The effects of marriage encounter on self-disclosure, trust and marital satisfaction

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of Marriage Encounter in increasing the amount of couple self-disclosure, level of trust, and marital satisfaction. Seventeen couples participated in a Marriage Encounter weekend, while twenty-three other couples served as a waiting list control group. Results indicated that the experimental group, relative to the control group, significantly increased in: (a) their level of trust, and (b) their level of marital satisfaction. The results were mixed with regard to the hypothesis that individuals attending a Marriage Encounter weekend, relative to a control group, would significantly increase the amount of self-disclosure to their spouse. Discussion centered on the strengths and weaknesses of Marriage Encounter.