The Role of Relationship Education in Strengthening Attachment: Findings from the ELEVATE Program

Abstract

The current study evaluates the ELEVATE relationship education program using a retrospective pretest-then-posttest research design to assess changes in adult attachment and relationship functioning among participants. The ELEVATE program, part of the Strengthening Marriages and Relationships Training (SMART) Couples project, is a community-based intervention designed to foster relational skill-building and attachment security through practical strategies and mindfulness-based self-regulation. Participants (N = 3,207) completed a 5-week intervention comprising eight modules addressing key relationship constructs, including self-care, communication, conflict management, and emotional connection. Findings revealed statistically significant improvements across six relational constructs: sharing, relationship quality, knowing of partner, knowing from partner, caring from self, and caring from partner. Large or approaching large effect sizes were observed for most constructs, suggesting ELEVATE's efficacy in enhancing attachment security and relational growth. These results align with existing literature on the benefits of relationship education programs in fostering secure attachment and improving couple functioning. This study underscores the value of community-based relationship education programs like ELEVATE in promoting attachment security and relationship health. Implications for practitioners, educators, and couples highlight the program's feasibility, scalability, and potential to serve as an additional pathway for fostering secure and resilient relationships outside traditional therapeutic contexts.

Keywords

Relationship education attachment security couples intervention community-based program romantic relationship functioning

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