The Supporting Healthy Marriage Evaluation (SHM)

The Supporting Healthy Marriage (SHM) evaluation was launched in 2003 to test the effectiveness of a skills-based relationship education program designed to help low- and modest-income married couples strengthen their relationships and to support more stable and more nurturing home environments and more positive outcomes for parents and their children. The evaluation was led by MDRC with Abt Associates and other partners, and it was sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families, in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

SHM was a voluntary, year long, marriage education program for lower-income, married couples who had children or were expecting a child. The program provided group workshops based on structured curricula; supplemental activities to build on workshop themes; and family support services to address participation barriers, connect families with other services, and reinforce curricular themes. The study's random assignment design compared outcomes for families who were offered SHM's services with outcomes for a similar group of families who were not but could access other services in the community.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Child Behavior; Adolescent Behavior; Family Relations; Low-Income Population; Marital Relationships
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: A Family-Strengthening Program for Low-Income Families

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 6298
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Kansas
    • Wichita, Kansas, United States, 67212
      • Catholic Charities
  • New York
    • Bronx, New York, United States, 10016
      • University Behavioral Associates
    • New York, New York, United States, 10016
      • MDRC
  • Oklahoma
    • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, 73104
      • Public Strategies, Inc
  • Pennsylvania
    • Reading, Pennsylvania, United States, 19601
      • Community Prevention Partnership of Berks County
  • Texas
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 75901
      • Texas Department of Health and Human Services
  • Washington
    • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98102
      • Becoming Parents Program, Inc
    • Shoreline, Washington, United States, 98155
      • Center for Human Services

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• To be eligible for the study, couples were supposed to be low income, married, at least 18 years old, and either expecting a child or parents of a child under age 18 who was living in their home -- though couples were not required to provide any documentation verifying that they met these eligibility criteria.
• They also had to understand one of the languages in which SHM services were offered (English or, in some locations, Spanish).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Indication of domestic violence in the relationship

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Program; A series of relationship and marriage education workshops for groups of couples that was offered in the first four to five months of enrollment in the program. Complementing the workshops was a second component, offered for the year after enrollment, that consisted of supplemental activities: educational and social events that were intended to build on and reinforce lessons from the curricula. The third component was family support services.	Behavioral: A Family-Strengthening Program for Low-Income Families; The program's central and most intensive component was a series of relationship and marriage education workshops for groups of couples that was offered in the first four to five months of enrollment in the program. Complementing the workshops was a second component, offered for the year after enrollment, that consisted of supplemental activities: educational and social events that were intended to build on and reinforce lessons from the curricula. The third component, family support services, paired couples with a specialized staff member who maintained contact with them and facilitated their participation in the other two components throughout the duration of the program.
NO_INTERVENTION: Control; Business as usual

