The evaluation of a premarital enrichment programme for second marriages
Abstract
The aim of the research was to evaluate the premarital enrichment programme designed by Pretorius (1997) for couples who wish to remarry. The study was motivated by literature, which shows a high likelihood of divorce among divorcees who remarry. Three interested couples responded to advertisements placed in a local Potchefstroom newspaper and announcements made in churches. A qualitative (case study method) research design was used. The programme consisted of six two-hour sessions. The programme was conducted over two weekends. The first
three sessions were held with all three couples and the last three sessions with each couple separately due to conflicting schedules. The effect of the programme was assessed by five measuring instruments, participants' metaphoric drawings of their relationships, semi-structured interviews, and the researcher's observations of the interaction between the participants. The
assessment took place a week before and four weeks after the programme presentation. The results obtained indicated that two of the couples experienced changes whilst the other couple experienced minimal change. The change that occurred in the two couples were with regards to their communication and conflict management, their implementation of boundaries, intimacy, security in their relationship, growth, and dyadic adjustment. It was concluded that the premarital enrichment programme prepared two couples for remarriage, specifically with regards to their
adjustment in the relationship.
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