The Effectiveness of Couple and Individual Relationship Education: Distress as a Moderator

Abstract

Current literature yields mixed results about the effectiveness of relationship education (RE) with low-income participants and those who experience a high level of individual or relational distress. Scholars have called for research that examines whether initial levels of distress act as a moderator of RE outcomes. To test whether initial levels of relationship and/or individual distress moderate the effectiveness of RE, this study used two samples, one of couples who received couple-oriented relationship education with their partner (n = 192 couples) and one of individuals in a relationship who received individual-oriented RE by themselves (n = 60 individuals). We delivered RE in a community-based setting serving primarily low-income participants. For those attending with a partner, there was a significant interaction between gender, initial distress, and time. Findings indicate that women who were relationally distressed before RE reported the largest pre-postgains. Those who attended an individual-oriented RE program reported significant decreases in individual distress from pre to post, but no significant relationship gains. Findings also suggest that initial levels of distress did not moderate the effectiveness of individual-oriented RE.

The Influence of Individual‐Oriented Relationship Education on Equality and Conflict‐Related Behaviors

“…CCC‐RS . The CCC‐RS (Carlson, Rogers, et al, ) is a 22‐item measure that assesses three distinct domains within an individual's relationship: (a) controlling violence, (b) relational conflict, and (c) conflict repair. The CCC‐RS was developed in response to the lack of consistent universal screening practices to identify IPV typologies despite the overwhelming research identifying typologies (Carlson & Jones, ; Johnson & Leone, ).…”

“…Sample items are “My partner sometimes threatens divorce/separation during an argument,” “My partner or I are quick to anger during a disagreement,” and “My partner blames me when arguments get out of hand.” The Conflict Repair subscale includes items that measure individuals' willingness to repair their relationship after a conflict. Sample items are “After my partner and I have a disagreement, we talk about it when we are calm,” “When we have disagreements, my partner apologizes for his or her role in the disagreement,” and “I express guilt after an argument.” The CCC‐RS demonstrated concurrent validity with the IJS, the Outcomes Questionnaire–45.2 (Lambert et al, ), and the Relationship Assessment Scale (Hendrick, [Carlson, Rogers, et al, ]). In the current study, alpha reliability coefficients for the three CCC‐RS subscales were as follows: Controlling Violence (preassessment, α = .86; postassessment, α = .83), Relational Conflict (preassessment, α = .80; postassessment, α = .76), and Conflict Repair (preassessment, α = .66; postassessment, α = .69).…”

“…Adults completing individual‐oriented RE demonstrated trends toward a decrease in relationship violence (Antle et al, ) as well as decreased physical abuse, emotional abuse, and isolation behaviors (as measured by the revised Conflict Tactics Scales; Straus, Hamby, Boney‐McCoy, & Sugarman, ) at 6 months postassessment (Antle et al, ). Individuals attending RE workshops alone also reported decreased levels of individual distress but no improvements to relationship satisfaction (Carlson, Rappleyea, et al, ). Therefore, individual‐oriented RE demonstrates promise as an efficacious intervention to address and reduce relationship violence.…”

“…

Research Question 1 : What influence does individual‐oriented RE have on conflict‐related relationship behaviors (as measured by the Continuum of Conflict and Control Relationship Scale [CCC‐RS; Carlson, Rogers, et al, ) and overall perceptions of relationship equality (as measured by the IJS)? Research Question 2 : Are there differences in pre–post change on conflict‐related relationship behaviors (as measured by the CCC‐RS) by violence severity group (as measured by the IJS)?

…”

“…Research Question 1 : What influence does individual‐oriented RE have on conflict‐related relationship behaviors (as measured by the Continuum of Conflict and Control Relationship Scale [CCC‐RS; Carlson, Rogers, et al, ) and overall perceptions of relationship equality (as measured by the IJS)?…”