The Evaluation of Effectiveness and Implementation of Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program

[[abstract]]The current study was aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) in Taiwan, and examining implementation factors that affect program effectiveness. One-group pretest-posttest design was used, in which 29 couples were participated in 4 classes of the 6-week, 12-hour program. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. In addition, a follow-up survey of the couples was conducted at 6 months after the program. Results concerning program effectiveness indicate that: 1. Couples' communication quality, confidence about their future, and marital satisfaction increased after the program. 2. The program was generally more effective to females than to males. 3. In the lack of continuing support or booster-session, the program's impact on couple relationships seemed to diminish over time. Results related to implementation factors affecting program effectiveness show that: 1. Topics related to communication skills were most helpful to couples, and practice in small group was the most helpful learning style where couples in different marital stages could benefit from each other. 2. Implementing marriage education program in church settings is advantageous in the ways of marketing, continuing participation, and follow-up. 3. Barriers to class registration included misunderstandings to marriage education, and the reluctance of husbands. Barriers to couples’ change after the program included personal unpreparedness to change in attitudes, and the existence of relationship problems that had been deeply rooted.