Many distressed couples seek community-based relationship education but don't benefit from it

The objective of this research was to characterize pretreatment relationship functioning among low-income couples seeking community-based relationship education (RE) and determine whether treatment outcomes differ based on this dimension.

RE programs were developed with the goal of preventing future deterioration among currently satisfied couples, but there is evidence to suggest that distressed couples are seeking community-based RE to improve their relationship.

Data were drawn from the Parents and Children Together study, a randomized controlled trial of RE with a sample of 1,595 low-income couples. Relationship functioning was assessed pre-randomization and at 12-months post-randomization. Latent class analysis was used to identify groups of couples with similar pretreatment functioning, and treatment effects were assessed within each group.

Four classes of pretreatment relationship functioning emerged: Happy, Stable (44%), Moderately Distressed (39%), Highly Distressed Women (10%), and Highly Distressed Men (7%). Significant 12-month treatment effects were found only for women in the Happy, Stable group.

A large number of distressed couples enroll in RE programs but do not benefit from the intervention.

To ensure that all couples receive an intervention that is effective for them, changes to the current delivery of community-based RE programs is needed. Couples should be screened for their level of relationship functioning and assigned to an intervention that is appropriate for their needs. To accomplish this, RE curricula may need to be adapted to address the needs of distressed couples, or RE providers may need to partner with agencies delivering more intensive treatment (such as couple therapy).