Research Symposium

BIO

Izbeth Flores Aparicio is a Panamanian international student in her fourth year at Florida State University. She is pursuing a double major in Psychology and Criminology and a minor in Child Development. Currently, Izbeth works as a Family Life Education Intern at the Florida Center for Prevention Research (FCPR) at FSU, where she helps with a federal Healthy Marriage grant, which funded the study (HHS-2020-ACF-OFS-ZB-1817). Flores also serves as the Psi Chi Treasurer at FSU and is an active member of the Hispanic Honor Society in 2023-24. Her research interests focus on psychological development and the practical application of knowledge to enhance the well-being of children and young adults. Furthermore, her research interests in criminology are driven by a desire to contribute meaningful insights to understanding criminal behavior and to improve societal systems and the well-being of individuals impacted by crimes. Her future goals are to obtain a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology.

The Florida Marriage Enhancement Project: Improving Marriages Across the State

Abstract

As society undergoes continuous changes, the role of marriage education becomes increasingly crucial in helping couples navigate the complexities of modern relationships. Previous literature has demonstrated positive impacts of marriage education on family life, including lower rates, increased relationship stability, improved parenting abilities, and reduced risk of intimate partner violence (Stanley et al., 2020). In a landscape where relationships are multifaceted, understanding the impacts of marriage programs becomes essential. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the skills-based marriage education program, Adventures in Marriage (AIM), in enhancing relationship quality among couples. Using independent sample t-tests, findings demonstrated noteworthy improvements in the couples' conflict management skills, fostering a healthier approach to addressing disagreements. Partner trust and affection exhibited substantial enhancement, indicating a positive shift in emotional dynamics within couples. Couples participating in AIM reported increased partner intimacy, contributing to a deeper emotional connection. The program's positive influence on perspective-taking suggests an enhanced ability to understand and empathize with each other. Results from this study have important implications for the field of marriage education. The positive outcomes contribute to a boarder understanding of the impact of skills-based marriage education programs and prevention programs that address specific facets of marital relationship dynamics, which are increasingly relevant. This study also implies family policy, as it further justifies the need for increased funding at the state and federal levels to support marriage education.

Keywords: relationship quality, communication, family relations, romantic partners, couple/coupled