Research suggests that premarital counseling programs are effective; however, these programs are underutilized. In addition, little is known about beliefs and preferences of individuals prior to engaging in a committed relationship. This study examined the beliefs and preferences of premarital counseling with a sample of 249 young adults. Beliefs were examined in the context of the four main constructs of the Health Belief Model. Therapy preferences were also examined. Results suggest that perceived susceptibility, perceived barriers, and perceived benefits were unique predictors in the intention to participate. Specific barriers included the convenience of premarital counseling, viewing premarital counseling in terms of the relationship having problems, and the effectiveness of the premarital counseling leaders. Select therapy preferences included a leader/counselor that is trustworthy, professional, and experienced. In addition, young adults preferred to have the counseling close to work or home and have a maximum of six sessions with a cost of no more than US$150. Participants stated that communication, conflict resolution, and resolving differences were the most important topics to discuss in counseling. The results suggest that premarital programs should focus on diminishing the barriers and increasing the benefits for individuals. Programs should also acknowledge certain populations might have different counseling preferences and modify the programs accordingly in order to increase participation.
AikenL. S.WestS. G.WoodwardC. K.RenoR. R. (1994). Health beliefs and compliance with mammography-screening recommendations in asymptomatic women. Healthy Psychology, 13, 122–129.
2.
AmatoP. R. (2000). The consequences of divorce for adults and children. Journal of Marriage and Family, 62, 1269–1287.
3.
BartonA. W.FutrisT. G.BradleyR. C. (2014). Changes following premarital education for couples with differing degrees of future marital risk. Journal of Martial & Family Therapy, 40, 165–177.
4.
BeckerM. H. (Ed.). (1974). The health belief model and personal health behavior. Health Education Monographs, 2, 324–473.
5.
BlairJ. M.CórdovaJ. V. (2009). Commitment as a predictor of participation in premarital education. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 17, 118–125.
6.
CarlsonR. G.DaireA. P.MunyonM. D.YoungM. E. (2012). A comparison of cohabiting and noncohabiting couples who participated in premarital counseling using the PREPARE model. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 20, 123–130.
7.
CarrollJ. S.DohertyW. J. (2003). Evaluating the effectiveness of premarital prevention programs: A meta-analytic review of outcome research. Family Relations, 52, 105–118.
8.
ChampionV. L.SkinnerC. S. (2008). The health belief model. In GlanzK.RimerB. K.ViswanathK. (Eds.), Health behavior and health education: Theory, research and practice (pp. 45–62). San Francisco, CA: John Wiley.
9.
DavisJ. L.BuchananK. L.GreenB. L. (2013). Racial/ethnic differences in cancer prevention beliefs: Applying the Health Belief Model framework. American Journal of Health Promotion, 27, 384–389.
10.
DuncanS. F.BoxG.SillimanB. (1996). Racial and gender effects on perceptions of marriage preparation programs among college-educated young adults. Family Relations, 45, 80–90.
11.
FackrellT. A.PoulsenF. O.BusbyD. M.DollahiteD. C. (2011). Coming to terms with parental divorce: Associations with marital outcomes and the role of gender and religiosity. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 52, 435–454.
12.
FogartyK.MayberryJ. C.SmithS. D.Echevarria-DoanS. (2010). Contributing factors leading to couples’ decisions to participate in premarital preparation: Contextual and individuals influences. Family Science Review, 15, 24–40.
13.
FowersB. J.MontelK. H.OlsonD. H. (1996). Predicting marital success for premarital couple types based on prepare. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 22, 103–119.
14.
GuvencG.AkyuzA.AçikelC. H. (2011). Health Belief Model scale for cervical cancer and pap smear test: Psychometric testing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 67, 428–437.
15.
HawkinsA. J.BlanchardV. L.BaldwinS. A.FawcettE. B. (2008). Does marriage and relationship education work? A meta-analytic study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76, 723–754.
16.
HochbaumG. M. (1958). Public participation in medical screening program: A sociopsychological study (Public Health Service, PPHS Publication 572). Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.
17.
JanzN. K.BeckerM. H. (1984). The health belief model: A decade later. Health Education Quarterly, 11, 1–47.
18.
KirschtJ. P. (1974). The health belief model and illness behaviors. Health Education Monographs, 2, 387–408.
19.
