MARITAL EXPECTATIONS AND LEVEL OF PREMARITAL INVOLVEMENT - DOES MARRIAGE EDUCATION MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The marital expectations of persons at various levels of premarital re lationship were tested before and after exposure to a problems-focused class titled Courtship and Marriage. Contrary to our prediction, the course did not reduce respondents' high expectations. Also contrary to our prediction, marital expectations did not vary by level of premari tal involvement, nor did the course have a differential impact on resp ondents at various levels of premarital relationship. Suggestions for reducing unrealistically high marital expectations and for further stu dy are offered.