Preventive Interventions with Couples: What Can we Learn from the International Experience?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102.3772e35nspe11Keywords:
Marriage counseling, Satisfaction, Resilience, Preventive psychology, Family therapyAbstract
The dissolution of a marital unit challenges not only the family but also a great range of social systems related to it. The article aimed to review the literature on preventive programs with couples, willing to identify the elements of success, the gaps in the interventions offered in Brazil, and summarize what we should learn from the international experience. Data will be presented and discussed, highlighting the studies found to be theoretically and empirically relevant to the development of a program targeting the prevention of crisis and the promotion of marital resilience adapted to the Brazilian reality. Results point to the efficacy of preventive interventions in promoting relational skills associated with marital resilience. However, the mechanisms of change implicated in this process, as well as its impact on marital quality, are still to be further clarified.
Downloads
References
Allen, E., Stanley, S., Rhoades, G., & Markman, H. (2015). PREP for Strong Bonds: A review of outcomes from a randomized clinical trial. Contemporary Family Therapy, 37(3), 232-246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-014-9325-3
Axelsen, S. F., Brixval, C. S., Due, P., & Koushede, V. (2014). Integrating couple relationship education in antenatal education - A study of perceived relevance among expectant Danish parents. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare: Official Journal of the Swedish Association of Midwives, 5(4), 174-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2014.06.006
Blanchard, V. L., Hawkins, A. J., Baldwin, S. A., & Fawcett, E. B. (2009). Investigating the effects of marriage and relationship education on couples’ communication skills: A meta-analytic study. Journal of Family Psychology, 23(2), 203-214. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015211
Bradley, J. M., & Hojjat, M. (2016). A model of resilience and marital satisfaction. The Journal of Social Psychology, 157(5),588-601. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2016.1254592
Braithwaite, S., & Fincham, F. (2007). ePREP: Computer based prevention of relationship dysfunction, depression and anxiety. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 26, 609-622. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2007.26.5.609
Beck, A. T. (1995). Para além do amor. Rio de Janeiro: Record
Bodenmann, G., Pihet, S., & Kayser, K. (2006). The relationship between dyadic coping and marital quality: A 2-year longitudinal study.Journal of Family Psychology, 20(3), 485-493. http://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.20.3.485
Braukhaus, C., Hahlweg, K., Kroeger, C., Groth, T., & Fehm-Wolfsdorf, G. (2003). The effects of adding booster sessions to a prevention-training program for committed couples. Behavioral and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 31(3), 325-336. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1352465803003072
Carvalho, A. C., & Sardinha, A. (2017). Terapia Cognitiva Sexual: Uma proposta integrativa na psicoterapia da sexualidade (1st ed.). Rio de Janeiro: Cognitiva.
Cobb, R. J., & Sullivan, K. T. (2015). Relationship education and marital satisfaction in newlywed couples: A propensity score analysis. Journal of Family Psychology, 29(5), 667-678. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0039580
Dela Coleta, M. F. (1989). A medida da satisfação conjugal: Adaptação de uma escala. Psico, 18(2), 90-112.
Dion, M. R. (2005). Healthy marriage programs: Learning what works. The Future of Children, 15(2), 139-56. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16158734
Doss, B. D., Cicila, L. N., Georgia, E. J., Roddy, M. K., Nowlan, K. M., Benson, L. A., & Christensen, A. (2016). A randomized controlled trial of the web-based OurRelationship program: Effects on relationship and individual functioning. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 84(4), 285-96. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000063
Doss, B. D., Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S. M., Markman, H. J., & Johnson, C. A. (2009). Differential use of premarital education in first and second marriages. Journal of Family Psychology, 23(2), 268-273. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014356
Duncan, S., Steed, A., & Needham, C. M. (2009). A comparison evaluation study of web-based and traditional marriage and relationship education. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 8, 162-180. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332690902813836.
Feinberg, M. E., & Kan, M. L. (2008). Establishing family foundations: Intervention effects on coparenting, parent/infant well-being, and parent-child relations.Journal of Family Psychology,22(2), 253-263. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.22.2.253
Fincham, F. D., Stanley, S. M., & Beach, S. R. H. (2007). Transformative processes in marriage: An analysis of emerging trends.Journal of Marriage and Family, 69(2), 275-292. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2007.00362.x
Gambrel, L. E., & Piercy, F. P. (2015). Mindfulness-based relationship education for couples expecting their first child - Part 2: Phenomenological findings. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 41(1), 25-41. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12065
Garneau, C. L., & Adler-Baeder, F. (2015). Changes in stepparents’ coparenting and parenting following participation in a community-based relationship education program. Family Process, 54(4), 590-599. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12133
Giddens, A. (1993). A transformação da intimidade: Sexualidade, amor e erotismo nas sociedades modernas. São Paulo: UNESP.
