ABSTRACT
Skill-building programs aimed at enhancing marriages and preventing problems have become increasingly popular in recent years. They serve a parallel function to couple therapy, enhancing relationships and teaching many of the same skills taught in therapy. This chapter looks at these programs and the evidence for their effectiveness. Relationship preparation and enrichment programs are based on the idea that mastering certain skills will lead to more satisfying and enduring relationships. There is considerable evidence that marriage preparation and enrichment programs, in general, are highly effective and satisfying for participants. Scott Stanley proposed four main benefits, including slowing couples down to foster deliberation, sending a message that marriage matters, helping couples learn of options if they need help later, and lowering the risk for subsequent marital distress/divorce. In his review of the available research, Stanley found support for an increase in positive communication, decrease in likelihood of couple breaking up, increase in relationship satisfaction, and stronger effects with high-risk couples.
