Evaluating the smart steps for stepfamilies: Embrace the journey program, a hierarchical examination

• Main Author: Reck, Katie L
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2013
• Subjects: Behavioral psychology; Individual & family studies
• ISBN: 9781303641886; 1303641887

This study examines the experiences of 2,828 ethnically diverse and low-income adults who participated in the Smart Steps for Stepfamilies: Embrace the Journey program, a 12-hour stepfamily education program. Self-report measures of relationship quality, couple commitment, and relationship instability were gathered prior to and immediately after the Smart Steps intervention as well as six weeks, six months, and one year post-program. Results from multilevel hierarchical analyses suggest that stepfamily participants experienced small but statistically significant increases in relationship quality. These increases in relationship quality, however, reduced to near pre-program levels after one year post-program. Results further showed no statistically significant changes in couple commitment or relationship instability measures. Time results from this study did not differ among examined groups including men, women, age, educational attainment, marital status, number of marriages, ethnic diversity, and individuals of varying SES. Finally a cost-analysis of the Smart Steps program was conducted. Application of these findings and policy implications are discussed.