Premarital Assessment Tests A Review of the PREPARE

Premarital Assessment Tests A Review of the PREPARE, FOCCUS, and RELATE Tests. Ana Moraga, Sandy Escobar, Katie Mc. Keon, and Page Patten Larson, J. H. , Newell, K. , Topham, G. , & Nichols, S. (2002). A review of three comprehensive premarital assessment questionaires.

Why Premarital Assessments? n n These tests have increasingly become important since divorce rates continue to rise in the U. S. Premarital assessments are not used to predict relationship success, but rather as a guide to inform couples which areas of the relationship need work. Larson, J. H. , Newell, K. , Topham, G. , & Nichols, S. (2002). A review of three comprehensive premarital assessment questionaires.

PREmarital Preparation And Relationship Enhancement questionnaire PREPARE n 195 items in 20 scales u 4 personality « Personality scales are used to help the counselor understand the individuals in the relationship 15 relationship u 1 idealistic distortion scale u « Idealistic distortion is used to correct social desirability Larson, J. H. , Newell, K. , Topham, G. , & Nichols, S. (2002). A review of three comprehensive premarital assessment questionaires.

PREPARE n Four types of premarital couples: u Vitalized « Greatest marital satisfaction Harmonious u Traditional u Conflicted u « Highest divorce rate « Intervention is recommended at this stage Larson, J. H. , Newell, K. , Topham, G. , & Nichols, S. (2002). A review of three comprehensive premarital assessment questionaires.

PREPARE n Strengths Short u Extensive analysis u Easy to administer and interpret u Multiple languages u “Has multiple measures of reliability and validity” (Larson et al. , 2002, p 236) u Larson, J. H. , Newell, K. , Topham, G. , & Nichols, S. (2002). A review of three comprehensive premarital assessment questionaires.

PREPARE n Concerns u Does not measure three factors that predict marital satisfaction: « Parental mental illness « Similarity of intelligence « Similarity of absolute status • “Overall similarity of the partners based on age, socioeconomic status, intelligence, religion, and race” (Larson et al. , 2002, p 234) u Most expensive of the three tests Larson, J. H. , Newell, K. , Topham, G. , & Nichols, S. (2002). A review of three comprehensive premarital assessment questionaires.

FOCCU S n n n Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding and Study questionnaire 156 items Optional 33 items for interfaith couples, cohabiting couples, and couples in which one or both partners are remarrying Widely used by Catholics and Protestant churches as well as nondenominational counseling services Larson, J. H. , Newell, K. , Topham, G. , & Nichols, S. (2002). A review of three comprehensive premarital assessment questionaires.

FOCCUS n Strengths Contains several different versions for those who do not speak English or have problems reading u Can be scored 3 different ways u « Computer « Hand « PC u program Problem areas are all on one scale Larson, J. H. , Newell, K. , Topham, G. , & Nichols, S. (2002). A review of three comprehensive premarital assessment questionaires.

FOCCUS n Concerns Does not measure three factors that predict marital satisfaction u Validity for preferred response is unknown u Larson, J. H. , Newell, K. , Topham, G. , & Nichols, S. (2002). A review of three comprehensive premarital assessment questionaires.

RELATionship Evaluation questionnaire RELATE n n 271 items Internet version Larson, J. H. , Newell, K. , Topham, G. , & Nichols, S. (2002). A review of three comprehensive premarital assessment questionaires.

RELATE n Strengths Two of the three premarital instruments are presented u Easiest of the three to interpret and to use in a large group setting u Cheapest and most comprehensive u Only test available on the internet u Larson, J. H. , Newell, K. , Topham, G. , & Nichols, S. (2002). A review of three comprehensive premarital assessment questionaires.

RELATE n Concerns u Does not measure the other third premarital instrument Larson, J. H. , Newell, K. , Topham, G. , & Nichols, S. (2002). A review of three comprehensive premarital assessment questionaires.

Which test should I use? n n n PREPARE: for couples who want structured exercises FOCCUS: for couples who also have financial problems and wish to see a counselor RELATE: for couples who do not want to see a counselor or have limited economic funds Larson, J. H. , Newell, K. , Topham, G. , & Nichols, S. (2002). A review of three comprehensive premarital assessment questionaires.

Critical Review n Agree Marital tests should be used since divorce rates are high u More research should be done for the study of these tests u These three components predict a successful marriage u « Parental mental illness « Similarity of intelligence « Similarity of absolute status Larson, J. H. , Newell, K. , Topham, G. , & Nichols, S. (2002). A review of three comprehensive premarital assessment questionaires.

Critical Review n Disagree Marital satisfaction should predict success u There should be more than 4 personality scales used in the PREPARE test u Test should be interpreted by a counselor and not just taken alone by the couple u Larson, J. H. , Newell, K. , Topham, G. , & Nichols, S. (2002). A review of three comprehensive premarital assessment questionaires.