Attention marriage-seekers: For best results, consult an expert before tying the knot. A new meta-analysis of studies conducted over the past 30 years finds that premarital counseling improves the strength of marriage by 30 percent. And even couples that don't foresee relationship problems before exchanging their vows report a benefit from premarital guidance.
"These [engaged] couples were pretty happy," says author Jason Carroll, an assistant professor at Brigham Young University. Even so, he found that premarital counseling improved their relationships as much as therapy does for married couples. Carroll notes that while many couples may avoid therapy altogether, more are willing to have preventative counseling than they are to seek it out after walking down the aisle.
Working with William Doherty, from the University of Minnesota, Carroll found that couples not only communicate better after receiving premarital guidance, they also adjust better to married life. And while early evaluation is designed to establish long-term stability, it also leads to an immediate improvement in communication.
