time together, and sexuality.…”

A prospective study of marital distress and mental health symptoms across the deployment cycle.

“…In terms of format, the strong correspondence between marital distress and psychopathology bolsters the use of couple-based interventions. Fortunately, several promising couple-based programs exist for military couples and families (Allen et al, 2017; Lester et al, 2016). Our findings suggest that involving both partners in care may be helpful for reducing marital distress and psychopathology across the deployment cycle.…”

The Health and Well-being of Swedish Deployed Military Veterans

“…PREP for Strong Bonds is an adapted form of the original PREP used by military branches. It has been used in the US Military since 1991, and it is generally provided by military chaplains (Allen et al, 2017). The content was modified for use in the military, including the addition of modules on deployment and family separation (Bakhurst et al, 2017).…”