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percent Married at 12 Months	The outcome is examined at the couple level. A couple is considered married if both spouses report that they are married or in a committed relationship. If either respondent indicates that the couple is separated, divorced, or had the marriage annulled, the outcome is coded with a negative (0) response. If only one spouse responds, that response is used for the couple.	12 months
Couples' average report of relationship happiness at 12 Months	The outcome is examined at the couple level. Respondents are asked how happy they are with their marriages. If both spouses respond to this question, the average of the responses is used. If only one spouse responds, the single response is used.	12 months
Either spouse reported marriage in trouble at 12 Months	The outcome is examined at the couple level. Respondents are asked whether they thought that their marriage was in trouble in the past three months. If either spouse answers by saying that they were "divorced more than three months ago," the outcome is not created. Otherwise, if either spouse indi-cates that he or she had thought that their marriage was in trouble, an affirmative outcome is created.	12 months
Reports of warmth and support at 12 Months	The outcome is examined separately for men and women. Warmth and support is the average of the responses to seven items aimed at capturing warmth and support in a couple's relationship. Example items include "My spouse expresses love and affection toward me"; "My spouse listens to me when I need someone to talk to"; and "I trust my spouse completely."	12 months
Reports of positive communication skills at 12 Months	The outcome is examined separately for men and women. Positive communication skills is the average of the responses to seven items aimed at capturing how the couple communicates during disagreements. Example items include "My spouse understands that there are times when I do not feel like talking and times when I do"; "We are good at working out our differences"; and "During arguments, my spouse and I are good at taking breaks when we need them."	12 months
Reports of negative behavior and emotions at 12 Months	The outcome is examined separately for men and women. Negative behavior and emotions is the average of the responses to seven items aimed at capturing negative interactions that occur during disagreements. Example items include "My spouse was rude and mean to me when we disagreed"; "My spouse seemed to view my words or actions more negatively than I meant them to be"; and "My spouse has yelled or screamed at me."	12 months
Neither spouse reported infidelity at 12 Months	This outcome is examined at the couple level. It measures whether either respondent reported cheating on the spouse with someone else or either respondent believes that the spouse had "definitely" cheated with someone else in the past three months.	12 months
Reports of psychological abuse at 12 Months	This outcome is examined separately for men and women. Psychological abuse is the average of the responses to six items. Example items include "Have you felt afraid that your spouse would hurt you?" "Has your spouse accused you of having an affair?" and "Has your spouse tried to keep you from seeing or talking with your friends or family?"	12 months
Reports of any physical assault at 12 Months	This outcome is examined separately for men and women. The measure indicates any physical assault in the past three months. The measure is created from responses to questions adapted from the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale.*	12 months
Individual psychological distress at 12 Months	This outcome is examined separately for men and women. The measure is created from responses to the K6 Mental Health Screening Tool.	12 months
Men's and women's reports of cooperative coparenting at 12 Months	Cooperative coparenting reflects the average of five responses to parent-reported items. An example item is "How well the respondent gets along with the spouse when it comes to parenting."	12 months
Paternal and maternal supportiveness of child	Two subconstructs are included in this outcome: warmth (reported by parents and children) and involvement (reported by parents and children). The supportiveness outcome is the average of items in both subconstructs, for each reporter. Examples of parent-reported items (for warmth and involvement, respectively) are "Over the past month, how often respondent has told [focal child] that respondent loves him/her" and "In the past month how often respondent talked with [focal child] about his/her friends." Examples of child-reported items (for warmth and involvement, respectively) are "How often [mother/father] tells respondent that he/she is doing a good job" and "In the past month, did respondent go with [mother/father] on an outing to a library, park, or playground?"	30 months
Paternal and maternal responsiveness to child	Both parent reports and child reports are used to measure parental responsiveness. An example of a parent-reported item is "In the past month, how often respondent has considered [focal child's] thoughts and feelings when making rules for him/her." An example of a child-reported item is "Whether [fa-ther/mother] respects respondent's feelings."	30 months
Paternal and maternal hostility toward child	Both parent reports and child reports are used to measure parental hostility. An example of a parent-reported item is "How often respondent has yelled, shouted, screamed at, or threatened [focal child] because he/she was mad at [him/her]." An example of a child-reported item is "How often [fa-ther/mother] gets really mad at respondent."	30 months
Paternal and maternal harsh discipline	This outcome is created from a single parent-reported item: "How often respondent has hit, spanked, grabbed, or used physical punishment with [focal child] over the past month."	30 months
Child self-regulation	This outcome is examined for children ages 2 to 17 and is measured using three direct child assessment scores* and maternal, paternal, and child reports. Maternal- and paternal-reported measures reflect the averages of responses to ten items, including "[Focal child] thinks before acting." The child-reported measure reflects the average of responses to sixteen items, including "Respondent waits his/her turn during activities."	30 months
Child internalizing behavior problems	This outcome is examined for children ages 2 to 17 and is measured using maternal, paternal, and child reports. Maternal- and paternal-reported measures reflect the average of responses to eight items for children ages 2 to 4 and twelve items for children ages 2 to 17, including "[Focal child] is unhappy, sad, or depressed." The child-reported measure reflects the average of responses to twelve items, including "Respondent worries about things."	30 months
Child externalizing behavior problems	This outcome is examined for children ages 2 to 17 and is measured using maternal, paternal, and child reports. Maternal- and paternal-reported measures reflect the average of responses to fourteen items for children ages 2 to 4 and fifteen items for children ages 2 to 17, including "[Focal child] is disobedient at home." The child-reported measure reflects the average of responses to nine items, including "Respondent argues a lot."	30 months
Child cognitive and academic performance	This outcome is examined for children ages 2 to 17 and is measured using two direct child assessment scores* and maternal, paternal, and child reports. Maternal- and paternal-reported measures are based on a single item: "Based on respondent's knowledge of [focal child's] schoolwork, how well is he/she currently doing in school?" The child-reported measure is also based on a single item: "Overall, what grades did the respondent receive last year or the last full year of school that he/she completed?"	30 months
Percent Married at 30 Months	The outcome is examined at the couple level. A couple is considered married if both spouses report that they are married or in a committed relationship. If either respondent indicates that the couple is separated, divorced, or had the marriage annulled, the outcome is coded with a negative (0) response. If only one spouse responds, that response is used for the couple.	30 months
Couples' average report of relationship happiness at 30 Months	The outcome is examined at the couple level. Respondents are asked how happy they are with their marriages. If both spouses respond to this question, the average of the responses is used. If only one spouse responds, the single response is used.	30 months
Either spouse reported marriage in trouble at 30 Months	The outcome is examined at the couple level. Respondents are asked whether they thought that their marriage was in trouble in the past three months. If either spouse answers by saying that they were "divorced more than three months ago," the outcome is not created. Otherwise, if either spouse indi-cates that he or she had thought that their marriage was in trouble, an affirmative outcome is created.	30 months
Reports of warmth and support at 30 Months	The outcome is examined separately for men and women. Warmth and support is the average of the responses to seven items aimed at capturing warmth and support in a couple's relationship. Example items include "My spouse expresses love and affection toward me"; "My spouse listens to me when I need someone to talk to"; and "I trust my spouse completely."	30 months
Reports of positive communication skills at 30 Months	The outcome is examined separately for men and women. Positive communication skills is the average of the responses to seven items aimed at capturing how the couple communicates during disagreements. Example items include "My spouse understands that there are times when I do not feel like talking and times when I do"; "We are good at working out our differences"; and "During arguments, my spouse and I are good at taking breaks when we need them."	30 months
Reports of negative behavior and emotions at 30 Months	The outcome is examined separately for men and women. Negative behavior and emotions is the average of the responses to seven items aimed at capturing negative interactions that occur during disagreements. Example items include "My spouse was rude and mean to me when we disagreed"; "My spouse seemed to view my words or actions more negatively than I meant them to be"; and "My spouse has yelled or screamed at me."	30 months
Neither spouse reported infidelity at 30 Months	This outcome is examined at the couple level. It measures whether either respondent reported cheating on the spouse with someone else or either respondent believes that the spouse had "definitely" cheated with someone else in the past three months.	30 months
Reports of psychological abuse at 30 Months	This outcome is examined separately for men and women. Psychological abuse is the average of the responses to six items. Example items include "Have you felt afraid that your spouse would hurt you?" "Has your spouse accused you of having an affair?" and "Has your spouse tried to keep you from seeing or talking with your friends or family?"	30 months
Reports of any physical assault at 30 Months	This outcome is examined separately for men and women. The measure indicates any physical assault in the past three months. The measure is created from responses to questions adapted from the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale.*	30 months
Individual psychological distress at 30 Months	This outcome is examined separately for men and women. The measure is created from responses to the K6 Mental Health Screening Tool.	30 months
Men's and women's reports of cooperative coparenting at 30 Months	Cooperative coparenting reflects the average of five responses to parent-reported items. An example item is "How well the respondent gets along with the spouse when it comes to parenting."	30 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: MDRC
• Collaborators: Abt Associates; Public Strategies; Child Trends; Optimal Solutions Group
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: JoAnn Hsueh, PhD, MDRC

