Assessing couples outcomes in a student-facilitated marriage enrichment workshop

Family practitioners come from many walks of life and may include students, provided they are sufficiently prepared or supported through hands-on learning experiences. In this study, we report the outcomes of community different-sex couples who participated in a free, six-week, student-facilitated Marriage Enrichment Workshop between 2015 and 2018, offered over distance via Interactive Video Conferencing. Data from n = 39 individuals (25 couples) indicated positive change during workshop participation regarding negative interaction, commitment, and sexual and emotional intimacy. At six months post-workshop, only change in negative interaction retained significance. No significant results were reported for overall marital satisfaction, and no effects of booster sessions were detected. This workshop showed slight positive gains for couples, a favorable outcome for an experience with dual goals of providing student practice and strengthening couple relationships in the community.