The Economic Benefits of Marriage and Family Strengthening Programs

Stephen R. Shamblen (), Andrew Gluck, William Wubbenhorst and David A. Collins
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Stephen R. Shamblen: Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation - Louisville Center
Andrew Gluck: Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation - Louisville Center
William Wubbenhorst: Social Capital Valuations, LLC
David A. Collins: Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation - Louisville Center

Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 2018, vol. 39, issue 3, No 2, 386-404

Abstract: Abstract Marriage and family strengthening programs have historically had small magnitude effects on changing relationship outcomes. The present study explores the possibility that although these statistical effects are small, they can be shown to represent meaningful financial impacts. Secondary data from 2092 control and 2042 intervention couples who were married with children and participating in the Supporting Healthy Marriage (SHM) project were analyzed. Intervention participants had the opportunity to receive standardized curricula (e.g., PREP) and marital counseling. Similar to meta-analytic findings, conventional analysis of these data found only a modest impact on proximal relationship outcomes (e.g., satisfaction). Offering counseling in conjunction with curricula, although costlier and only demonstrating marginally significant improvements in averting divorce, appears to offer a substantial financial return on investment. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Keywords: Marriage; Programs; Return on investment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10834-018-9565-8

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