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“I Don't Want to Make the Same Mistakes”: Relationship Education Among Low‐Income Single Adults
Author(s) -
Bradford Kay,
Spuhler Bryan,
Higginbotham Brian J.,
Laxman Daniel,
Morgan Courtney Nielsen
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
family relations
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1741-3729
pISSN - 0197-6664
DOI - 10.1111/fare.12379
Subject(s) - psychology , qualitative property , multilevel model , social psychology , relationship education , symbolic interactionism , low income , qualitative research , developmental psychology , social science , machine learning , socioeconomics , sociology , computer science
Objective To examine, through the lens of symbolic interactionism, the experiences and initial outcomes of low‐income single adults who received relationship education. Background As relationship education reaches more low‐income participants, research is needed to examine how it reaches such audiences and how it works. We used mixed‐methods to examine processes and learning outcomes among these participants. Method Focus‐group interview data ( n = 10) and short‐response qualitative data ( n = 188) were analyzed phenomenologically. Quantitative data ( n = 165) were collected to examine changes in participants' perceived knowledge about healthy relationships using a random‐intercept, multilevel regression model. Results The two qualitative analyses yielded four themes, three of which overlapped: participant motivation based on past relationship mistakes, reported and anticipated change, and self‐assessment. The quantitative analyses showed a statistically significant increase in perceived knowledge about relationship skills and healthy partner selection. Participants also placed greater importance on a potential partner's past relationship patterns, relationship behaviors, and attitudes. Conclusion Past relationship experiences motivated participants' learning and moved them toward change. Participants increased their relationship knowledge in terms of selection and pacing. Implications Relationship education can be offered as an impactful adjunct service to low‐income participants.