First Constructive Prima Facie Essay

Introduction:

Research confirms that divorce not only threatens the well-being of the family members involved, but divorce also has societal ramifications. Part of the personal and societal ramifications are economical. Divorce, it turns out, is costly for the public as well as for individuals. Research is beginning to produce evidence that government intervention in the form of premarital education produces higher marital success with lower divorce rates.  If divorces were reduced, the burden on societal finances would be reduced.

 

Thesis Statement:

Therefore, the State of Utah should enact a premarital education policy since divorce has a societal impact as well as individual consequences.   

There are economical societal cost related to divorce that warrants government intervention. A Utah State University study “conservatively estimated that divorce in the United States costs the government more than $33 billion a year” in the form of Medicaid, child support enforcement, assistance for needy families and other government programs. The cost to Utah’s government in 2001 was more than $125 million in direct and indirect costs and the cost to the federal government for Utah’s divorces that same year was estimated to be $175 million. If divorce was reduced, the burden of societal finances would be reduced. file:///C:/Users/Mike/Downloads/Individual-and-Social-Costs.pdf

Research produces evidence that premarital education reduces divorce rates.  Drs. Scott Stanley and Howard Markman are directors for the Center for Marital and Family Studies at the University of Denver.  They have worked together on research for the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program for over 30 years. Dr. Stanley and his colleagues have researched and studied couples after the marriage ceremony and have found that couples who received education prior to marriage significantly improved the odds of having a good marriage. These couples had better communication, greater satisfaction, and 50% fewer breakup rates. http://www.smartmarriages.com/8.html

Likewise, a study conducted in Louisiana following newlywed couples for five years discovered that couples who participated in premarital education had lower rate of separation and divorce in the early years of marriage. This study controlled for other factors that contribute to divorce. http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/marriage-issues-family-law.aspx    

Dr. Stanley and his colleagues have also found that a lack of communication and conflict management skill are predictive to the success or failure of a marriage.  They claim that “it is not how much couples love each other, but how they handle conflict that best predicts future marital distress or divorce”. Premarital Education teaches the skills conducive for successful marriages.  

According to the National Conference of State Legislature, states are beginning to look at ways to initiate premarital counseling or education. Scientific evidence suggests that formal premarital education can improve marital relationships and prevent unnecessary divorces.  Requiring couples to participate in premarital education would help couples learn conflict and communication skills, and gain the knowledge necessary to develop successful marriages. Potentially decreasing the divorce rate and reducing the individual and societal impact of divorce in Utah. Therefore, it is proposed that the State of Utah enact a premarital education policy since divorce has a societal impact as well as individual consequences.   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/galtime/premarital-counseling-the_b_3542952.html