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Community-based prevention of marital dysfunction: multilevel modeling of a randomized effectiveness study
Jean-Philippe Laurenceau1, Scott M Stanley, Antonio Olmos-Gallo
1Department of Psychology, University of Miami, 459 Flipse Building, Coral Gables, FL 33146-0751, USA. jlaurenceau@miami.edu
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
|December 23, 2004
Summary
Religious organizations can effectively deliver marital programs. The Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) led to fewer negative behaviors in wives, though positive behaviors declined in some groups.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Psychology
- Family Studies
- Public Health
Background:
- Marital distress prevention programs aim to improve relationship quality and reduce conflict.
- Community settings, such as religious organizations, offer potential for widespread program dissemination.
- The effectiveness of programs delivered by community leaders versus external clinicians requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) delivered by religious organizations (ROs) compared to university clinicians and a control group.
- To assess the impact of PREP on relationship satisfaction, negative behaviors, and positive behaviors among newlywed couples.
- To examine the transportability and dissemination potential of PREP in community-based settings.
Main Methods:
- A cluster randomized controlled trial involving 57 religious organizations and 217 newlywed couples.
- Couples were assigned to three conditions: PREP by university clinicians (U-PREP), PREP by RO clergy (ROPREP), or naturally occurring (NO) marriage preparation.
- Self-reported data on relationship satisfaction, negative behavior, and positive behavior were collected at preintervention, postintervention, and 1-year follow-up.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in relationship satisfaction trajectories were found across the three conditions.
- Wives in the RO-PREP group showed significantly greater reductions in negative behaviors compared to the NO group.
- Positive behaviors declined significantly in the NO and U-PREP groups, but not in the RO-PREP group.
Conclusions:
- PREP delivered by religious organization clergy (ROPREP) is effective in reducing negative marital behaviors and maintaining positive behaviors.
- Community-based delivery of marital intervention programs is feasible and can be effective in preventing marital distress.
- Findings support the transportability and dissemination of PREP within religious organizations for enhanced marital well-being.