Thesis (J.C.L.)--Catholic University of America, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-75).

The divorce rate in society today seems to be reaching alarming proportions. Every individual has experienced the effects of divorce in some way or another, either through relatives, friends, parents or through their own marriages ending in divorce. Social workers and other social service professionals need to find new and creative ways to address the problem of maintaining and sustaining marriages. Marriages need support in order to survive. This support is essential and necessary as healthy marriages form the basis of healthy families and healthy families help to create a healthy society. The implication thus is a need for a proactive and preventative approach to assist married couples. Marriage enrichment (ME) provides a solution to helping couples maintain marital happiness and satisfaction. ME focuses on sustaining, nurturing, strengthening and enriching marriage relationships. It is an approach that generally refers to weekend retreat programmes and other group settings in which married couples with reasonably healthy marriages learn how to improve their marriage and increase pleasure and success. Marriage enrichment uses an educational and skills training perspective that encourages and enhances good communication and interpersonal relations between spouses. The aim of this study is to identify and describe the content of a marriage enrichment programme. The objectives of the study are as follows: to explore the need for a marriage enrichment programme by means of the perusal of available literature and an empirical study; to explore the elements that will comprise the content of an enrichment programme by means of qualitative research using different focus groups; to provide themes and guidelines for the development of an enrichment programme; to formulate conclusions and recommendations based on the results obtained from the study. The study was conducted with 12 social workers from two different government organisations in the Johannesburg area. The research findings provided positive results. Themes and guidelines on the content for a marriage enrichment programme were identified. / Dr. Emmerentie Oliphant

M.A. / 1. Introduction There is a need for more effective ways in which marital preparation programmes can be presented, as the demand for psychological services exceeds the supply. Psychological education and the application of psychotechnological aids, consisting of printed and video material, computer technology and interactive video-systems may be a major source through which a solution for the above-mentioned problem may be found. 2. Aim of the present study The object of this study was to compare two ways of presenting marital preparation. The effectiveness of the traditional way in which marital preparation is presented, consisting of the help of a program presenter, was compared with the effectiveness of marital preparation presented by psychotechnological aids. 3. Method of research 3.1 The research design The research design selected for the purpose of this investigation was the N = 1 sample design. This design enables one to study a single subject or a couple intensively. The effect of certain interventions can thus be evaluated. Experimental evaluation in research where the N = 1 sample design is used, is found through graphical representation, visual inspection as well as a description of the graphics and visual interpretation. 3.2 The subjects Two engaged couples participated in the research project. Neither had any former experience of a marriage preparation programme. 3.3 The measuring instruments The measuring instruments used in this investigation were: (1) The Dyadic Adjustment Scale; (2) The Empathy Scale; (3) The Communication Skills Test; (4) The' Questionnaire on Positive Reinforcement; (5) The Scoring Procedures for Problem Solving Skills; (6) The Intimacy Questionnaire; (7) Qualitative evaluation. 3.4 The experimental procedure The subjects were exposed to the marriage preparation programme in separate ways. Both couples received a workbook for engaged couples. Supplementary to the workbooks the researcher served as the presenter to the control couple. The experimental couple received interactive video modules, to be completed after each session in the workbook. In spite of the different ways of presentation the subjects had to complete the above-mentioned measuring instruments after specific sessions. It was of utmost importance that the measuring procedure was precisely the same for both couples. On the completion of the program, an-interview situation was used to obtain the qualitative evaluation from each independent couple, in regard to content and presentation of the marital preparation programme. 5. Results of the investigation In regard to the results obtained in the investigation, it appeared that both forms of presentation was duly effective. Both the control and the experimental couples showed a definite improvement with regard to relationship adjustment, from being exposed to the marital preparation programme. It was irrespective of the form of presentation. The conclusion gained was that both forms of presentation should be used supplementary to each other to achieve optimal efficiency. It was shown that both forms of presentation had valuable learning processes.

M.A. / Policing is regarded as one of the most stressful occupations that often results in psychiatric disorders, marital problems and/or divorce, alcohol abuse and suicide. The aim of Social Work Services in the South African Police Service is to promote, achieve and maintain optimum social functioning, in order to improve the productivity of the organisation’s members. Keeping the above mentioned problems in mind, the marital experience of police members needed to be explored, especially since statistics regarding marital problems in the South African Police Service are high compared to other social problems. This study was undertaken to explore the marital experience of members of the SAPS, and to provide social workers and other members of the helping professions in the SAPS, with relevant information when they are engaged in service delivery to police members. The following objectives were set for the study: • The completion of a literature study on marriage • The exploration of the SAPS culture and frame of reference concerning marital experience, within the geographical area of Trichart, Evander, Kinross and Secunda (TEKS-area), Mpumalanga. • The identification of factors that can have an influence on the marital life of members of the SAPS. The nature of the study was both exploratory and descriptive. Eighty-one (81) members of the SAPS completed a questionnaire exploring this phenomenon. The data captured were processed quantitatively. The data gathered in the study can be of significance for all members of the helping professions, as well as the functional members of the SAPS. The ideal would be to integrate the data and results obtained into individual work with members, groupwork, as well as in community work (reactive and pro-active programmes) with the following objectives: • To provide members of the SAPS with the necessary information to prepare themselves for marriage (by means of pro-active programmes specifically aimed at this). • Supporting and enriching the marital relationship of couples with a healthy marriage. • Assisting problem-orientated couples with the integration of new constructive methods of marital functioning. / Prof. C.B. Fouche

Marriage it seems has always been a key element in the family systems of the western world. The joining of two people of the opposite sex in a unity bond, with the purpose of creating a system to produce children and bring them to adulthood. These marriage bonds usually start with a romantic love affair between the partners that lead to a permanent joining in some form of marriage. It is these long term bonds that seem to suffer from endless pursuits to find a way to be joined for a lifetime. In most of the western world the divorce rate between couples average fifty pe People from all walks of life seem to suffer the same fate and Christians specifically do not seem to indicate a higher rate of marital success. The faith and biblical principals Christians adhere to is a strong motivator to keep people together but does not have all the practical answers for the co-habitation of to individuals in a long term relationship. Christian marriage counseling possess several unique traits that enhances their counseling processes but does not indicate to have a significant higher success rate than an other form of marital counseling. Imago relationship therapy is an approach to relationship counseling that offers some new ideas and methods. It combines several principals from different psychological therapeutic approaches into a unique relational approach. Based on the belief that the relationship is a systemic it approaches the couple as a unity and all therapy is done with both partners present. The approach uses several practical exercises to foster emotional connection between the partners and teach them new relational and communication skills. This approach indicates a high success rate and seems to seamlessly flow with normal Christian counselling. The principals of Christian marriage counseling can be enhanced and put into practice by using the imago techniques. It is deducted that Imago relationship therapy can easily be integrated into a Christian marriage counseling approach and produce good results. / Prof. W.J. Hattingh

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Thesis (D. Min.)--Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, 2001. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 233-237).

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1982.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1985.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work