Relationship priorities and the Australian marriage divide

View/ Open
File version
Accepted Manuscript (AM)
Author(s)
van Acker, Elizabeth
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2015
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Policymakers tackle the 'problem' end of the relationship spectrum, but avoid investing much in early prevention programmes, thereby contributing to a 'marriage divide'. Although it is reasonable that distressed or divorcing couples receive more policy attention than intact families, preventative measures should be reconsidered. Addressing socioeconomic inequality, evaluating whether programmes can enhance relationship quality and acknowledging that couples – especially those at-risk – are unaware of, or uninterested in participating in preventative programmes would help.Policymakers tackle the 'problem' end of the relationship spectrum, but avoid investing much in early prevention programmes, thereby contributing to a 'marriage divide'. Although it is reasonable that distressed or divorcing couples receive more policy attention than intact families, preventative measures should be reconsidered. Addressing socioeconomic inequality, evaluating whether programmes can enhance relationship quality and acknowledging that couples – especially those at-risk – are unaware of, or uninterested in participating in preventative programmes would help.
View less >
View less >
Journal Title
Families, Relationships and Societies
Volume
4
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2015 The Policy Press. This is a post-peer-review, pre-copy edited version of an article published in Families, Relationships and Societies. The definitive publisher-authenticated version, Relationship priorities and the Australian marriage divide, Vol. 4, Issue.1 , Pages. 171-176, 2015 is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1332/204674315X14212349561352
Subject
Sociology not elsewhere classified
Sociology