Does marriage and relationship education work? A meta-analytic study.

Abstract

In this meta-analytic study, the authors examined the efficacy of marriage and relationship education (MRE) on 2 common outcomes: relationship quality and communication skills. A thorough search produced 86 codable reports that yielded 117 studies and more than 500 effect sizes. The effect sizes for relationship quality for experimental studies ranged from d = .30 to .36, while the communication skills effect sizes ranged from d = .43 to .45. Quasi-experimental studies generated smaller effect sizes, but these appeared to be due to pretest group differences. Moderate-dosage programs produced larger effect sizes than did low-dosage programs. For communication skills, published studies had larger effects than those of unpublished studies at follow-up; there were no publication differences for relationship quality. There was no evidence of a gender difference. Unfortunately, a lack of racial/ethnic and economic diversity in the samples prevented reliable conclusions about the effectiveness of MRE for disadvantaged couples, a crucial deficit in the body of research. In addition, intervention outcomes important to policy makers, such as relationship stability and aggression, rarely have been addressed.

Interpersonal Competence Development of University Students -Exploring a Social Problem-Solving Measurement Approach

“…Such an instructional theory as the core element of an effective intervention program would be necessary for our assessment approach, especially because existing relationship programs suffer from small effects. Hawkins, Blanchard, Baldwin, and Fawcett (2008) found within their meta-analysis small effect sizes (d = .30 to .36) of such programs on relationship quality.…”

A study on relationship between emotional maturity and marital satisfaction

“…There are many studies to determine the important factors influencing long-term relationship between husband and wife (Stutzer & Frey, 2006;Hawkins et al, 2008;Waller & Peters, 2008). There are many studies on marital satisfaction and the influencing factors on this issue.…”

Participant characteristics and outcomes of relationship education in the transition to parenthood

“…The goals are to teach couples skills that are believed to be relevant for maintaining a good relationship and to prepare couples for probable future problems and challenges in their relationship. Reviews of RE studies that have been published in the last two decades indicate that under certain conditions RE can change couples' interaction patterns and produce moderate improvements in the adaptation and stability of relationships (Carroll & Doherty, 2003;Christensen & Heavey, 1999;Guerney & Maxson, 1990;Hahlweg & Markman, 1988;Halford, Petch, & Creedy, 2010;Hawkins, Blanchard, Baldwin, & Fawcett, 2008;Markman & Hahlweg, 1993;Pinquart & Teubert, 2010;Schulz, Cowan, & Cowan, 2006;Stanley, Amato, Johnson, & Markman, 2006), but there has been some controversy as to the strength and duration of these effects.…”

“…However a meta-study by Hawkins et al (2008) found attenders in RE programs to score lower on relationship quality and communication skills than non-attenders, indicating a compensation effect in which high-risk couples are overrepresented in attendance. Thus, the extent to which various risk factors are related to RE participation remains unclear.…”