THE PREVENTION OF MARITAL DISTRESS - COMMENT

In a previous article, Riehl-Emde and Willi (1993) discussed the ambiv alence of professional marital and family therapists towards the preve ntion of martial distress. In this article some of their criticisms ar e discussed, e.g. the norm-orientation and the social context of these programs. Since the authors raised doubts concerning the longterm-eff ectiveness of premarital prevention programs recent data from the EPL- study (Ehevorbereitung: Ein Partnerschaftliches Lern-programm) is pres ented. The EPL-program is designed to teach couples effective communic ation and conflict management skills. The effectiveness of the EPL was evaluated using 77 EPL- and 32 control-couples and a comprehensive as sessment battery. At the 3-year follow-up EPL-couples showed higher le vels of both relationship satisfaction and communication skills than c ontrol couples. Furthermore, the rate of separation and divorce was si gnificantly lower. Marital and family therapists should reconsider the ir critical stance towards the prevention of marital distress.