Do couple relationship education programs affect coparenting, parenting, and child outcomes? A meta-analytic study

A handful of meta-analytic studies of have documented the impact of couple relationship education (CRE) programs on couple outcomes. Recently, an increasing number of studies have examined whether CRE also impacts a wider set of family outcomes. Basic research demonstrates the importance of positive couple relationship quality for effective parenting and child well-being. This meta-analytic study investigates whether CRE programs have effects on coparenting, parenting, and child outcomes. We analyzed 40 control-group studies and found small, average effect sizes for coparenting (d = 0.073, p < 0.01) and child well-being/behavior (d = 0.056, p < 0.01), but not for parenting (d = 0.023, ns). (Effect sizes for 12 1-group/pre-post studies are reported in online supplemental appendix S2.) Moderator analyses of control-group studies found differences in several methodological and participant characteristics that provide potential clues for future research and improving the practice of CRE to improve children's well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)