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With a sample of 2,118 largely low-income, ethnic minority individuals with and without chronic illness (CI), this study examines couple-oriented relationship education (RE) on emotional distress levels. We applied a correlational research design to examine dyadic changes in distress following a couple RE intervention with a one-group pretest-posttest design. Female participants reported higher relationship distress at baseline. Both females and males showed significant improvement in distress post-RE intervention (Wilks' λ =.93, F (1, 669) = 79.49, p <.001, η2=.08); women showed greater improvements at the end of the RE intervention, despite posttest relational distress still being greater than men. The CI group did not benefit more than the non-CI group suggesting further investigation regarding changes in distress post-RE for couples with CI. Counselors may find couple-oriented RE intervention useful to promote relational health in those with CI or as part of a holistic health intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory study examined race/ethnicity, income, and employment status (including underemployment specifically) as predictors of relational distress for members of a couple in a predominantly low-income, historically marginalized racial-ethnic (HMRE) background sample (N = 671 couples). Results of a dyadic multiple regression using structural equation modeling did not show an effect for underemployment on relational satisfaction, but effects for employment status and race differed significantly. Findings strengthen the demand for holistic and integrative approaches to multi-couple group career counseling and career development for disproportionately higher numbers of HMRE couples and families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Family Process is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Relationship quality contributes to favorable health; and conversely, chronic relational stress exacerbates symptoms of chronic illness (CI). Individual-oriented relationship education (RE) demonstrates promise as an efficacious intervention to improve individual and relational distress. We used a secondary data set from a community effectiveness study and applied a correlational research design to examine changes in distress following an RE intervention with a 1-group pretest–posttest design. The sample (N = 672) predominantly included low-income, ethnic minority individuals, either with CI or without. Controlling for income, CI individuals reported higher distress at enrollment baseline. Both groups showed significant improvements in distress post-RE intervention, Wilks's λ =.93, F(1, 669) = 79.49, p <.001, η2 =.08; however, no group benefited more. Results support further examination of changes in distress and health post-RE for individuals with CI. Counselors could use individual-oriented RE intervention to help reduce distress and as a contribution to holistic health intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined relationship satisfaction trajectories of low-income ethnic minority couples from a preintervention assessment to the fifth assessment at 120 days after enrollment in the relationship education intervention. Analysis included covariates of employment status, income, years of education, and length of relationship in the trajectories. The researchers drew the 5 waves of data from 728 couples who participated in a large, 4-year, federally funded project—Project TOGETHER (To Offer Great Education That Harvests Enduring Relationships). The results of the dyadic latent growth curve modeling revealed the linearity of growth in relationship satisfaction among couples; specifically, both male and female partners having significant positive growth of relationship satisfaction from intake through 120-day post-RE intervention. Interestingly, when we analyzed distressed and nondistressed couples separately, growth trajectories for both groups were not significant. The researchers present a discussion of implications for policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States, costing billions of dollars per year in direct and indirect costs, and its prevalence is projected to increase exponentially over the next 15 years. Additionally, low-income and ethnic minority populations are especially at risk for CVD and CVD-related adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the influence of a 12-hr, evidence-based relationship education (RE) program, Within Our Reach (WOR), on relational distress and satisfaction in participants with and without CVD risk factors. Findings indicated that participants significantly improved in their relationship satisfaction following the RE intervention with the female group improving in their relationship satisfaction at an amount significantly greater than the male group. However, no differences were found between CVD risk factor group and non-CVD risk factor group on their relationship satisfaction either before or after the RE intervention. Clinical implications and future directions for research in this area are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationship education (RE) is a brief, strength-based psychoeducational intervention for couples that demonstrates strong outcomes to decrease individual and couple stress. The current study examined changes in relationship and family adjustment for expectant mothers following RE intervention. Participants included 91 pregnant women (64.8% racial or ethnic minorities) who participated in a community-based RE program. In examination of pre and post-intervention relationship assessment scale and parental stress and coping inventory results, RE intervention contributed to increased relationship satisfaction, and reduced parental distress, as well as to improved social support and family-based support scores among participants. In addition, relationship stress is a major contributor to stress during pregnancy that adds vulnerability for the health of low-income and ethnic minority expectant mothers and their children. Findings indicate the effectiveness of RE to significantly reduce stress for expectant mothers. Therefore, the use of RE as a low-cost and accessible intervention to combat stress provides positive implications for this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the leading cause of death in the United States (Hoyert & Xu, 2012), and low-income and ethnic minorities are disproportionally affected. Relationship education (RE) interventions have been shown to improve relationship quality and reduce distress in individuals and couples, including low-income and ethnic minority populations. This study examined the effect of an evidenced-based, individual-oriented, RE intervention, within my reach, (WMR), on emotional distress in a population of mostly low-income and ethnic minority individuals with existing CV disease and/or CV disease risk factors (CVD) to those without disease or risk factors (non-CVD). Results showed significant improvements in overall distress for both the CVD and non-CVD groups, but neither group improved significantly more than the other. The authors found similar changes in distress levels when we examined a subset of the population that met the criteria for clinical distress. Also, data showed that CVD participants presented with significantly greater overall distress than non-CVD participants. These findings are consistent with prior research that showed the effectiveness of the WMR curriculum in stress reduction. Furthermore, this study contributes knowledge about a unique population, individuals with CV disease and/or CVD, who may greatly benefit from interventions focused on stress reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Family Process is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Economically strained couples experience a multitude of chronic stressors and are at greater risk for lower quality relationships with their children. Relationship education (RE) programs indicate positive results for economically strained couples who attend. However, most studies examine relationship satisfaction or communication patterns with few addressing the influence of RE on parental attitudes. Therefore, we examined changes in parental attitudes for couples (n = 70) and compared differences in parental attitudes as measured by the empathy and family roles subscales of the Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory-2 at pre- and post-assessment. Results partially supported the hypothesis becasue participants indicated no significant differences between pre- and post-scores on empathy; however, participants did indicate significant differences between pre- and post-scores on family roles. Implications of results and discussion are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The authors randomly assigned 54 ethnically diverse, low-income married couples with children to receive relationship education either immediately or in 6 months. Couples attended 12 hours of relationship education using the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program curriculum. The authors collected pre- and postassessment data and compared differences in relationship satisfaction between treatment and wait-list control couples. Results indicated significant differences in relationship satisfaction between the 2 groups. Findings support relationship education as an efficacious intervention for low-income couples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Couples and relationship education (CRE) programs indicate positive results for low-income couples who attend. However, most studies examined relationship satisfaction or communication patterns, with few addressing the influence of CRE on parental alliance and even fewer examining parental alliances for those who attend couples-level and individual-level programs. Thus, we examined changes in parental alliance for participants who attended CRE individually (n = 182) and with their partner (n = 190). Participants who attended couples level CRE with a partner reported significant parental alliance improvements at post-assessments, while those who attended individual level CRE independently did not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]