In November of 2005 we mailed over 2000 local churches
a survey concerning premarital counseling under a federal
grant to study the effects of that counseling in Central
Florida. Over 200 churches responded to that survey
and we held follow-up interviews with forty of the responding
churches to gain additional information about premarital
counseling. The results of this survey and subsequent
interviews, summarized, are as follows:
Of the surveys received, and the subsequent interviews,
72% of churches felt that premarital counseling reduces
divorce and 81% felt the counseling was most effective
in the first two years of marriage. 56% of those
surveyed felt premarital counseling was most effective
with communication skills. Other areas in which these
churches felt premarital counseling was helpful included:
spirituality 16%, financial matters 12%, and sexuality
7%.
70% of those who responded are satisfied, for the most
part, with their existing program. However, only
34% have, or had, a specific program where premarital counseling
meetings occurred on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. In
follow-up interviews with 40 of the churches who responded
to our survey we found 70%, or more, of those churches
thought that more weeks should be added to the premarital
counseling process as well as group sessions for couples
prior to marriage. Overall, we found that church
programs ran from “an as needed basis” to as long as 13
weeks.
Of the churches surveyed only 25% use no assessment tools
in premarital counseling. The remaining 75% used
several tools with the two most common being Prepare-Enrich
and Myers Briggs Type Indicator. Other commonly used
assessment tools included FOCUS, Taylor Johnson Temperament
Analysis, and Premarital Awareness Inventory.
57% of the churches surveyed use books in their premarital
counseling. The top five books used, from this survey,
are as follows:
- Five Love Languages
- Before I Say I Do
- His Needs / Her Needs
- The Bible
- Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts
In the follow-up interviews, we found that “books” were
mentioned the most for things that help the “least” in
premarital counseling. Most of the pastors interviewed
felt as though most couples didn’t read the books, for
whatever reasons. The other topic that seemed to
be the least helpful was “Family of Origin issues.”
Of the churches surveyed, only 32% extend premarital counseling
beyond the time of marriage. In the follow up interviews,
we found that all of the churches wanted more topics added;
or, a more in depth coverage of certain topics. Topics
needing more focus included: communication 34%, spirituality
26%, more time to included more coverage of existing topics
24%, group sessions with mentors both before and after
marriage 11%, and finally, financial matters 5%.
Please contact us to obtain more information on setting
up a premarital counseling program.
PREMARITAL COUNSELING PROGRAM
Thanks to all the churches who participated in this study.