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Marriage Encounter, one form of Family Life Education, has developed as a response to rapid socio-economic, and cultural changes. It has claimed to help participating couples “Make good marriages better, and make bad marriages good.” The hypothesis of this study was that participation in Marriage Encounter would enhance marital satisfaction, spousal dialogue, and spiritual commitment.
This research utilized both quantitative and qualitative measurements. The quantitative data emanated from 217 valid responses of 224 beginner-participants in the pretest-postests of nine weekend programs and 173 valid responses of 228 old-timer-participants in two before-after reflection surveys. The qualitative data consisted of progress notes on an open-ended question of quantitative questionnaire surveys, personal interviews with fifteen couples, a focus group with six couples, and narrative analysis with three couples' testimonies.
The results of paired sample t-test found significant differences in each of the nine weekend programs (see Table 60). An application of the paired samples t-test of the total nine weekend programs resulted in eleven out of nineteen variables with level of significance under .05, 1-tailed in descending order of significance: Agreement in demonstrations of affection; Agreement in conventionality (Correct or proper behavior); Agreement in making major decisions; Stimulation by exchange of ideas; Quarrel with spouse; Agreement in sex relations; Consideration on divorce, separation, or terminating relationship; Working together on project; Regret of marriage; Bible study together, and Cultivation of family values and spirituality together (see Table 50). The results were further confirmed by t-tests on the before-after reflection surveys and other quantitative techniques such as regression and factor analysis, and qualitative measurements. All the above-mentioned supported the significant values of the Marriage Encounter.
In marital satisfaction, three major contributing factors stood out. They were (1) decreased consideration of divorce, separation, or terminating relationship, (2) increased working together on a project, and (3) increased cultivation of family values and spirituality together for the participants after the Marriage Encounter weekend program. In spousal dialogue, the participating couples increased their regular communication, compassionate spirit, attentive listening, edifying talks, and sharing hearts, which contributed to their deepening communication and more intimate relationships. In spiritual commitment, the participants showed overall improvements in their personal faith in God, family devotion (prayer and Bible study), self-examination and self-correction, forgiveness and reconciliation.
In conclusion, the Marriage Encounter weekend program seems to be an effective form of Family Life Education for primary prevention, enhancing marital satisfaction, spousal dialogue, and spiritual commitment of the participants.