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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
40-50% of marriages end in divorce, 38% of those in the first three years. The statistics for remarriage are higher.
A major factor in relationship breakdown is lack of adequate communication and conflict resolution skills. Early training in intimate relationship skills can help.
Marital breakdown begins within the first three years of marriage.
Early training in intimate relationship skills is the key to preventing this breakdown.
An average couple waits six years before seeking "therapy" for marital problems.
Accessible, affordable interpersonal skills training could make early relationship education possible.
75% of couples today are married in a church of some kind. Yet, few churches sponsor programs for interpersonal skills training for youth , pre-married or newly married couples. Why not?
Churches are in a key position to offer concrete, skills based training. If not the church, who? If not now, when?
Relationship problems are one of the top causes of depression. Depression is the most common mental health problem in our society.
Assertiveness training along with communication and conflict resolution skills, can improve the quality of a relationship, often relieving symptoms of depression.
The National Institute of Mental Health concluded that marital problems are a major risk factor for a myriad of mental and medical health problems. Relationship distress can lead to high blood pressure, the decline of our immune system, and gastrointestinal, respiratory, and urinary problems.
Stress related disorders including physical and emotional manifestations are often the result of relationship disturbance. Improved interpersonal skills including stress management strategies can help.
Depressed employees cost business and industry $23.8 billion a year in absenteeism and lost productivity.
Employee programs which teach interpersonal skills as well as stress management can reduce absenteeism, and employee turn-over and improve morale and productivity.
Broken homes, often resulting in single, female, head of household families, are a leading cause of poverty. (40% of divorced women and their children live below the poverty line.)
Broken homes often result from poor communication and conflict resolution skills. Early relationship training could help.
Youth who live in single parent households suffer higher degree and frequency of problems than those who live with biological parents.
Training in communication, listening, parenting and other interpersonal skills could help at all stages.
Rates of emotional and behavioral problems in children more than double for children reporting "step-family" conflict.
These families could benefit from interpersonal skills training including listening, step family issues, acceptance of differences, and empathy.
A twenty year research program at the University of Denver found that the success or failure of a long term relationship could be determined with 90% accuracy based on the presence or absence of conflict resolution skills.
Few individuals or couples possess these skills without training.
Couples involved in relationship skills training programs reported a significantly higher degree of marital satisfaction, and significantly lower incidence of divorce.
Everyone can benefit from interpersonal skills training - singles or couples, children and adults, friends and coworkers.
Be a part of the solution. Join a teleclass or organize a skills building workshop in your church, community or place of business today. Contact Me.
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© Relationship Skillville 2001-2007
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