title: Relationship education in community settings: effectiveness with distressed and non-distressed low-income racial minority couples.
abstract: Couple relationship education (CRE) programs are intended to prevent negative couple outcomes, however, some evidence suggests couples in greater distress may still benefit. The current study examined pre- and postchanges in relationship functioning of 362 low-income African American and Hispanic couples. Outcomes (dedication and communication) were assessed by examining differences between two distinct groupings of couples; distressed (both partners reporting clinically significant distress) and nondistressed (neither partner reporting clinically significant distress) couples. Distressed couples at predemonstrated large-sized gains in all outcome variables, as compared to nondistressed couples. Those who participated in the single-couple format demonstrated lower gains in positive communication as compared to those in the group format. Implications for distressed couples in CRE programs are offered.
authors: University of Louisville.
authors: Kelley
authors: K
authors: Quirk
authors: Johanna
authors: J
authors: Strokoff
authors: Jesse J
authors: JJ
authors: Owen
authors: Tiffany
authors: T
authors: France
authors: Carrie
authors: C
authors: Bergen
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003142:Communication; D019546:Couples Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D016896:Treatment Outcome