HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Rapid Responses: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yalcin, B. M. Articles by Karahan, T. F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Yalcin, B. M. Articles by Karahan, T. F.

Effects of a Couple Communication Program on Marital Adjustment

Department of Family Medicine (BMY), Ondokuz Mayis University, Kurupelit/Samsun, Turkey
Faculty of Education, Department of Psychological Counseling and Guidance (TFK), Ondokuz Mayis University, Kurupelit/Samsun, Turkey

Correspondence: Corresponding author: Dr. Bektas Murat Yalcin, Ondokuz Mayis University of Medicine Department of Family Medicine University Hospital, 55132 Kurupelit/Samsun, Turkey (E-mail: myalcin{at}omu.edu.tr)

Background: Couples are usually advised to improve their communication skills to increase harmony and avoid conflicts. However, studies aimed at increasing marital adjustment in primary care are limited.

Methods: A Couple Communication Program was announced at the Ondokuz Mayis University Permanent Education Center, and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale was administered to 67 couples who volunteered. Twenty-eight persons (14 couples) with the lowest test scores were randomized into study and control groups. At the end of the program (post-test), the scale was again administered to the study group. Afterward, the pretest and post-test scores of the study and control groups were compared. The study group’s pretest, post-test, and follow-up test scores were also examined.

Results: No difference in marital adjustment was found between the study and control groups before the start of the program (P > .05). The post-test scores of the couples attending the Couple Communication Program proved to be higher in total than the scores of those who did not attend (P < .001). The post-test and follow-up scores of the study group were significantly higher than their pretest scores (P < .001). There was no significant difference between the post-test and follow-up scores of the study group (P = 1.0).

Conclusion: This program may have a positive effect on marital adjustment levels by improving communication skills and may lead to long-term behavioral modifications in couples.