The Effectiveness of Couple and Individual Relationship Education: Distress as a Moderator |
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| Authors: | Ryan G. Carlson Damon L. Rappleyea Andrew P. Daire Steven M. Harris Xiaofeng Liu |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Educational Studies, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC;2. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC;3. Department of Psychological, Health, & Learning Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, TX;4. Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN |
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| 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. |
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| Keywords: | Relationship education Distress Low income capacitació n en relaciones bajos recursos angustia 关 系 教 育 低 收 入 困 扰 |
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