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Childrens Development in the Context of Their Parents RelationshipsFrancesca Adler-Baeder, Ph.D.Associate Professor, Human Development and Family Studies, Extension Specialist, Alabama Cooperative Extension SystemAuburn University, Alabama

Project Director and Principal InvestigatorAlabama Community Healthy Marriage Initiative

Healthy Relationships. Happy Marriages.

1-888-4Together 1

Whats Love Got to Do With It?

2OverviewResearch Basis and RationaleProgrammatic ApproachesCore Program ContentDoes it make a difference?

3Extension doesnt focus on adult relationships; we focus on parenting, child well-being, positive youth development, nutrition and health, family well-being, community development4Couple FunctioningParenting Parent Well-beingCouple functioningFather InvolvementChild OutcomesCo-parenting QualityParenting Practices5Father Involvement PSA6What do kids know about marriage?Marriage is when you go to church and a man whispers in your ear and it makes you cry, and then he gets to kiss you for what he said.Lynette, age 8

I dont want to get married even though Im already 9. Youre never alone and your wife follows you around all the time!Craig, age 97To get married you have to have a big wedding where all the people dress up in pink and black and they throw wild rice..then you have a big cake afterward that the bride is supposed to pop out of!- Trudi, age 7

Youve got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like if you like sports she should like it that you like sports and she should keep the chips and dip coming!Allan, age 10

8Why Target Youth Relationships?Developmentally relevant a teachable moment in the life course

Relationship models acquired

Emotional health affected

Physical health affected

9Couple FunctioningParenting Parent Well-beingCouple functioningFather InvolvementAdolescent OutcomesCo-parenting QualityParenting PracticesDating Relationships10Sticks in a bundle are unbreakable. ~Kenyan Proverb11Clip of Mack describing programMack explaining the program12The Healthy Couples, Healthy Children: Targeting Youth Project 2005-2010Department of Human Development and Family StudiesAuburn UniversityAlabama Cooperative Extension System

Jennifer Kerpelman, Ph.D., Francesca Adler-Baeder, Ph.D., & Joe Pittman, Ph.D.

13Alabama Community Healthy Marriage InitativeDHHS/OFA 2006-2011

Healthy Relationships. Happy Marriages.

1-888-4Together 14Teen Advisory Board info Video15

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20Research-Practice Partnerships: The Alabama ApproachFrancesca Adler-Baeder, Ph.D. Human Development and Family StudiesAuburn University

Healthy Relationships. Happy Marriages.

1-888-4Together 21Establishment and enhancement of on-line Resource Centers: www.alabamamarriage.orgwww.stepfamilies.info www.nermen.org

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http://www.alabamamarriage.org231930s Penn State Study on Marital Quality# 1 predictor of husbands marital satisfaction:Quality of Wifes Cooking24

25www.nermen.org

26Core Concepts Associated with Stable and Healthy Couple and Marital Relationships

CARE FOR SELF

SHARE

MANAGE

CONNECT

CARE

KNOW

CHOOSE

Stable and HealthyCouple and Marital Relationships27Video - 20/20 Special20/2028CHOOSENothing happens by itselfit all will come your way once you understand that you make it come your way by your own exertions.- Ben SteinThe central importance of intentionality29KNOWStrategies and skills for the development of interest and involvement in each others worldsSpeak each others language30CAREAlways try to be a little kinder than is necessary.- James Barrie

It is not true that nice guys finish last nice guys are winners before the game ever starts.- Anonymous31SHARESkills and strategies for developing and maintaining friendship, positive interactions, and meaningful time together

Share: Opposites might attract; but they dont stay together

32CONNECTStrategies and skills for engaging social support, community ties, and sources of meaning33MANAGEStrategies and skills for engagement and interaction around differences, stresses, and issues of safety34CARE FOR SELFMaintaining physical, psychological, and sexual health and wellness as an individual

Key info for work with low-resource population Early environment key for development of emotion regulation skillsLow SES experience greater levels of stress from more sourcesLess use of cognitive reappraisal strategies35

MRE Plus for Blended familiesAdditional skill-building for complex families

Couple QualityRealistic expectations for stepfamily development and processesHealthy stepparent-stepchild relationshipsAppropriate and supportive co-parenting RelationshipsMeeting the Needs of Low-Income Stepfamily Couples in Marriage Education Services

Published by the US DHHS articulates in detail a model for practitioners and educators38Lesson 1: Who am I and Where am I Going? Lesson 2: What I Value Lesson 3: Maturity Issues and Pressure SituationsLesson 4: Infatuation and Love Lesson 5: Principles Of Smart RelationshipsLesson 6: The Low-risk Approach to RelationshipsLesson 7: Is it a Healthy Relationship?Lesson 8: Dating AbuseLesson 9: A Foundation for Good CommunicationLesson 10: Parents Relationships Matter Lesson 11: Having a Healthy Relationship/Marriage Someday Lesson 12: Follow Your North Star

Relationship Smarts +

Relationship Skills are emphasized along with the value of Relationship Development All the core are covered:CARESHAREMANAGECARE for SELFCONNECTCHOOSEKNOWSLIDE-DECIDE VIDEO39Can you really teach relationship skills? Youre either good at it or youre not.

Is there evidence of positive impact?

40Youth Results INCREASESDECREASESSelf-EsteemMarital Role Salience Conflict Management Skills Interpersonal CompetenceWillingness to use marriage education Positive attitude about marriage Ability to resist pressure to have sex Individual Empowerment

Endorsement of partner violence Personal Distress Use of Negative Behaviors Faulty beliefs about relationshipsReactive Coping

41"I liked that you learn to find positive strengths about yourself. You become more aware of who you are and what you want to do later in your life.""I liked talking about breaking up and dating abuse, because I thought dating abuse was only physical" I really liked that the lessons gave you reasons why you should wait for sex rather than just telling you that you shouldn't do it."

In their own words (youth).

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"The dating abuse lesson was very important to me, because it helped me to recognize that I was in an abusive relationship. Now I know what to look for."I thought I knew everything, but as it turns out, I've learned a lot about relationships and love.I used some of the communication skills we learnedbeing aware of voice tone, prevented argumentsI stopped changing for others

43Statistically significant changes were found in:Relational SkillsNegative Interactions**Positive Interactions***Conflict Management***Assertiveness*Couple/Marital QualityRelationship Quality***Relationship Adjustment***Trust***Perception of stability***Evaluation Results44Positive feelings about partner*Relationship Satisfaction***Happiness in Relationship***Individual StrengthsIndividual Empowerment**Individual Distress***ParentingCo-Parenting Quality***Positive Parenting Behaviors**Punitive Parenting**Parenting Efficacy**

Evaluation Results45

More changesEarly indication of enhanced prosocial behaviors among pre-school childrenComparison subjects did not demonstrate a similar pattern of change across timeEffect sizes ranged from .26 to .77Impact did not differ by attendance status (i.e., came together/came singly) or marital statusBenefits not based on gender or ethnicity

46SummaryCouple/Dating Relationship knowledge, skills, and quality are key areas of individual and family functioning an important ingredient in family and youth programs; critical element for families under stress.Goals/objectives focus on the process and not on prescribing decisions.Programs serve the broad spectrum of the population youth, singles, nonmarried, married.There is an empirical base from which to teach. Evidence of positive program impact.Relationship/marriage ed gives added value to other family and youth programs and services.

47The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker.- Helen Keller

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