Abstract
Marriage and relationship education (MRE) programs have become more common and are seen as helpful in strengthening intimate relationships, including those involving children. Although these programs have generally been found to be efficacious, more research is needed to understand the fit of programs aimed at low-income populations. This study explored focus groups of low-income mothers' experiences in these programs. Using grounded theory methodology, the authors examined both the impact of the programs, as well as how the participants' perspectives on marriage and relationships affected their experience. Findings suggest these women value marriage and healthy relationships, but their ideals often conflict with their experiences. Also, they find the classes to be a place of support and relationship skill-building.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 322-342 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 2012 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This research was supported in part by Texas Health and Human Services Commission No. 529–07-0136-00001B at Texas Tech University. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
Keywords
- low-income mothers
- marriage and relationship education