Effects of individual-oriented relationship education for parents: A randomized controlled trial

J Fam Psychol. 2021 Dec;35(8):1097-1106. doi: 10.1037/fam0000852. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Abstract

Individual-oriented relationship education aims to support healthy relationship development for singles, and provides flexibility for couples when only one member is available or willing to attend. While quasi-experimental studies have shown some benefits for those who attended relationship education individually, no randomized controlled trials have been conducted for individual-oriented RE. Moreover, it is not clear how relationship education benefits the co-parenting relationship when only one parent attends. Thus, this paper presents the results of a randomized controlled trial, with a wait-list control group, for a sub-sample of parents (N = 322) who participated in a 6-month trial of individual-oriented relationship education utilizing Prevention and Relationship Education Program's (PREP) Within My Reach (WMR) curriculum. Results indicated statistically significant, small, positive intervention effects on parent-child relationships 3 months after random assignment. However, no other treatment effects were detected for parents. We also found no statistically significant differences in the rate of change over the 6-month study period between treatment and wait-list control parents. There was a statistically significant effect for time, indicating that all enrolled parents in the study reported significant positive growth on emotion regulation, positive encouragement, parent-child relationships, and parental adjustment. We discuss implications for relationship education programming, as well as evaluating outcomes in future studies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Parent-Child Relations
  • Parenting*
  • Parents*