Gottman, J., Ryan, K., Swanson, C., & Swanson, K. (2005). Proximal change experiments with couples: A methodology for empirically building a science of effective interventions for changing couples' interaction. Journal of Family Communication, 5(3), 163-190, https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327698jfc0503_1
Gottman, J., & Silver, N. (2012). What makes love last. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Guerney, B. G. (1977). Relationship enhancement: Skill-training programs for therapy, problem prevention, and enrichment. San Francisco, CA: Jossey Bass.
Hahlweg, K., & Richter, D. (2010). Prevention of marital instability and distress. Results of an 11-year longitudinal follow-up study. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 48(5), 377-383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2009.12.010
Halford, W. K., Markman, H. J., Kline, G. H., & Stanley, S. M. (2003). Best practice in couple relationship education. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 29(3), 385-406. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12870411
Halford, W. K., Markman, H. J., & Stanley, S. (2008). Strengthening couples’ relationships with education: Social policy and public health perspectives. Journal of Family Psychology, 22(4), 497-505. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0012789
Halford, W. K., Pepping, C. A., Hilpert, P., Bodenmann, G., Wilson, K. L., Busby, D., Larson, J., & Holman, T. (2015). Immediate effect of couple relationship education on low-satisfaction couples: A randomized clinical trial plus an uncontrolled trial replication. Behavior Therapy, 46(3), 409-421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2015.02.001
Halford, W. K., & Simons, M. (2005). Couple relationship education in Australia. Family Process, 44(2), 147-159. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16013742
Halford, K. W., Rahimullah, R. H., Wilson, K. L., Occhipinti, S., Busby, D. M., & Larson, J. (2017). Four year effects of couple relationship education on low and high satisfaction couples: A randomized clinical trial. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 85(5), 495-507. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000181
Harcourt, K. T., Adler-Baeder, F., Rauer, A., Pettit, G. S., & Erath, S. (2015). Relationship education for incarcerated adults. Family Process, 56(1), 75-90. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12164
Hawkins, A. J., Amato, P. R. & Kinghorn, A. (2013), Are government”supported healthy marriage initiatives affecting family demographics? A state”level analysis. Family Relations, 62, 501-513. http://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12009
Hawkins, A. J., Blanchard, V. L., Baldwin, S. A., & Fawcett, E. B. (2008). Does marriage and relationship education work? A meta-analytic study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76(5), 723-734. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0012584
Hawkins, A. J., Stanley, S. M., Cowan, P. A., Fincham, F. D., Beach, S. R., Cowan, C. P., Rhoades, G. K., Markman, H. J., & Daire, A. P. (2013). A more optimistic perspective on government-supported marriage and relationship education programs for lower income couples. American Psychologist, 68(2),110-111. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031792.
Hawkins, A. J., & Erickson, S. E. (2015). Is couple and relationship education effective for lower income participants? A meta-analytic study. Journal of Family Psychology, 29(1), 59-68. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000045
Heatherington, L., Friedlander, M., & Greenberg, L. (2005). Change process research in couple and family therapy: Methodological challenges and opportunities. Journal of Family Psychology, 19, 18-27. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.19.1.18.
Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. (2011). Estatística de Registro Civil. Rio de Janeiro.
Kalinka, C. J., Fincham, F. D., & Hirsch, A. H. (2012). A randomized clinical trial of online-biblio relationship education for expectant couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 26(1), 159-64. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0026398
Kirby, J. S., & Baucom, D. H. (2007). Treating emotion dysregulation in a couples context: A pilot study of a couples skills group intervention. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 33(3), 375-91. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2007.00037.x
Koppelman, J. (2002). Promoting marriage as welfare policy: Looking at a public role in private lives. NHPF Issue Brief, (770), 1-17. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11878356
Kotrla, K., & Dyer, P. (2008). Using marriage education to strengthen military families: Evaluation of the active military life skills program. Social Work and Christianity, 35(3), 287-311.
Leavell, H., & Clark, E. G. (1965).Preventive medicine for the doctor in his community. New York: MacGraw Hill.
