Thomas A. Smith

Demographic Predictors of Relationship and Marriage Education Participants' Pre- and Post-Program Relational and Individual Functioning

Limited knowledge exists regarding differences in relationship and marriage education (RME) experiences based on social address. The current study examines pre- and post-program data from 1293 ethnically and economically diverse adults participating in RME programs. Investigations centered on whether race, income, marital status, and attendance status (i.e., attend with partner or singly) predicted baseline levels and change in a broad range of indicators of individual functioning, couple functioning, and confidence in ones relationship for men and women. Income was the strongest predictor of baseline levels; higher income was associated with higher entry levels in all three target areas. In addition, race predicted unique variance in individual functioning, and marital status and attendance status predicted unique variance in relational targets. Men and women demonstrated positive changes in all target areas following RME participation. Attending with a partner was the only predictor of change in target outcomes for women and was the strongest predictor of change in target outcomes for men. Lower income and being married also predicted greater change in relational functioning among men. Implications for providing RME with diverse audiences are discussed.

Exploring processes of change in couple relationship education: predictors of change in relationship quality.

In the past several decades, a number of largely atheoretical individual and meta-analytic studies of couple relationship education (CRE) programs have focused on program effectiveness without considerations of how these programs work and for whom. To address this gap in the literature, the current study drew upon assumptions from social-cognitive and behavioral theories that are implicit in CRE design to assess the influence of short-term changes from pre- to posttreatment in behaviors and commitment on changes in relationship quality among a racially and economically diverse group of 2,824 individuals who participated in a CRE program. Findings from structural equation modeling indicated that the best-fitting model for both men and women was one in which changes in behaviors predicted changes in relationship quality via their influence on changes in commitment. Further, a series of moderational analyses provided some evidence to suggest that the strength of the relationships between these variables may depend to a small extent on the social address of the participants (race, income) and to a greater extent on characteristics of the CRE experience (i.e., beginning the class at lower levels of functioning, attending with a partner). Findings help us begin to understand the influences among domains of change that occur as a result of participating in a CRE program, as well as offering some useful information to practitioners on demographic and contextual moderators of program outcomes. Implications for future research on the mechanisms of change for CRE are presented.

What is happening to satisfaction and quality of relationships between step/grandparents and step/grandchildren.

Abstract The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to explore factors regarding quality of relationships and satisfaction, across generations, in terms of gender and age; and (2) to understand the perspectives of both step/grandparents and step/grandchildren. In this study, young adult college students and their identified grandparents or stepgrandparents described their relationship in terms of satisfaction, companionship, instrumental aid, intimacy, nurturance, affection, admiration, reliable alliance, conflict, and antagonism. Within- and between-group comparisons were made regarding each of these relationship factors by gender and age. Grandparents reported having more satisfaction with cross-generational relationships than stepgrandparents or stepgrandchildren. Grandmothers reported receiving higher instrumental aid from grandchildren. Older grandparents and grandfathers reported having higher conflict with grandchildren. Emerging trends and areas of need for future research in grandparent-grandchild and stepgrandparent-stepgrandchild relationships were discussed.

Relationship Patterns and Role of Religion in Elderly Couples with Chronic Illness

ABSTRACT This study was designed to explore the various relationship patterns and the role religion plays as a coping resource for elderly couples in which at least one spouse has a chronic illness. Elderly couples were interviewed and also completed marital satisfaction and couple communication inventories. Five different relationship patterns emerged from the data: active couples, short-term caregivinjg couples, long-term caregiving couples, survival couples, and live-in caregiver couples. Various aspects of religion emerged as an important coping resource among the different relationship patterns. Ideas and questions for research and practice, generated by the study, are presented.

The effects of supervisory interruptions on therapists and clients

Abstract The general acceptance of live supervision has not been without criticism, specifically that it is a disruptive intrusion into the therapeutic process. The present study attempted to determine what effect supervisory interruptions had on the participants in a therapy session. Using a within-subjects design, excerpts from a session were analyzed to determine differences between a no-interruption condition and conditions of supervisor-initiated, therapist-initiated, and telephone interruptions. While each of the participants were affected to varying degrees by the interruptions, there were no consistent effects. It was concluded that the act of interrupting a therapeutic session, in and of itself, is not sufficiently disruptive to negate it use. Implications for supervision and practice are discussed and recommendations are given for managing interruptions during supervision and daily clinical practice.

Preparing Marriage and Family Therapy Students to Become Employee Assistance Professionals.

While the number of Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) has grown tremendously, opportunities for marriage and family therapists in EAP settings have not been adequately described. This paper addresses issues pertinent to training Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) students to develop the skills needed to become EAP professionals. Qualifications for becoming an EAP professional are described and suggestions are made as to how these skills may be taught within the framework of an academically based MFT training program.

Thriving in stepfamilies: exploring competence and well-being among African American youth.

Although scholars conclude that children/adolescents in two-parent nuclear families have an advantage over those in stepfamilies, emerging evidence indicates that the experiences of African American youths have been overshadowed. In three replicated studies, we detected no differences on several important and commonly assessed well-being and competence indicators among samples of African American youth in two-parent nuclear and stepfamilies.

Comparing the Experiences of Couples in First Marriages and Remarriages in Couple and Relationship Education

This study examines a diverse sample of married individuals (N = 1,542) in the context of couple and relationship education (CRE). Differences and similarities in participant well-being at baseline and overtime were examined among individuals in first marriages—with and without children from previous relationships—and various types of remarriages utilizing measures of individual, couple, and parental functioning. Additionally, we examined how the content of CRE classes influences change scores of stepfamily couples based on whether they received stepfamily-specific content or generalized CRE. Results indicate that individuals in first marriages and those in different types of remarriages appear to report similar levels of marital functioning initially and appear to benefit similarly from CRE classes. Stepfamily couples appear to benefit similarly from stepfamily-specific and generalized CRE classes, yet differences between the groups are considered in the interpretation of this finding.

Socialization toward a career as a marriage and family therapist : how is our profession doing?

To date, marriage and family therapy does not have formal socialization programs at the undergraduate level. Socialization activities may include career classes, advising, providing internships, or actively recruiting the most talented and qualified students. These socialization activities may also aid in the recruitment of minority students. A survey of the accredited programs revealed that most programs do not have formal opportunities for the faculty to interact and discuss therapy as a career option. While most programs have at least one faculty member who teaches undergraduates, this contact alone is not very good in terms of socializing students into choosing therapy as a career option. While there are some valid concerns about undergraduates, marriage and family therapy as a distinct discipline may benefit from actively recruiting the best students.

Adolescents’ Intentions to Use Relationship Interventions by Demographic Group: Before and After a Relationship Education Curriculum

Although relationship education programs have been shown to be effective in promoting healthy relationships, participants are typically not from diverse backgrounds. Adolescent attitudes towards these programs and services were examined both before and after participation in a youth relationship education curriculum, Relationship Smarts Plus (RS+). The sample consisted of 1845 adolescents aged 11–18, 58% African American, 42% European American, 54.4% female, 45.6% male, from diverse family structures. Attitudes differed significantly between demographic groups at Time 1, where females and African Americans held more favorable attitudes. After RS+, attitudes significantly improved, on average, for European American males and African American females.