Americans have historically paid little attention to premarital preparation as a way to prevent later problems. Davis said that trend may be reversing as people see the magnitude and societal implications of widespread marital problems. Programs developed to build healthy couples focus on raising factors that protect the marriage and lowering risk factors. Protective factors include a couple's friendship with, support of and dedication to each other. Risk factors include negative interactions and unhealthy beliefs about relationships.
Premarital counseling is a good way to avert potential problems.
One tool gaining popularity is a relationship quiz designed for potential or already married couples. This quiz, developed more than 20 years ago and modified along the way, has had such success that the majority of clergymen in 66 U.S. cities won't marry a couple unless they take the quiz and have the follow-up counseling. Actually a psychological profile, it gives a true assessment of a couples feelings about life, marriage and each other. Follow-up counseling deals with the potential trouble areas identified in the inventory. Afterwards, Davis said not only are couples stronger, but the risk of divorce is lessened by as much as 50 percent.