Litzinger, S., & Gordon, K. C. (2005). Exploring relationships among communication, sexual satisfaction, and marital satisfaction. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 31(5), 409-424. https://doi.org/10.1080/00926230591006719
Lucier-Greer, M., Adler-Baeder, F., Harcourt, K. T., & Gregson, K. D. (2014). Relationship education for stepcouples reporting relationship instability - Evaluation of the Smart Steps: Embrace the Journey curriculum. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 40(4), 454-69. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12069
Markman, H. J., & Rhoades, G. K. (2012). Relationship education research: Current status and future directions. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 38(1), 169-200. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2011.00247.x
Markman, H. J., Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S. M., & Peterson, K. M. (2013). A randomized clinical trial of the effectiveness of premarital intervention: moderators of divorce outcomes. Journal of Family Psychology, 27(1), 165-172. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031134
Markman, H. J., Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S. M., Ragan, E. P., & Whitton, S. W. (2010). The premarital communication roots of marital distress and divorce: The first five years of marriage. Journal of Family Psychology, 24(3), 289-98. doi: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019481.
Miller, S., Nunnally, E. W., & Wackman, D. B. (1976). A communication training program for couples. Social Casework, 57(1), 9-18.https://doi.org/10.1177/104438947605700102
Mosmann, C., Wagner, A., & Féres-Carneiro, T. (2006). Qualidade conjugal: mapeando conceitos, Paidéia, 16(35), 315-325. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-863X2006000300003.
Murta, S. G., Rodrigues, A. C., Rosa, I. de O., & Paulo, S. G. de. (2012). Avaliação de um programa psicoeducativo de transição para a parentalidade. Paidéia, 22(53), 403-412. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0103-863X2012000300012
Neff, L. A., & Broady, E. F. (2011). Stress resilience in early marriage: Can practice make perfect? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101(5), 1050-1067. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023809
Neumann, A. P., Wagner, A., & Remor, E. (2018). Couple relationship education program “Living as Partners”: Evaluation of effects on marital quality and conflict.Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica,31, 26. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s41155-018-0106-z
Norgren, M. de B. P., Souza, R. M. de, Kaslow, F., Hammerschmidt, H., & Sharlin, S. A. (2004). Satisfação conjugal em casamentos de longa duração: Uma construção possível. Estudos de Psicologia (Natal), 9(3), 575-584. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-294X2004000300020
Ooms, T. (2005). The new kid on the block: What is marriage education and does it work?. Washington: Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). Retrieved from https://vawnet.org/material/new-kid-block-what-marriage-education-and-does-it-work
Owen, J., Manthos, M., & Quirk, K. (2013). Dismantling study of prevention and relationship education program: The effects of a structured communication intervention. Journal of Family Psychology, 27(2), 336-341. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031597
Petch, J. F., Halford, W. K., Creedy, D. K., & Gamble, J. (2012a). A randomized controlled trial of a couple relationship and coparenting program (Couple CARE for Parents) for high- and low-risk new parents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 80(4), 662-73. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028781
Petch, J., Halford, W. K., Creedy, D. K., & Gamble, J. (2012b). Couple relationship education at the transition to parenthood: A window of opportunity to reach high-risk couples. Family Process, 51(4), 498-511. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2012.01420.x
Pihet, S., Bodenmann, G., Cina, A., Widmer, K., & Shantinath, S. D. (2007). Can prevention of marital distress improve well-being? Results of a 1-year longitudinal study. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 14, 79-88.https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.522
Quirk, K., Strokoff, J., Owen, J. J., France, T., & Bergen, C. (2014). Relationship education in community settings: Effectiveness with distressed and non-distressed low-income racial minority couples. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 40(4), 442-53. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12080
Rauer, A. J., Adler-Baeder, F., Lucier-Greer, M., Skuban, E., Ketring, S. A., & Smith, T. (2014). Exploring processes of change in couple relationship education: Predictors of change in relationship quality. Journal of Family Psychology, 28(1), 65-76. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035502
Rhoades, G. K. (2015). The effectiveness of the Within Our Reach Relationship Education Program for Couples: Findings from a federal randomized trial. Family Process, 54(4), 672-685. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12148
Owen, J. and Rhoades, G. K. (2012), Reducing interparental conflict among parents in contentious child custody disputes: An initial investigation of the Working Together Program. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 38, 542-555. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2010.00215.x
Rhoades, G. K., & Stanley, S. M. (2011). Using individual-oriented relationship education to prevent family violence. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 10(2), 185-200. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2011.562844
Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S. M., & Markman, H. J. (2009). Working with cohabitation in relationship education and therapy. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 8(2), 95-112. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332690902813794
Ripley, J. S., & Worthington, E. L., Jr. (2002). Hope-focused and forgiveness-based group interventions to promote marital enrichment. Journal of Counseling & Development, 80(4), 452-463. http://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2002.tb00212.x
Sardinha, A., Falcone, E. M. O., & Ferreira, M. C. (2009). As relações entre a satisfação conjugal e as habilidades sociais percebidas no cônjuge. Psicologia: Teoria e Pesquisa, 25(3), 395-402. http://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-37722009000300013.
