Premarital Counseling as a Strategy to combat Divorce

Dr. Mary M.J.

Volume : VI, Issue : VII, July - 2016

Premarital Counseling as a Strategy to combat Divorce

Dr. Mary M. J.

Abstract :

 Globally marriage is a threatened entity today. To help curb this high rate of failed marriages and to promote a healthy marriage for the sake of the couple involved (as well as their children, whether already present or planned for the future) pre–marital counseling should be a requirement for all couples before entering into a marriage. Premarital counseling is training provided through courses, seminars, or counseling that prepares couples for a successful marriage. The training often focuses on developing skills such as communication, conflict management, problem solving, and decision making. It might also include help in developing the knowledge, attitudes, expectations, and characteristics that are important in creating a satisfying relationship. An important purpose of premarital counseling is to help each partner assess his or her personal readiness for marriage. In other words, premarital counseling allows couples to plan their marriage rather than just the wedding.This paper is based on the UGC sponsored minor research done on importance of premarital counseling today. 100 persons those who had attended premarital counseling were taken as respondents following purposive sampling technique. Information was collected using questionnaire with an objective to get to know about existing premarital counseling practices, respondents’ opinion regarding the premarital counseling, to know how it helped them in improving their marital relationship and to study how it can be used as a strategy by Social Work and other allied professionals to reduce the increasing rate of family disorganizations, separation & divorce.