KimH.AhnJ.NoJ. (2012). Applying the Health Belief Model to college students’ health behavior. Nutrition Research and Practice, 6, 551–558.
20.
MarkmanH. J.FloydF. J.StanleyS. M.StoraasliR. D. (1988). Prevention of marital distress: A longitudinal investigation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 56, 210–217.
21.
MillerW. R.RollnickS. (2002). Motivational interviewing: Preparing people for change (2nd ed). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
22.
OlsonD. H.FournierD. G.DruckmanJ. M. (1986). Counselor’s Manual for PREPARE-ENRICH (rev. ed.). Minneapolis, MN: PREPARE-ENRICH, Inc.
23.
ProchaskaJ. O.DiClementeC. C. (1983). Stages and processes of self-change of smoking: Toward an integrative model of change. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 51, 390–395.
24.
RenickM. J.BlumbergS. L.MarkmanH. J. (1992). The prevention and relationship enhancement program (PREP): An empirically based preventative intervention program for couples. Family Relations, 41, 141–147.
25.
RosenstockI. M. (1960). What research in motivation suggests for public health. American Journal of Public Health and the Nations Health, 50, 295–302.
26.
RosenstockI. M. (1966). Why people use health services. The Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly, 44, 94–127.
27.
RosenstockI. M. (1974). The health belief model and preventive health behavior. Health Education Monographs, 2, 354–386.
28.
SchofieldM. J.MumfordN.JurkovicI.JurkovicD.ChangS. P. (2015). Understanding profiles of couples attending community-based couple counseling and relationship education services. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 14, 64–90.
29.
SchummW. R.SillimanB.BellD. B. (2000). Perceived premarital counseling outcomes among recently married army personnel. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 26, 177–186.
30.
SchummW. R.WalkerA. B.NazariniaR. R.WestD. A.AtwellC.BartkoA.KrileyA. (2010). Predicting the short- and long-term helpfulness of premarital counseling: The critical role of counseling quality. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy: Innovations in Clinical and Educational Interventions, 9, 1–15.
31.
SillimanB.SchummW. R. (1995). Client interests in premarital counseling: A further analysis. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 21, 43–56.
32.
SillimanB.SchummW. R. (2004). Adolescents’ perceptions of marriage and premarital couples education. Family Relations, 53, 513–520.
33.
SlaterL. M.Cummings AholouT. M. (2009). What you don’t know may kill you: The importance of including sexual health in premarital counseling. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 17, 236–240.
34.
SullivanK. T.AndersonC. (2002). Recruitment of engaged couples for premarital counseling: An empirical examination of the importance of program characteristics and topics to potential participants. The Family Journal, 10, 388–397.
35.
SullivanK. T.PaschL. A.CorneliusT.CiriglianoE. (2004). Predicting participation in premarital prevention programs: The health belief model and social norms. Family Process, 43, 175–193.
36.
SungJ. J.ChoiS. Y.ChanF. K.ChingJ. Y.LauJ. T.GriffithsS. (2008). Obstacles to colorectal cancer screening in Chinese: A study based on the health belief model. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 103, 974–981.
37.
StanleyS. M.AmatoP. R.JohnsonC. A.MarkmanH. J. (2006). Premarital education, marital quality, and marital stability: Findings from a large, random household survey. Journal of Family Psychology, 20, 117–126.
38.
StrecherV. J.RosenstockI. M. (1997). The health belief model. In BaumA.NewmanS.WinmanJ.WestR.McManusC. (Eds.), Cambridge handbook of psychology, health and medicine (pp. 113–121). New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
39.
TamblingR. B.GlebovaT. (2013). Preferences of individuals in committed relationships about premarital counseling. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 41, 330–340.
40.
ValienteC. E.BelangerC. J.EstradaA. U. (2002). Helpful and harmful expectations of premarital interventions. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 28, 71–77.
41.
WilliamsL. E.RileyL. A.RischG. S.Van DykeD. T. (1999). An empirical approach to designing marriage preparation programs. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 27, 271–283.
42.
WilliamsonH. C.TrailT. E.BradburyT. N.KarneyB. R. (2014). Does premarital education decrease or increase couples’ later help-seeking?Journal of Family Psychology, 28, 112–117.
43.
WinfieldE. B.WhaleyA. L. (2002). A comprehensive test of the Health Belief Model in the prediction of condom use among African American college students. Journal of Black Psychology, 28, 330–346.
