Date

8-9-2024

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

James Kasten

Keywords

premarital counseling, couples, marriage, phenomenology, communication, support, education

Disciplines

Education

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of African American couples who completed a premarital counseling program in African American communities facilitated through local churches in New Jersey. How African American couples described their experiences attending a premarital counseling program in the African American church was the study’s central research question. The theory guiding this study was Schlossberg’s (1981) model of transition. This model offers a theoretical framework for understanding the experiences that African American couples endured in the transition from single to married. The study was a qualitative research using an interpretive phenomenological approach to recruit the participants for the study. The study employed face-to-face semi-structured interviews with couples to collect data regarding lived experiences. A structural and textual analysis technique was used to analyze the data by identifying common meanings and essences through textual and structural analysis of what was expressed by the participants. The study found that couples engaged in premarital counseling voluntarily or mandatory due to church requirements or the couples’ desire to learn skills necessary to build a strong and lasting relationship. Also, this study determined that the pastor’s actions and knowledge are critical for the couples’ experience. In conclusion, premarital counseling is a critical platform for couples to learn communication skills and conflict resolution techniques, and prepare for marriage, highlighting the necessity of selecting the best qualified premarital facilitator to support their journey.

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