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The Effects of Building Strong Families: A Healthy Marriage and Relationship Skills Education Program for Unmarried Parents
Author(s) -
Wood Robert G.,
McConnell Sheena,
Moore Quinn,
Clarkwest Andrew,
Hsueh JoAnn
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of policy analysis and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.898
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1520-6688
pISSN - 0276-8739
DOI - 10.1002/pam.21608
Subject(s) - psychology , quality (philosophy) , survey data collection , developmental psychology , social psychology , philosophy , statistics , mathematics , epistemology
This article examines the impacts of B uilding S trong F amilies, a healthy marriage and relationship skills education program serving unmarried parents who were expecting or had recently had a baby. Based on a random assignment research design, the analysis uses survey data from more than 4,700 couples across eight research sites to estimate program effects. Results varied across sites, with one site having a pattern of positive effects (but no effect on marriage) and another having numerous negative effects. However, when impacts are averaged across all research sites, the findings indicate that the program had no overall effects on couples’ relationship quality or the likelihood that they remained together or got married.