Is there any evidence that premarital education can reduce the divorce rate or improve marriages?
It is not clear whether premarital education reduces the divorce rate or improves marriages, but there is evidence suggesting that premarital education can be effective for some couples. One study found that there were no differences in marital quality between individuals who had taken premarital education and those who had not. In contrast, a nationwide survey found that adults who had participated in premarital counseling were less likely than those who had not participated to have thought about divorce. Also, several studies have found that couples who have participated in the PREP program (Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program), which is a widely used marriage education program, have more positive communication and marital satisfaction than couples who have not taken PREP. Couples who have taken PREP are also less likely to divorce than are couples who have not taken PREP, for up to 5 years after the program. However, we don’t know whether marriage education actually caus
