Marriage Education in the Army: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Pre-test and post-test survey data from two different installations were used to examine the long-term effectiveness of the Prevention and Relationship Education (PREP) program on Army couples relationship quality (i.e., marital satisfaction, communication skills, confidence, positive bonding, forgiveness, dedication, satisfaction with sacrifices made, and negative communication) and divorce over a two-year period. Results indicate that couples who engaged in PREP experienced some improvements in marital quality, although these effects were not maintained long-term. Rates of divorce differed by installations among those who completed PREP and the control groups.