A MEANING AND VALUES-BASED PREMARITAL WORKSHOP MANUAL HAILEY MARCOTTE B.A., University of Lethbridge, 2012 A Project Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies of the University of Lethbridge in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF EDUCATION (COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY) FACULTY OF EDUCATION LETHBRIDGE, ALBERTA February 2015 Abstract This project offers a review of the literature on factors related to relationship satisfaction and stability, premarital programs, and the role of meaning or values in relation to intimate relationships. Within this project, there is a meaning and values-based premarital workshop manual that provides facilitators with detailed information, directions, and workshop exercises. The workshop is intended to be a duration of 4- to 5-hours for couples in the initial stages of becoming committed in their relationship. The aim is to provide couples with a structured program where they gain knowledge on the role of values in intimate partnerships and explore each individual and their partner’s values. The manual may be used as a stand-alone document or a supplementary manual component for facilitators of existing skill-based programs. iii Acknowledgements I would like to express thanks to my project supervisor, Dr. Bonnie Lee, for all the support she provided during this process and the many opportunities she has offered me within my post-secondary education. Thank you for nurturing and sharing in my passion for therapeutic work with couples. As well, thank you to Dr. Noëlla Piquette my committee member, for your time and involvement in completing this project. I greatly appreciate you both! Ryan, thank you for all of your support in my choice to move and complete my Master’s degree. Our time together is greatly cherished. I would not have been able to complete this project without your love, commitment, positivity, and encouragement. Thank you to my family: mom, dad, and Jessica. I have been able to accomplish all of my educational and life goals with all of your love, care, and guidance. I am so thankful for my amazing family! Last but not least, thank you to my friends, especially Alyssa, Dwight, Kala, Kaylee, Kevan, Natalie, and Sam. I am so grateful to have such incredible friends who have been there for me through ups and downs. My friendships with each of you have been a genuine source of happiness, connection, and stress-relief. iv Table of Contents Abstract………………………………………………………………………………….. iii Acknowledgements………………………………………………...……………………. iv Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………....… v List of Tables…………………………………………………………………….…........ ix Chapter One: Introduction..……………………………………………………………… 1 Significance and Importance………………………………………………...…… 2 Intent.…………………………………………………………………………….. 2 Project Rationale.………………………………………………………………… 3 Statement of Interest……………………………………………………………... 4 Key Definitions.………………………….………………………………………. 5 Project Overview.……………………………….……………………………….. 6 Chapter Two: Methods …………………………………………..……………………… 7 Databases and Search Methods………………………………………………...… 7 Research Guidelines………………………………………………………..…..… 8 Chapter Three: Literature Review…..……………………...…………….………….…... 9 Part One: Satisfaction and Stability in Intimate Relationships…………….….… 9 Stability and Satisfaction Factors……………………………………….. 10 Communication and Conflict Resolution……..………………………… 10 Summary…………….………………………………………….. 12 Values and Relationship Satisfaction……………….…………………... 13 Other Influential Factors…………………………..……………………. 14 Summary..………………………………………………………………. 14 v Conclusion……………………………………………………………….15 Part Two: Premarital Programs…………………………………………………. 16 History of Premarital Programs………………………………………… 16 Terminology and Definitions…………………………………………… 16 Premarital Programs versus Therapy…………………………………… 17 Premarital Program Populations………………………………………... 17 Ethnicity, Socio-Economic Status, and Risk Level……..…….... 18 Religious Affiliation……………………………………………. 18 Summary…………………………………….………..… 18 Existing Premarital Programs…………..………………………………. 19 Review of Existing Premarital and Marital Programs………………..… 20 Prevention and Relationship Education Program (PREP)…....… 21 PREP Evaluation………………………………………... 21 Couple CARE……………………………………………...…… 22 Couple CARE Evaluation………………………………. 23 Relationship Enhancement (RE)……………………..…………. 23 RE Evaluation…………………………………………... 24 The Couples Communication Program (CC)…………………… 24 CC Evaluation…………………………………………... 24 Overview of Existing Programs………………………………………… 25 Summary………………………………………………………………... 26 Overall Review of Program Evaluations…………………………..…… 27 Premarital Assessments and Inventories……………………………...… 28 vi PREPARE………………………………………………………. 29 FOCCUS……………………………………………………...… 29 RELATE…………………………………………………...