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Supporting Healthy Marriage Toolkit: Resources for Program Operators from the Supporting Healthy Marriage Demonstration and Evaluation. 2011. MDRC.
• Fein, David J. (2009). Spending Time Together: Time Use Estimates for Economically Disadvantaged and Nondisadvantaged Married Couples in the United States. Working Paper.
• Knox, Virginia and David J. Fein (2008). Designing a Marriage Education Demonstration and Evaluation for Low-Income Married Couples. Working Paper.
• Fein, David J. (2004). Married and Poor: Basic Characteristics of Economically Disadvantaged Couples in the U.S. Working Paper.
• Lundquist, Erika, JoAnn Hsueh, Amy E. Lowenstein, Kristen Faucetta, Daniel Gubits, Charles Michalopoulos, and Virginia Knox (2014). A Family-Strengthening Program for Low-Income Families: Final Impacts from the Supporting Healthy Marriage Evaluation. OPRE Report 2014-09A. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Lowenstein, Amy E., Noemi Altman, Patricia M. Chou, Kristen Faucetta, Adam Greeney, Daniel Gubits, Jorgen Harris, JoAnn Hsueh, Erika Lundquist, Charles Michalopoulos, and Vinh Q. Nguyen (2014). A Family-Strengthening Program for Low-Income Families: Final Impacts from the Supporting Healthy Marriage Evaluation, Technical Supplement. OPRE Report 2014-09B. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Gubits, Daniel, Amy E. Lowenstein, Jorgen Harris, and JoAnn Hsueh (2014). Do the Effects of a Relationship Education Program Vary for Different Types of Couples? Exploratory Subgroup Analysis in the Supporting Healthy Marriage Evaluation. OPRE Report 2014-22. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Lloyd, Chrishana M., Ashley Weech, Jennifer Miller Gaubert (2014). Perspectives of Low-Income African-American and Latino Couples on Relationship Education. Working Paper.
• Hsueh, JoAnn, Desiree Principe Alderson, Erika Lundquist, Charles Michalopoulos, Daniel Gubits, David Fein, and Virginia Knox (2012). The Supporting Healthy Marriage Evaluation: Early Impacts on Low Income Families. OPRE Report 2012-11. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Hsueh, JoAnn, Desiree Principe Alderson, Erika Lundquist, Charles Michalopoulos, Daniel Gubits, and David Fein (2012). The Supporting Healthy Marriage Evaluation: Early Impacts on Low-Income Families, Technical Supplement. OPRE Report 2012-27. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Miller Gaubert, Jennifer, Daniel Gubits, Desiree Principe Alderson, and Virginia Knox (2012). The Supporting Healthy Marriage Evaluation: Final Implementation Findings. OPRE Report 2012-12. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Miller Gaubert, Jennifer, Virginia Knox, Desiree Principe Alderson, Christopher Dalton, Kate Fletcher, and Meghan McCormick. Early Lessons from the Implementation of a Relationship and Marriage Skills Program for Low-Income Married Couples. 2010. MDRC.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: February 1, 2007
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): July 1, 2012
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): July 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 25, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 9, 2014
• First Posted (ESTIMATE): April 11, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE): April 11, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 9, 2014
• Last Verified: April 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: HHS-233-03-0034