COURSE CONTENT AND CHANGE IN STUDENTS - ARE MARITAL EXPECTATIONS ALTERED BY MARRIAGE EDUCATION

Using a pretest/posttest design, we explore whether exposure to a prob lems-oriented college course in courtship, marriage, and family lowers unrealistically high marital expectations among unmarried college stu dents. Findings show that only a very modest lowering effect occurs, a nd only among women. Unmarried young adults' marital expectations are found to be significantly higher than those of a group of persons marr ied at least 10 years. Explanations for these findings are offered, al ong with suggestions for reducing too-high expectations and for furthe r study.