…… 29 Factors in the Creation of a Premarital Program………...………….….. 30 Content………………………………………………………..… 31 Intensity…………………………………………………………. 31 Methods…………………………………………………………. 32 Conclusion…………………………………………………………….... 33 Part Three: Meaning and/or Values………………………………………..….... 35 The Concept of Meaning……………………………………………….. 35 Logotherapy……………………………..……………………… 36 Acceptance and Commitment Therapy………………………… 36 Discussion…………………………………………….… 37 How Does Meaning and Values Fit into Premarital Workshops………. 38 Theoretical Approaches………………………………………… 38 Incorporating Meaning…………………………………………. 38 Relationship Satisfaction……………………………………….. 39 Individualization and Meaning……………………………………….… 40 Conclusion……………………………………………………………… 41 Chapter Four: Workshop Manual…………………………………………………….… 43 Chapter Five: Future Considerations, Strengths, and Limitations……………………… 72 Strengths of the Project…………………………………………………………. 72 Limitations of the Project……………………………………………………….. 73 vii Areas of Future Research……………………………………………………….. 74 References…………………………………………………………………………….… 76 viii List of Tables Table 1. Summary of Reviewed Premarital Programs……………….……………………....... 25 ix 1 Chapter One: Introduction Premarital programs are considered a preventative service targeted towards couples, with the objective of increasing marital success (Blanchard, Hawkins, Baldwin, & Fawcett, 2009). There are many premarital programs available, however the majority of programs are primarily skill-based (Halford, 2004) and are typically delivered within a group setting (Williams, 2007). Skill-based programs refer to those programs that teach couples skills that have been found to be beneficial for intimate relationships (Halford, 2004). In the research on premarital programs, there is a gap in supporting the long-term efficacy of these preventative approaches as longitudinal data is lacking (Fawcett, Hawkins, Blanchard, & Carroll, 2010; Halford, 2004). Furthermore, researchers have identified premarital programs as moderately effective in terms of improving couples’ overall relationship satisfaction (Fawcett et al., 2010; Hawkins, Blanchard, Baldwin, & Fawcett, 2008). An overall need for continued improvement of programs has been recognized (Fawcett et al., 2010). In two approaches to psychotherapy, logotherapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), meaning and values work have been acknowledged as important and beneficial when working with couples (Peterson, Eifert, Feingold, & Davidson, 2009; Schulenberg, Schnetzer, Winters, & Hutzell, 2010). Therefore, it is my position that adding a meaning or values component to already existing, moderately effective, skill-based premarital programs will strengthen their structure and provide couples with greater benefit in terms of improving relationship satisfaction and stability. 2 Significance and Importance In Canada, 40.7% of marriages are projected to result in a divorce within a 30- year time frame (Statistics Canada, 2008). Premarital prevention programs may be a key factor in reducing rates of divorce and marital discord (Carroll & Doherty, 2003; Halford, Markman, Kline, & Stanley, 2003). These programs are thought to be effective by taking a preventative stance rather than being a reactive intervention service (Markman, Stanley, Jenkins, Petrella, & Wadsworth, 2006). Notably, “most couples who have married and divorced never received any preventative services or therapy after marriage” (Markman et al., 2006, p. 413). Given these findings, it has also been posited that participation in premarital programs may be valuable in terms of increasing the chances of couples seeking therapeutic support if needed throughout their relationship course, which could be advantageous to relationships (Stanley, 2001). Divorce can impact the emotional or psychological health of involved persons (Waite, Luo, & Lewin, 2009). These negative impacts can affect many people including the divorcing individuals as well as close or distant family members (Frisby, Booth- Butterfield, Dillow, Martin, & Weber, 2012). Overall, there appears to be a large body of literature that reports the negative consequences of divorce (for review see Amato, 2010). Therefore, premarital programs with their potential to reduce the rate of divorce and increase marital satisfaction deserve ongoing development and evaluation based on research. Intent The intent of the proposed project is to present a premarital workshop manual that contains content which addresses meaning and values, with the objective that the manual 3 will be used alone or alongside an existing skill-based program. My expectation is that a values-based premarital workshop will increase couples relationship success over time. Exploring meaning involves each participant understanding their personal meaning and/or values as well as supporting and