This Research Brief examines the training/preparation available to leaders of the faith community, with an emphasis on Christian clergy, formally trained through a seminary or other organized system. Most of the scholarly literature available exploring the preparation for and practice of marriage education/preparation among clergy is in the form of unpublished doctoral dissertations. (Author abstract)
This report explores the effects of employment-relatedoutcomes (namely, average hours worked per week and average earnings per week) on the likelihood of marriage. The key challenge in estimating the effects of various employment-related outcomes on men’s or women’s likelihood of marriage is to account for the possibility that family status may affect employment outcomes (reverse […]
This federally funded guide shares what is known about promising practices in healthy marriage and relationship (HMR) programs, especially those serving low-income and culturally diverse populations. It is intended to be helpful to a variety of audiences, including those who are interested in starting a new program, those already involved in running a program, and […]
This fact sheet explores unique stepfamily characteristics and stepfamily dynamics. Data is shared on the number of stepfamilies, different types of stepfamilies, and nonresidential and cohabiting stepfamilies. It is estimated that between 10 and 20% of U.S. children reside in stepfamilies, and data is reported that indicates between 1997 and 2002, the percentage of stepfamilies […]
This guide provides practical strategies to help you recruit teens into your MRE services. Consider the following four tips: Know and be able to explain why teen marriage/relationship education matters Choose a setting and/or partnership Market your message Consider all your recruitment options (Author abstract)
To explore the similarities and contrasts between poor and non-poor families, Child Trends analyzed data for more than 100,000 families from the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health. Our results suggest that, although poor families experience socioeconomic disadvantages, these families may be enriched by the strengths found in their family routines and relationships. Specifically, we […]
This report examines data on nonmarital births from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS). The principal measures reviewed are the number of births to unmarried women, the birth rate for unmarried women, and the percentage of all births to unmarried women. The most recent data available are from the 2007 preliminary birth file (5). Data […]
The second part in a 3-part series, this brief explains effective strategies for active listening between couples. The strategies include: use body language that signals that you are listening intently to your partner; after the speaker has communicated their point, pause to reflect on what has been said and replay in your own words what […]
The third part in a 3-part series, this brief explains common communication mistakes couples make including: criticism, sarcasm and cynicism, mounting a counter attack when feeling defensive, and engaging in the silent treatment. For each communication foul, an example is provided to illustrate the offending behavior and strategies are recommended for more effective communication. A […]
This fact sheet explores some common features of emotional cheating and offer strategies to avoid emotional cheating. It begins by defining emotional cheating as an intimacy between two people who are in a committed relationship to other persons and does not immediately include a physical relationship. Strategies for avoiding emotional cheating are then explained and […]