Covenant Marriage. What is it? Does it work?

Kim Leon, Ph.D., Human Development and Family Studies, College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Missouri Extension

Recently, covenant marriage has become a hot topic of debate. Three states (Louisiana, Arkansas, and Arizona) have adopted covenant marriage laws and 20 other states have considered adding covenant marriage laws. Covenant marriage is an alternative to traditional marriage. It requires that spouses take an oath making a lifelong commitment to marriage and that they get premarital counseling. Divorce is only allowed in limited circumstances, such as abuse, adultery, addiction, and felony imprisonment. Spouses must be separated for a specified period of time (e.g. two years in Louisiana) and go to marital counseling before a divorce will be granted.....

.......Although there is no research on the effectiveness of covenant marriage laws, there is research on the effectiveness of marriage education/counseling, which is one of the major requirements of covenant marriages laws. The results of studies that have examined whether marriage education reduces the divorce rate or improves marriages have been mixed. One study found that there were no differences in marital quality between individuals who had attended premarital education classes and those who had not. In contrast, a nationwide survey found that adults who had participated in premarital counseling were less likely than those who had not participated to have thought about divorce. Also, several studies have found that couples who have participated in the PREP program (Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program), which is a widely used marriage education program, have more positive communication and marital satisfaction than couples who have not taken PREP. Couples who have taken PREP are also less likely to divorce than are couples who have not taken PREP, for up to 5 years after the program. However, we don't know whether marriage education actually causes couples to have better marriages or whether it is couples with better marriages who are more likely to participate in marriage education. Although it is not clear whether marriage education actually causes lower divorce rates or higher marital quality, it is evident that adults who participate in premarital education are very satisfied with the experience. In fact, one study found that 90% of couples who had taken premarital education classes said they would choose to do it again.

In summary, although there is currently no evidence on the effectiveness of covenant marriage, there is some support for the effectiveness of marriage education, and most adults are in favor of marital counseling/education both prior to and during marriage.

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