This document summarizes research on relationship and parenting skill training programs. It finds that such programs can improve couples relationships, increase father involvement in parenting, improve parenting skills, and benefit children. Relationship education programs have been shown to reduce divorce and relationship distress while improving communication. Parenting programs may also strengthen marriages when they target the couple relationship directly. Overall, improving both the marriage and parenting through skills programs can positively impact child and family functioning.

1. The Effects of Relationship and Parenting Skill Training on Couples, Father Involvement, Parenting and Children Howard J. Markman, Ph.D & Marcie Pregulman University of Denver Center for Marital & Family Research University of Denver Hmarkman@Du.edu

3. Oklahoma Statewide Survey (2002):If divorced, what were the contributors to your divorce? Religious differences 20.6% Domestic Violence 30.1% Economic Hardship 38.9% Little or no marriage prep 41.4% Married too young 42.9% Infidelity 57.5% Too much arguing 59.2% Lack of commitment 84.9% Johnson, C. A., Stanley, S. M., Glenn, N. D., Amato, P. A., Nock, S. L., Markman, H. J., & Dion, M. R. (2002). Marriage in Oklahoma: 2001 baseline statewide survey on marriage and divorce (S02096 OKDHS). Oklahoma City, OK: Oklahoma Department of Human Services.

4. Marital Conflict & Divorce: Effects on Children Divorce associated with increased risk for child behavioral problems, and school problems, later relationship problems Destructive parental conflict may underlie negative effects of divorce (children exposed to conflict for many years. Tolstoy – only few ways to have bad marriage/parenting Danger Signs

5. Data from Sweden Children growing up with two parents have fewer behavioral and emotional problems than growing up with single mother (Sarkadi, et. al, 2008 ) Lower death and injury rates (Weitoft et. al, 2003, ) (reported in Popenoe, 2008, Rutgers Marriage Project)

6. For Children…. Divorce is an emotional: “Searing Experience” American Association for Pediatrics (2004)

7. Marriage & Parenting Programs Can these negative effects on children be prevented or diminished?: The hope of marriage education and parenting programs The role of private and public sectors in promoting and funding these programs: Invest one Euro, save XXX Euro.

8. Children & Marriage: Key Findings Children one of top three problem areas for couples (money, communication others); especially in middle years, when fun, satisfaction fall to lowest point in marriage Marital satisfaction after childbirth falls for about 60% of couples, but most are still satisfied; unplanned children more negative effects

9. Children Benefit From Growing up in Intact and Healthy Relationships Except in high danger sign relationships Economic, social, education, emotional Black poverty rate would be 25% vs. 47% White 11% vs. 16% After divorce, children experience 70% drop in household income More likely to finish high school and college Avoid teen pregnancy

10. Adults living within a healthy marriage tend to… …do better at work, …earn more money, …feel happier in life. Copyright © PREP Educational Products, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved. 303.759.9931.

11. Children living with their married parents tend to do better… …with friends, …in school, …emotionally. Copyright © PREP Educational Products, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved. 303.759.9931.

12. Data based on U.S. nationwide random phone survey of 947 adults who were engaged, cohabitating, or married. (Stanley & Markman, PREP, Inc., 1996; 303-759-9931) Copyright © PREP Educational Products, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved. 303.759.9931.

13. Marriage & Parenting: Key Findings If you improve marriage you improve parenting even if program does not directly target parenting If you improve parenting, may improve marriage, especially if program directly targets marriage If you improve marriage and parenting, you improve child and family functioning.

14. Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Marriage Initiative 2010 1 year re-authorization $150 million/year for marriage education and responsible fatherhood promotion efforts for low income couples and individuals Child policy driven

15. Fatherhood & Healthy Marriage Initiative: History 1996 Welfare reform under Clinton (TANF, Temporary Aid for Needy Families) Two of four goals involve marriage promotion, since children growing up in one parent families in U.S. more at risk for a variety of behavioral and mental health problems, costing federal government billions of dollars in services Invest $150,000,000/year

16. Goal is to Promote Healthy Marriages Provide skills to help low income couples and parents who desire a healthy marriage the tools and knowledge to achieve this goal

17. Couples Relationship Education Structured education to couples about relationship skills, knowledge and attitudes Goal is to increase chances of couple having a healthy relationship and lifetime love and decrease chances of relationship distress and breakup Focus is on early intervention and on risk and protective factors

20. PREP AND CONTROL COUPLES DIVORCE OUTCOMES (1 YR)

21. GERMAN PREP AND CONTROL COUPLESDIVORCE OUTCOMES (11 YRS)

22. Dissemination to Diverse Settings and Populations Adoptive and foster parent couples High Schools Teen pregnancy First offender youths and parents Transition to parenthood Work settings Prisons

23. Getting Both Partners in Room Despite the success of reaching out to diverse groups of couples through institutions that serve them, one of the biggest issues heard from service providers is getting couples in the room.

24. “Spillover” Effects For example, a very important question in the family services field: Since mom’s receive most family oriented services (e.g., parenting programs; nurse visitor), how do these services impact dad, marriage, other romantic relationship partner, as well as children? Can effects be even stronger?

