Premarital Counseling and its effect on communication in the marriage - Essay Example

Effects of Premarital Counseling on Communication in Marriage Key Words: Premarital Counseling, Divorce, Communication, Marriage, Programs, Variables, Effects of Premarital Counseling on Communication in Marriage The topic focuses on how Premarital Counseling affects Communication in Marriage (Ceren, 2012). Premarital counseling acts as a therapy that emphasizes couples prepare adequately for marriage through knowing varied aspects, which they may encounter and solved amicably by ensuring communication amid them.

It plays a key role in ensuring communication in marriages, since it focuses much on showing couples the importance of communication (Ceren, 2012).Introduction In an attempt to deal with the ever currently augmenting rates of marital distress and eventually culminated by divorce, numerous scholars especially counselors have recommended implementation of premarital through counseling and education programs. Recently, international as well as national public policies have focused much on premarital counseling or education (Ceren, 2012).

Numerous states have enacted or proposed legislations, which require or provide incentives for couples to partake premarital education (Ceren, 2012). Generally, even though there are continued debates on whether the current rates of divorce should be examined neutrally, because of contemporary family and social norms, almost all marriage professionals and family scholars advocate for better marriage preparation (Young, 2011). Despite this prevalent support for programs focusing on marriage preparation, valid questions about their effectiveness in preventing divorce and ensuring successful marriages still arise.

Finding solutions to such questions has become a matter of critical significance, since the need for proper research to establish the effectiveness of this preventive intervention increases as the need for premarital counseling increases. Objectives1. To ascertain general effectiveness of premarital counseling2. To determine the effectiveness of premarital on improving counseling on communication in marriages3. To ascertain whether premarital counseling programs reach couples facing the highest risk of marital problems.

Variables The research has two variables; independent and dependent variable. This research focuses on determining the effect of the independent variable (premarital counseling) on the dependent variable (communication in marriages). Hypotheses1. Premarital counseling ensures strong and healthy marriage relationships since it installs the aspect of the importance of communication to couples. It therefore provides couples with a better opportunity for a satisfying and stable marriage. In addition, it also helps in the identification of weaknesses that can result to problems during marriage. 2. Premarital counseling stresses much on the importance of communication, thereby ensuring proper communication between couples when in marriage.3. Premarital counseling programs do not reach most couples facing the highest risk of marital problems since divorce cases continue to rise daily.

MethodologyResearch Approach and Design The best approach for this research should be the use of qualitative data since the research topic focuses on the “why/reason” rather than the “how often/how many” (Khan, 2011). Moreover, the most suitable study design for this research would be an observational research. Generally, what will be done during the research is simply to observe the marriages of couples who went for premarital counseling and couples who did not, then compare the two in relation to communication; nothing is manipulated during the research process.

Sampling Snowball sampling method will be used since, as a researcher, locating couples who have divorced or have marriage problems may not be easy; a couple always know when their fellow couples (family friends) have a problem. The sample size may be big or small depending on how the units co-operate in revealing other units.Ethical IssuesDuring the study all couples will be provided with informed consent forms before observations begin.Instrumentation and Plans for Implementation The main instrument for the research will be observations, recordings, and questionnaires, and the implementation of the research proposal sets as soon as the proposal is approved and all the required materials are put in place.

ReferencesCeren, S. L. (2008). Essentials of premarital counseling. Ann Arbor, MI: Loving Healing Press.Khan, J. A. (2011). Research methodology. New Delhi: APH Publishing Corporation.Young, D. (2011). Marriage with Meaning: A Value-Based Model for Premarital Counseling. Universe, NY: Bloomington.