Sbarra, D. A. (2015). Divorce and health: Current trends and future directions. Psychosomatic Medicine, 77(3), 227-236. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000168
Schulz, M. S., Cowan, C. P., & Cowan, P. A. (2006). Promoting healthy beginnings: A randomized controlled trial of a preventive intervention to preserve marital quality during the transition to parenthood. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(1), 20-31. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.74.1.20
Scorsolini-Comin, F. & Santos, M. A. (2009). Casar e ser feliz: Mapeando a mensuração da satisfação conjugal. Psico, 40(4), 430-437
Scott, S. B., Rhoades, G. K., Stanley, S. M., Allen, E. S., & Markman, H. J. (2013). Reasons for divorce and recollections of premarital intervention: Implications for improving relationship education. Couple & Family Psychology, 2(2), 131-145. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032025
Spanier, G. B. (1976). Measuring dyadic adjustment: New scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 38(1), 15-28.
Stanley, S. M., Allen, E. S., Markman, H. J., Rhoades, G. K., & Prentice, D. L. (2010). Decreasing divorce in army couples: Results from a randomized controlled trial using PREP for strong bonds. Journal of Couple Relationship Therapy, 9(2), 149-160. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691003694901
Stanley, S. M., Amato, P. R., Johnson, C. A., & Markman, H. J. (2006). Premarital education, marital quality, and marital stability: Findings from a large, random household survey. Journal of Family Psychology, 20(1), 117-126. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.20.1.117
Stanley, S. M., Rhoades, G. K., Loew, B. A., Allen, E. S., Carter, S., Osborne, L. J., … Markman, H. J. (2014). A randomized controlled trial of relationship education in the U.S. Army: 2-year outcomes. Family Relations, 63(4), 484-495. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12083
Thuen, F., & Laerum, K. T. (2005). A public/private partnership in offering relationship education to the Norwegian population. Family Process, 44(2), 175-185. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16013744
Vedes, A. M., Lind, W., & Lourenço, M. (2011). Fundamentos para o desenho de estratégias de prevenção para a promoção da satisfação e da resiliência conjugal. Psicologia, 25(1), 91-112.
Visvanathan, P. D., Richmond, M., Winder, C., & Koenck, C. H. (2015). Individual-oriented relationship education: An evaluation study in community-based settings. Family Process, 54(4), 686-702. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12116
Wadsworth, M. E., & Markman, H. J. (2013). Where’s the action? Understanding what works and why in relationship education. Behavior Therapy, 43(1), 99-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2011.01.006
Wagner, A., Mosmann, C., & Falcke, D. (2015). Viver a dois: Oportunidades e desafios da conjugalidade. São Leopoldo: Sinodal.
Walsh, F. (2005). Fortalecendo a resiliência familiar. São Paulo: Roca.
Wang, P. (1991). Pre-marital education bears fruits. China Population Today, 8(4), 17. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12317272
Whitton, S. W., Weitbrecht, E. M., Kuryluk, A. D., & Hutsell, D. W. (2016). A randomized waitlist-controlled trial of culturally sensitive relationship education for male same-sex couples. Journal of Family Psychology, 30(6), 763-768. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000199
Williamson, H. C., Altman, N., Hsueh, J., & Bradbury, T. N. (2016). Effects of relationship education on couple communication and satisfaction: A randomized controlled trial with low-income couples. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 84(2), 156-166. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000056
Williamson, H. C., Hammett, J. F., Ross, J. M., Karney, B. R., & Bradbury, T. N. (2018). Premarital education and later relationship help-seeking. Journal of Family Psychology, 32(2), 276-281. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000383.
Wood, R. G., McConnell, S., Moore, Q., Clarkwest, A., & Hsueh, J. A. (2010). Strengthening unmarried parents' relationships: The early impacts of building strong families. Princeton, NJ: Mathematica Policy Research.
Yao, Z. (1990). A serial surveillance for premarital health care. China Population Research Leads, 9, 1. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12342915
Yoo, H., Bartle-Haring, S., Day, R. D., & Gangamma, R. (2014). Couple communication, emotional and sexual intimacy, and relationship satisfaction. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 40(4), 275-293. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2012.751072.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2020 Aline Sardinha, Terezinha Féres-Carneiro
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