25. Fatherhood, Relationship, and Marriage Education Project

26. Howard Markman, Martha Wadsworth, Lindsey Einhorn, Shuana Reinks, Marcie Pregulman & Erica Moran

27. Thank You For Your Support Administration for Children Youth & Families (ACF), Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation (OPRE)

29. Raising at least one child together

30. Child 18 or under

31. Family of 3 - $34,000

33. The Sample 301 couples Random Assignment 77 Couples Intervention Group 80 Female Intervention Group 72 Male Intervention Group 72 Control Group

35. 35% White

36. 23% Hispanic

37. 5% American Indian

41. FRAME Intervention Marries Markman’s couple’s intervention (PREP) with Wadsworth’s stress and coping approach to parenting (consistent with Forgatch, Sanders) 14 hours delivered in two formats: 3 weekend days or 5 weekday evenings Community Service Providers, female/male teams

42. The Keys Copyright © PREP Educational Products, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved. 303.759.9931.

43. Communication Danger Signs Escalation Invalidation Negative Interpretations Avoidance and Withdrawal

44. The Speaker Listener Technique A way to talk safely when you really need to do it well Not designed to be used all the time It neutralizes the Danger Signs Regular practice can help to “inoculate” your relationship against Danger Signs Copyright © PREP Educational Products, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved. 303.759.9931.

45. The Goal is for each partner to feel understood by the other is NOT agreement is NOT to solve a problem (yet) Copyright © PREP Educational Products, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved. 303.759.9931.

46. Copyright © PREP Educational Products, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved. 303.759.9931.

47. Copyright © PREP Educational Products, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved. 303.759.9931.

48. “The Speaker has The Floor.” Copyright © PREP Educational Products, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved. 303.759.9931.

49. How to Paraphrase So, what I hear you saying is… So, from your point of view… It sounds like you… So you… Let me see if I’ve got it. You feel… Copyright © PREP Educational Products, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved. 303.759.9931.

50. Events, Issues and Hidden Issues Events: How the discussion got started Issues: WHAT we’re talking about Hidden Issues: WHY it matters so much Copyright © PREP Educational Products, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved. 303.759.9931.

51. How helpful was FRAME?

52. Response to Intervention Overall satisfaction with workshop 5 point scale (5 = Very Satisfied) Couples Group (mean = 4.32) Female Group (mean = 4.46) Male Group (mean = 4.2) Overall very high satisfaction with workshop leaders Participants most commonly reported finding the speaker listener technique most helpful

53. Divorce & Aggression No overall breakup & divorce findings at FU 1 (not expected so soon) However high aggressive couples have higher rates of breakup and divorce than low aggressive couples Why? Couples may be learning about what a healthy relationship is and what it is not. Then deciding to breakup after seeing their relationship is unhealthy and bad for children

54. NEGATIVE COMMUNICATION FOR MEN FEMALE GROUP RESULTS

55. FEMALE POSITIVE BONDING FOR PREP AND CONTROL COUPLES (FRAME)

56. MALE POSITIVE BONDING FOR PREP AND CONTROL COUPLES (FRAME)

57. NEGATIVE COMMUNICATION FOR WOMAN MALE GROUP RESULTS

58. FRAME Parenting Findings Increased parenting alliance Increased parent-child warmth and decreased parent-child negative interactions When negative communication between parents decrease and relationship happiness increased: There was decreased negative interactions between parents and child

59. FRAME Child Outcomes Decreased child symptoms of depression, anxiety & aggression (on Child Behavior Checklist)

60. Parenting Changes Linked to Child Functioning 1. Pre-post increases in parental warmth and monitoring, and reduced stress predicted reductions in children’s internalizing and externalizing symptoms at 6-month follow-up 2. Decreased parental worry (50% 1-3 hours day) about finances, linked to lower levels of child symptoms

61. Parenting Changes and Child Functioning (2) 3. Decreased parental worry (50% 1-3 hours day) about finances, linked to lower levels of child symptoms 4. Less negative communication and increased parenting alliance associated with decreased child externalizing and internalizing problems

62. Service Delivery Issues: Our Findings Since mom’s receive most family oriented services, can these services positively impact dad, marriage? Frame suggests yes, if services are dad and/or couple friendly So both people do not have to be in room. Its not so simple! Need to have father, family perspective

63. How We Integrate Couple Perspective in FRAME Letter to partner about couples orientation Talk about the other person in program Orient skill use in program toward partner Home work is couple oriented

64. Integration of Couples Perspective (2) Other person also gets home work assignment sheet Coed leaders give male and female perspective Bring home food for family Food provided so other person does need to deal with pre workshop dinner Providing child care money so other partner not burdened with taking care of kids

65. Building Strong Families Evaluation: Oklahoma Family expectations delivered at Transition to Parenthood; evaluated by RCT Key significant findings 15 months later for couple outcomes: Higher stability Relationship happiness Support and affection Avoidance of destructive conflict Economic well being

66. Impact on Parenting (weaker findings) Quality of co-parenting (not individual parenting behaviors) Higher father involvement Living with child Supporting child financially

67. Thank You For Listening