Effects of Relationship Education on Maintenance of Couple Relationship Satisfaction
This article critically evaluates the evidence on the efficacy of relationship education (RE) in achieving its stated objective of helping couples maintain a mutually satisfying relationship. Evidence-based RE draws upon the substantial research on what influences couple relationship satisfaction and stability, and uses an approach to RE that has been evaluated in well-designed research trials (Halford, Markman, & Stanley, 2008). Evidence-based RE usually is brief, typically consisting of 12 to 18 hours curriculum that introduces key relationship knowledge (e.g., the importance of commitment, developing shared and realistic relationship expectations) and skills (e.g., couple communication, problem-solving, coping).
