@article{ref1,
title="The effectiveness of couple and individual relationship education: distress as a moderator",
journal="Family Process",
year="2015",
author="Carlson, Ryan G. and Rappleyea, Damon L. and Daire, Andrew P. and Harris, Steven M. and Liu, Xiaofeng",
volume="56",
number="1",
pages="91-104",
abstract="Current literature yields mixed results about the effectiveness of relationship education (RE) with low-income participants and those who experience a high level of individual or relational distress. Scholars have called for research that examines whether initial levels of distress act as a moderator of RE outcomes. To test whether initial levels of relationship and/or individual distress moderate the effectiveness of RE, this study used two samples, one of couples who received couple-oriented relationship education with their partner (n = 192 couples) and one of individuals in a relationship who received individual-oriented RE by themselves (n = 60 individuals). We delivered RE in a community-based setting serving primarily low-income participants. For those attending with a partner, there was a significant interaction between gender, initial distress, and time. <br><br>FINDINGS indicate that women who were relationally distressed before RE reported the largest pre-postgains. Those who attended an individual-oriented RE program reported significant decreases in individual distress from pre to post, but no significant relationship gains. <br><br>FINDINGS also suggest that initial levels of distress did not moderate the effectiveness of individual-oriented RE.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0014-7370",
doi="10.1111/famp.12172",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/famp.12172"
}