Effects of a Marital Relationship Enrichment Program on Communication, Conflict Resolution, and Marital Satisfaction in Multicultural Couples / 정신간호학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the effects of a marital relationship enrichment program on communication, conflict resolution and marital satisfaction in multicultural couples. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group pre-post test design was used. Participants were sampled from couples registered at 2 local centers and 2 multicultural family support centers in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Sixteen pairs each were randomly assigned to the experimental or control group. The experimental group received the marital relationship enrichment program for 120 minutes/session/week for 6 weeks. Data were analyzed using chi2-test, Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, and t-test for subject homogeneity verification, and ANCOVA to examine the hypotheses. RESULTS: Communication and marital satisfaction increased significantly after the program in experimental group compared with control group. Among conflict solution styles, collaborating and compromising increased and avoiding decreased significantly after the program in the experimental group. Competing decreased significantly after the program for wives in the experimental group. Accommodating did not change significantly in either experimental or control groups. CONCLUSION: Results of the study confirm that marital relationship enrichment programs are effective in promoting multicultural couples' communication and marital satisfaction, and causing positive changes in conflict resolution.