Revising Premarital Relationship Interventions for the Next Generation

Abstract

In this article, we review research on contemporary social trends that influence the next generation's ability to form and sustain a healthy marriage. As a result, we argue for greater attention to premarital interventions for engaged couples to help the next generation address the potential challenges created by these trends. After we briefly review the current state of premarital education and counseling, we examine four general, interrelated social trends: individualism and commitment ambivalence, changing attitudes about marriage, premarital relationship histories, and the omnipresent media environment. In addition, we offer four general proposals corresponding to these trends that we believe will enhance the future effectiveness of premarital interventions. We urge premarital educators and counselors to evaluate their current interventions with these proposals in mind.

Investigation of Early Marriage: A Phenomenology Study in the Society of Bawean Island, Indonesia

“…Meanwhile, the parent's motivation for early marriage was to prevent fornication, as in the Islamic belief, it is a major sin and urges social sanctions from the community. In the end, the findings of the second meaning also led to punishment norms that prohibit premarital sex from affecting the decisions of parents and adolescents to conduct early marriage (Clyde et al, 2020;Coyne et al, 2019;Stark, 2016).…”

Best Practices in Relationship Education Focused on Intimate Relationships

“…What was not disputed by Bradford and colleagues or by Markman and Ritchie is that many distressed couples will show up at community‐based services. Even in the case of premarital education, there are now likely to be more relationships already struggling before marriage than there used to be because of how relationship development has changed (Clyde, Hawkins, & Willoughby, ), including having vastly more time with partners before marriage and how serious constraints (such as from cohabitation) can build before two people have developed a mutually strong commitment to a future (Stanley, Rhoades, et al, 2006). All in all, Hawkins et al () argued that educators should expect that large numbers of distressed couples will attend relationship education and not shy away from this fact.…”

Beyond cold feet: Experiences of ending engagements and canceling weddings

“…Relationship transitions like engagements are known to create the potential for irritability, reactivity, and upheaval due to mounting uncertainty and the potential need to renegotiate roles and expectations (Solomon et al, 2016). The engagement period is also especially vital given the relational future may become more salient at this stage by nature of approaching lifelong commitment (Clyde et al, 2019).…”

“…Given the ideal to intervene before maladaptive patterns solidify and constraints accrue (Vennum et al, 2017), a focus on early dating relationships is vital for professionals who work with premarital couples. However, individuals in dating relationships may be less likely to seek out premarital counseling resources and to seriously contemplate their futures together like engaged couples, whose approaching wedding dates make these considerations more salient (see Clyde et al, 2019). Premarital counselors and couple therapists should help engaged individuals with “cold feet” develop effective communication strategies to create boundaries with a partner to “slow their momentum” and explore relational concerns, as well as potential benefits of marriage.…”