Individual Personality Characteristics Associated with Perceived Change and Helpfulness in Self-directed Marriage and Relationship Education

Abstract

Little is known about the role that personality may play in participation and outcomes of marriage and relationship education (MRE) programs in varying formats and no research has been conducted to assess what role personality and emotional readiness factors may play in the outcomes of self-directed MRE. Data collected through online Relationship Evaluation Questionnaire (RELATE) was used to analyze how personality and emotional readiness factors affect perceived change and helpfulness in self-directed MRE interventions for 746 individuals who participated in such interventions. Extroversion was significant across factors predicting perceived positive change among men and women. Implications of this research for self-directed MRE interventions are discussed.

Keywords:

• marriage and relationship education
• premarital counseling/education
• premarital relationships
• program evaluation